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Thanks to AIA NJ for honoring two of our women leaders and AIA members this month as part of their Women in Architecture Month highlight. These posts originally appeared on the AIA NJ blog. Please click here for Donna Coen O’Gorman and here for Janet Pini.

Donna Coen O’Gorman, AIA, Delivers Educational Design Excellence With Experience As A Client And An Architect

Donna Coen O’Gorman graduated from NJIT with a Bachelor of Architecture in 1981, when less than 8% of the School of Architecture’s graduating class were women.

Her career trajectory soon led her to educational work, a sector she has dedicated her professional life to for more than 25 years. She has been employed by the Newark Public Schools, Rutgers University, Kean University and the New Jersey Schools Development Authority.

In 2015, she retired from public service and joined DMR Architects. As a senior project manager, she brings the unique perspective of the client, as she spent the previous 25 years of her career working for the clients the DMR team services. Today her vision is mostly focused on educating her clients on how to support today’s learners in advanced, sophisticated and effective learning environments, while also helping to implement these projects in a cost-effective way.

During her six years at DMR, in addition to managing hundreds of projects, she organically expanded her role to client advocacy, business development and understanding evolving educational programming needs. Through a commitment to continuing education, conference involvement and thought leadership, she is a published author and a frequent lecturer on topics such as school security, new project delivery methods, and design trends. Her enthusiasm and skill earned her the position of DMR’s educational sector’s first Director of Business Development in 2021.

A licensed architect, Donna is also an empowering advocate for professional licensure, having achieved her professional registration when the percentage of women starting the licensure process hovered around 10% of all applicants, with even less completing the process, as reported by The National Council of Architectural Registration Board.

Consistency and Strong Relationships Push Janet Pini, AIA, To The Top

In 2002, shortly after graduating from NJIT with a Bachelor of Architecture degree, Janet Pini joined the production department at DMR Architects. Now a senior project manager and associate of the firm, she rose through the ranks of DMR, advancing from a graduate architect to her current role as one of DMR’s most senior project managers and the first woman member of DMR’s management team.

Having spent her entire career at DMR, Janet distinguished herself at every level of the firm, consistently taking on new responsibilities, mastering her understanding and ability to communicate complex codes and procedures, and forming meaningful and lasting relationships with clients, some of which have worked with her consistently for more than 10 years.

In every role, Janet has been assigned to some of DMR’s most complex projects, helping to bring to life projects such as a new 350,000 SF educational campus, four new college academic buildings, a specialty emergency operations center, sophisticated healthcare environments and more than 300 architect of record projects for DMR’s preK-12 clients.

Now a licensed architect, today Janet leads entire project teams, in addition to management responsibilities as an associate of the firm. Drawing on her own path of growth at DMR, Janet has committed herself to staff development and mentorship, leading efforts at DMR to engage DMR’s multi-generational workforce, counsel early-career architects, communicate and emulate DMR’s values to new staff, and provide professional guidance and learning opportunities.

DMR has named Pradeep Kapoor, AIA, LEED AP BD+C its new Chief Operating Officer and promoted five others in response to the firm’s continued growth and expansion into new practice areas, which includes doubling its staff to more than 40 over the past five years.

“Supporting the scope and volume of our new projects and absorbing and directing new staff members is made all the more complex by the layers of practice areas and services we have added in recent years,” said Lloyd Rosenberg, President & CEO.  “Pradeep has been managing the firm’s operations and I am pleased to be able to recognize his success at this role by naming him DMR’s first Chief Operating Officer.”

Pradeep’s 21-year tenure at DMR has included several roles through which he has managed many of the firm’s most complex design and construction projects, primarily focusing on the municipal, healthcare, and education practices.  In 2017 he was named a partner in the firm while serving as Director of Sustainability.  A passionate sustainable designer, he was among the first architects in New Jersey to achieve LEED accreditation, and helped build DMR’s esteemed sustainable design program, which today includes certified, silver and gold level projects, notably the Frank J. Gargiulo Campus for the Hudson County Schools of Technology, a LEED Gold recipient, and the Carlstadt Elementary School, the first LEED Silver public school in New Jersey.

While still managing day to day responsibilities for significant firm projects, as Chief Operating Officer, Pradeep provides managerial support for all ongoing projects, offering guidance on contracts, project management, budget, schedule adherence and staff development.

“It has been a privilege to take on a leadership role during a time when the firm has literally created a new practice format that bridges traditional architecture with planning, design, construction management and other services that provides clients with exceptional skill, efficiency and value,” he said. “As we lift the standards for architects, we have been able to lift the careers of our people.  I am a prime example of DMR’s culture of nurturing staff, fostering professional achievement, and recognizing talent and hard work, and I am proud to recognize five other staff members whose achievements also warrant promotions.”

DMR’s other recent promotions include five new positions for existing staff with tenures that range from 2 to 27 years.

Maria Perez, Director of Human Resources

Maria Perez has managed DMR’s office and staff since 1994, guiding the firm’s organizational development, creating a diverse staff and performance management structure, as well as managing benefits, compensation and training. She implemented a streamlined onboarding process to facilitate DMR’s growth from 10 to a team of more than 40 including continued rapid staff growth year over year since 2016.  She’s also coordinated communication throughout the pandemic which continues to be instrumental in keeping clients informed and projects on schedule.

Donna Coen O’Gorman, Director of Business Development – Education 

A registered architect whose 35-year career included roles at clients of DMR, Donna Coen O’Gorman has dedicated her entire professional life to the education sector, bringing the unique perspective of the customer to her managerial role.  Through a commitment to continuing education, conference involvement and thought leadership, her project management work in the educational sector has naturally expanded to client advocacy, business development and thought leadership, having been published and a frequent lecturer on topics such as school security, new project delivery methods, and design trends.

Megan Apostol, Director of Marketing

During her decade at DMR, Megan Apostol has raised DMR Architects’ reputation through publicity initiatives, print and digital communications, and marketing initiatives highlighting its talented team and diverse practice capabilities.   She is responsible for securing architectural and real estate industry awards for DMR including NJBiz Best Places to Work, and prestigious awards for team members including the ICON award and inclusion in influencer lists in ROI-NJ and NJBiz.

Kevin Johnson, Project Manager

Kevin Johnson joined the DMR production staff in 2012, quickly establishing himself as an integral member of DMR’s New York City School Construction Authority (NYCSCA) team, helping complete more than 200 projects valued at $500 million over his nearly 10 years with firm.

Pierre Talisse, Project Manager

Pierre Talisse joined the DMR team in 2019, bringing with him worldwide experiences ranging from a 550,000 SF development in India to capital improvements across New Jersey preK-12 school districts. At DMR, he fit perfectly into its educational design team, supporting capital improvement projects for many of DMR’s school district clients, including Bayonne, Hackensack, Edison, and New Brunswick, as well as supporting the new construction of schools in Plainfield and Jersey City. As a project manager at DMR, he will support the education and public sectors, which currently accounts for more than $500 million of DMR’s pipeline.

DMR has promoted long-term team members Janet Pini, AIA and Fernando Robledo, AIA to Associates. They have been with the firm for 19 and 14 years respectively, working on some of the firm’s most significant projects, including the Frank J. Gargiulo Campus and Middlesex College’s West Hall.

Janet began her architectural career at DMR, consistently taking on greater responsibilities as she mastered her understanding of and ability to communicate with clients about New Jersey’s complicated codes and procedures. Her work on education and municipal projects also includes the Blanquita B. Valenti Community School and the Ridgefield Municipal Complex. She has a Bachelor of Architecture from New Jersey Institute of Technology.

Fernando has applied his design experience to projects including the Joseph A. Taub School in Paterson, a design-build contract with the New Jersey Schools Development Authority that serves 1,000 junior high school students. He also designed Joseph M. Sanzari’s headquarters in Hackensack. He has a Bachelor of Arts, Urban Design and Architecture, from the University of Puebla in Mexico.

“Janet and Fernando have been invaluable members to their practice areas, loaning their expertise to manifest feasible plans that incorporate our clients’ needs and ideas,” said Lloyd A. Rosenberg, AIA, President and CEO. “They have also played crucial roles in growing DMR into the multifaceted architectural firm that it is today, and we are honored that they have both made their professional homes here for well over a decade.”

On Sept. 22 the board of directors of the New Jersey Economic Development Authority reappointed Charles H.  Sarlo, Esq. vice chairman of the board, upon the recommendation of Chairman Kevin Quinn and the unanimous approval of board members. The board of directors also reappointed Charles chairman of the Real Estate Committee, member of the Audit Committee, and member of the Policy Committee.

Now in his 16th year on the board, Charles has been appointed and/or reappointed five times by four governors: Gov. Richard J. Codey in 2005, Gov. Jon Corzine in 2010, Gov. Chris Christie 2014 and 2017, and Gov. Phil Murphy in 2020.

Charles joined DMR Architects in 2001, and is a valued resource on the DMR team, resulting in honors including being named one of the firm’s first partners and a finalist in the NJBiz General Counsel of the Year awards. Charles brings a diverse set of skills to the firm, which stems from a unique set of academic credentials with includes degrees in law, finance and engineering.

Our team of real estate thought leaders, including our President & CEO Lloyd Rosenberg and partner Francis Reiner, continue to be recognized for their influence on the landscape of New Jersey.

Most recently, NJBIZ named Lloyd among the Real Estate Power 50, for the second consecutive year. Lloyd also joins Francis on the ROI-NJ 2020 Influencers list.

We are proud to congratulate our Director of Construction Administration and firm Associate Henry Ossi, CPE, ICS, LEED AP on recently becoming a Certified Professional Estimator (CPE) from the American Society of Professional Estimators (ASPE).

The CPE certification process measures proficiency in general construction estimating and ethical awareness through a detailed process that included workshop attendance, a technical paper and a written examination.

Henry’s certification will greatly expand DMR’s services and credentials and strengthens our in-house services, while also improving estimating accuracy and helping to greater protect our client’s project budgets.