MEET THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Nancy Cassandro is Vice President and co-owner of Umemoto Cassandro Design Corporation (UCDC), a small landscape architecture firm located in Kailua.  UCDC has been providing Landscape Architectural services for over 20 years in the state of Hawaii, focusing on incorporating native plants, water conservation and creative sustainable designs for resort, commercial, campus and residential developments.  After earning her Bachelors of Science degree in Landscape Architecture from Cal Poly, Pomona, Nancy practiced in Southern California for several years working on a wide range of residential, public parks and streetscape projects.  She is licensed in Hawaii and Washington State.

Brian Wolf, ASLA, LEED AP is Principal Landscape Architect and founder of his own practice, Wolf Landscape Architects, LLC.  Brian’s 15 years of professional experience in Hawai‘i runs the gamut from commercial developments to luxury resort destinations and high-end residential.  Born in Indiana, but raised in New Jersey, he received his Bachelor of Science degree in Landscape Architecture from Cornell University in Ithaca, NY.  As a LEED Accredited Professional, Brian plays a leading role in designing sustainable and context-sensitive projects anticipating LEED Certification, including Punahou School's new Kosasa Grade 2-5 community.  Brian's passion for outdoor learning environments is further enriched by his wife, Meleana, who is a Kindergarten teacher at Punahou.

Judith Stilgenbauer, ASLA, is a Professor of Landscape Architecture at the University of Hawaii School of Architecture, where she serves as MLA Program Director and Graduate Chair. Prior to joining the faculty at UH, she taught at UC Berkeley's College of Environmental Design for nine years. Stilgenbauer’s creative work in teaching, applied research, and practice focuses on the role of process, performance, and placemaking in ecological urbanism and public open space design across diverse spatial and temporal scales. Her recent design research has been centered on urban land-water relationships and adaptive coastal resilience design. http://www.arch.hawaii.edu/faculty/judith-stilgenbauer/

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As a Senior Associate at PBR Hawaii, Mr. Higa brings forth over 23 years of experience in landscape and urban design, site and land use planning, irrigation design, construction drawing, graphic design and presentation and Computer Aided Design (CAD).  He has had the opportunity to serve as Project Manager on various projects, from public parks to exclusive resorts.

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Mr. Higa's work experience in Washington, Oregon and Hawaii helps provide a diverse approach to landscape design.  With a variety of projects like Portland Oregon's West Side Light Rail, Portland Stormwater Garden, and Seattle's 5th Avenue Street End Park, Mr. High has the ability to work on and with a wide array of team members essential for a project's success.

Caasi Shimono is a Landscape Architect at PBR HAWAII, where she has worked for the past nine years.  Her work experience encompasses a wide range of public and private projects including the Kosasa Neighborhood Grades 4-5 Community at Punahou School, Kā‘anapali Beach Hotel Landscape Renovations and Central Maui Regional Park.  Caasi received her Bachelor of Science degree in Landscape Architecture from Cal Poly – Pomona.  

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Nicole Swanson is a Landscape Architect at PBR HAWAII, where she has worked for the past five years.  Nicole has managed a variety of landscape and planning projects including the Turtle Bay Resort Renovation Entry Features, University of Hawai’i at Mānoa Long Range Development Plan, and Baldwin Beach Park Master Plan.  She aspires to design landscapes that mend and restore broken relationships between environments and communities.  Prior to working for PBR, Nicole earned her Bachelor of Science in Landscape Architecture from Cornell University.  Nicole now resides in Kilauea, Kaua‘i where she continues to work for PBR HAWAII. 

Craig Duff is a landscape architect and educator, working at Kaua’i Nursery & Landscaping (KNL) since 2002.  Through KNL, Craig has worked on an endless variety of landscape architecture projects: residential, commercial, public, conservation, wetlands, shoreline stabilization, native plant gardens, grading/drainage/engineering, and erosion control.  This variety keeps Craig continuously learning and applying innovative solutions to whatever design challenges come through the door.  Craig received his bachelor’s degree in Landscape Architecture from Ball State University in Indiana in 2002 before promptly moving to Kaua’i.  In addition to landscape architecture, Craig has a passion for education; in-between stints at KNL, he has taught Natural Resources, Agriculture, Carpentry, Math, Physical Science, and Chemistry to High School students in Hawai’i, Guyana, Namibia, and Guatemala.

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David has been employed as a Landscape Architect with Chris Hart & Partners since 2001.  He has worked on over 400 landscape architecture design and construction projects.  Notable projects include: Hyatt Regency Resort, AC Hotel Wailea, Wailea Residence Inn, Kaanapali Beach Club & Fairmont Kealani Wailea as well as numerous Single Family Residences, Multi-Family Developments and Master Plans.  David has served on the County of Maui Urban Design Review Board. David has a Bachelor in Economics and a Master in Landscape Architecture.