Stefani Wildhaber

Stefani is an architect/planner with over 20 years of master planning, urban design, and facility/management planning experience. Her projects have benefited from her collaborative, multi-disciplinary approach to planning and design.

Stefani has two great kids – Madison and Joey.

stefani [at] makersarch.com

Julie Bassuk, AICP

Julie enjoys helping organizations and communities envision and realize their goals. Whether it’s accommodating growth, transforming neighborhoods or getting the most out of our waterfront, Julie believes in creating quality environments that work. Her experience is diverse, with a focus on land use, neighborhood and facility planning for Port Districts, Cities and Federal Agencies. With a background in real estate, she is a strong project leader, facilitator and client service provider.

jbassuk [at] makersarch.com

Gerald Hansmire

As the founder of MAKERS, Gerald has over 40 years experience in planning, architecture, and urban design. His projects range from community renovation plans to major industrial facility designs for the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard. All of them, however, have been characterized by a “strategic” approach that addresses decision-making, functional, and economic requirements and balances them in a plan that is positioned for implementation.

ghansmire [at] makersarch.com

John Owen

John is an early MAKERS partner. His work is focused on urban design, and he has become increasingly involved in regional and statewide issues planning, with projects ranging from helping the State prepare a new WAC for the Shoreline Management Act to working with Puget Sound Regional Council in the development of regional environmental management and urban design strategies.

johno [at] makersarch.com

Bob Bengford, AICP

Bob’s planning experience, enthusiasm, and teamwork skills have made him a strong project manager for planning and community design projects. He has made design guidelines and development regulations a firm specialty. Such community-based work usually involves a great deal of public outreach, which can be as rewarding as it is challenging. Fortunately, Bob is good at it.

Away from the office, Bob is a bicycle commuter, hiker, soccer and tennis player, urban tourist, and fanatical gardener.

bengford [at] makersarch.com

Michael Austin

Michael joined MAKERS upon the completion of his Masters of Architecture from Pratt Institute in New York. Prior to his studies in architecture, Michael was educated in City and Regional Planning from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, where he was engaged in a variety of design and policy projects in California. Passionate about the complexities of the design process, Michael is constantly exploring methods of data visualization, design representation, and working with people similarly engaged in professional discourse.

A new resident of the Pacific Northwest, Michael can be seen exploring neighborhood eateries, traveling to urban centers around the Pacific Rim, and attempting to train his dog.

michael [at] makersarch.com

Jenny Farmer

Jenny is enthusiastic about social media marketing and advertising. She is a Washington State University graduate from Vancouver, WA. Jenny supports the marketing efforts and document production in the office.

Jenny enjoys the outdoors, playing fetch with her dog, and going to Pacific Northwest Ballet performances.

jennyf [at] makersarch.com

Andy Fenstermacher, LEED AP

Andy’s unique perspective to projects adds significant value for clients. He has graduate degrees in both business and urban planning, with a particular focus on sustainability. Prior to joining MAKERS, he was a consultant for a large mixed-use redevelopment project in downtown Seattle.

Andy lives in Seattle’s bustling Capitol Hill neighborhood, where he enjoys exploring some of the city’s best hangouts and taking in rooftop sunsets.

andy [at] makersarch.com

Brent Huizingh, AICP

Since joining MAKERS in 2001, Brent has utilized his strong writing and analytical skills on a variety of projects, ranging from long-range facility programs for the Navy’s TRIDENT submarine fleet to urban design plans in Anchorage, Alaska. Although vastly different in terms of scope and product, these projects all have common threads of public and stakeholder participation, data gathering and analysis, alternative development and refinement, and final packaging into a planning tool that is both functional and user friendly.

When not in the office, Brent can usually be found tromping through the woods, cultivating killer tomatoes, or slaving over the stove.

brent [at] makersarch.com

Betsy Jacobson, LEED AP

Betsy is a strong team member offering a combination of planning and design skills. She completed a graduate program at the University of Washington in both Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning in which she experimented with the role design can plan in our cities. Betsy brings to MAKERS her experience in workshop facilitation, graphics, and historic preservation.

When she can find the time, you can probably find Betsy kayaking on Lake Washington or learning a new city from bicycle.

betsy [at] makersarch.com

Wesley Kirkman, AICP, LEED AP

Wesley offers planning and graphic skills to Makers. He joined our team after obtaining his Master of Urban Planning degree from the University of Washington and interning for the Pedestrian and Bicycle Program at a local jurisdiction. His immense desire for well designed mixed-use and transportation-option rich environments is where he has derived his energy throughout his career in urban planning.

Outside of work, Wesley enjoys exploring new eateries and drinkeries, walking to these places with his lovely baby Abigail strapped to his back, and critiquing the urban environment on the way.

wes [at] makersarch.com

Nicole Larsen

At MAKERS, Nicole personifies Administration. Nicole joined MAKERS in 2003 after graduating from Seattle Pacific University with a degree in Accounting. Aside from utilizing her accounting skills—preparing financial statements, monthly budget reports, and company taxes as well as managing accounts payable and receivable—she also prepares project invoices, processes payroll, keeps the office in supplies and repair, and, from her position at the Reception Desk, welcomes callers and visitors to MAKERS.

nicole [at] makersarch.com

Sean McCormick, LEED AP

Sean developed his interest in mixed-use and urban design while studying Architecture at the University of Oregon. Prior to working at MAKERS, Sean worked for a small architectural firm, where he developed his computer-aided design skills. Now he uses these 2D-3D computer-aided design and hand-drawn graphics skills in his architectural and urban design projects for MAKERS. Sean also has architectural experience of a more “hands-on” variety: 2.5 years of building custom residential houses.

sean [at] makersarch.com

Rachel Miller

Rachel combines an extensive educational background in the built environment with broad experience in community development and design. Prior to joining the MAKERS team, she collaborated with local and international agencies on urban design and planning projects through the University of Washington’s graduate programs in Urban Planning and Landscape Architecture. She offers strong graphics, mapping, writing, and analytical skills to MAKERS projects. Her commitment to social equity and cultural diversity keeps her excited about urban planning and design.

Outside of work, Rachel enjoys travelling to urban centers around the world, sharing food, and romping about the city.

rachel [at] makersarch.com