RESTON, VA (October 16, 2025) – At its recent annual meeting, the Council of Landscape Architectural Registration Boards (CLARB) announced its 2025-26 board of directors and committees, introducing a diverse team of volunteer leaders who will work to advance landscape architecture regulation and public protection. The organization also recognized outgoing volunteers for their service.
Continue to
These elected and appointed members help set the direction of the organization and impact the future of regulation. Learn about the board.
Leadership
Brian Verardo, President
Licensed landscape architect Brian Verardo assumes the role of president. He is a principal landscape architect and the managing partner of Pland Collaborative, a 35-person landscape architecture and planning firm. Headquartered in Albuquerque, New Mexico and with a growing office in Lubbock, Texas, Pland Collaborative strives to bring public awareness and innovation to the design of outdoor spaces in our changing world. Verardo’s work has included a variety of project types, from small-scale site design to large-scale master planning for a wide range of clients. Verardo is licensed to practice landscape architecture in Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Nevada, New Mexico, South Carolina and Utah.
Verardo began his CLARB volunteer service as an L.A.R.E. grader and Exam Committee member in 2010. He was appointed as a director-at-large on the board of directors in 2020 and served two terms before becoming president-elect in 2024. Verardo has also worked alongside colleagues, CLARB staff and stakeholders from across the CLARB community in roles on the MBE Committee, L.A.R.E. Cut Score Committee and a variety of other work and focus groups.
“Brian brings exceptional strategic vision and collaborative leadership to our organization, having been instrumental in developing the CLARB 2.0 Strategic Framework,” said Matt Miller, CEO. “His commitment to strengthening relationships with member boards, IFLA, ICOR and other key partners, coupled with his dedication to developing future leaders and elevating the profession's recognition within the design and STEM fields, positions him as an invaluable asset to CLARB's continued success.”
Allison Fleury, President-elect
CLARB has elected Allison Fleury, PLA, as president-elect. A licensed landscape architect since 2001, Fleury is principal and owner of Inside Out Landscape Architecture in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Her portfolio spans residential, commercial and campus design, reflecting more than 20 years of cross-disciplinary collaboration with architects, engineers and contractors. Fleury began volunteering with CLARB in 2010 and has since served in a variety of leadership roles, including regional director, secretary, treasurer and director-at-large.
Joel Kurokawa, Past President
Licensed landscape architect Joel Kurokawa will complete his three-year leadership service term as past president and chair of CLARB’s Leadership Advisory Council. As founder and principal of Ki Concepts in Honolulu, Hawaii, Kurokawa brings extensive experience in both private and public projects, along with teaching in higher education and a distinguished record of service with CLARB, the Hawaii Board of Professional Engineers, Architects, Surveyors & Landscape Architects, and the American Society of Landscape Architects.
New directors-at-large
Zara Brown, Director-at-large
Zara Brown was appointed director-at-large. Based in Hamilton, Ontario, Brown is a licensed landscape architect in two jurisdictions and has been practicing in the profession for the past 17 years. She advocates for equitable, equal and fair practices in the design field, especially where disparities may exist. She also mentors design professionals of various backgrounds and aspirations. She has practiced in both municipal and private roles. Brown has volunteered with CLARB’s Exam Committee for five years, most recently serving as chair of the Grading, Drainage, and Stormwater Management Subcommittee.
Erin Jennings
Erin Jennings, IIDA, AIA, NCIDQ, NCARB, was appointed director-at-large. Jennings is a licensed architect and registered interior designer based in Indianapolis, Indiana. She brings dual expertise through her architecture and interior design degrees and licenses, offering a unique perspective from allied design professionals. Jennings has extensive leadership experience, including as president of CIDQ and IIDA Indiana Chapter, and serving as past chair of AIA's National Interior Architecture Knowledge Community. Her five years on CIDQ's Board of Directors provide valuable credentialing board insight. She recently served on CLARB's Bylaws Work Group and participated in ICOR leadership collaboration.
Returning members
Member Boards
Craig Coronato
Member Boards
Adriana Hernández Aguirre
Member Boards
Edward Kinney
Member Boards
Ramon Murray
Member Boards
Leehu Loon
Member Boards
Mónica Pallares
Member Boards
Amy Stewart
Member Boards
Matt Miller
Outgoing volunteers
Thank you to these board members who recently concluded their service terms:
- Lea Ann Macknally, Alabama
This group ensures that CLARB has the most effective, qualified individuals to lead the organization toward its goals. Learn about the LAC.
2025-26 members
Member Boards
Joel Kurokawa
Member Boards
Tim Bargainer
Member Boards
John Cothron
Member Boards
Candace Dillingham
Member Boards
Keven Graham
Member Boards
Jolene Rieck
Outgoing volunteers
Thank you to these LAC members who recently concluded their service terms:
- Ryan Collins, Alabama
- Mark Taylor, Colorado
These regulatory leaders provide board executive input to the organization's goals, strategy and scope of work. Learn about the MBE Committee.
2025-26 members
Member Boards
Laura Zuniga
Member Boards
Edward Kinney
Member Boards
Lance Brenton
Member Boards
Amy Hall
Member Boards
Ryan Noakes
Member Boards
Judith Stapley
Member Boards
Justin Touchstone
Member Boards
Ellen White
Outgoing volunteers
Thank you to these MBE Committee members who recently concluded their service terms:
- Chair: Leslie Hanska, Oklahoma
- Shannon Himes, Ohio
- Avis Pearson, Washington, D.C.
These volunteers help develop fair, comprehensive exams that reflect the breadth of landscape architecture practice. Learn about the Exam Committee.
Though we wish we could recognize each individual for their service,
committee members’ names have been abbreviated to preserve exam security and integrity.
2025-26 members
Inventory, Analysis, and Project Management Subcommittee
- Chair: B.D., Tennessee
- D.D., Illinois
- M.E., Arizona
- V.H., Ontario
- R.L., Arkansas
- E.M., Virginia
- J.O., Massachussetts
- F.P., California
Planning and Design Subcommittee
- Chair: C.T., Nebraska
- L.C., Virginia
- S.L., Nevada
- C.M., Oregon
- J.M., Idaho
- E.P., Indiana
- S.S., Connecticut
- G.W., Wisconsin
Construction Documentation and Administration Subcommittee
- Chair: M.F., Ontario
- T.B., Texas
- L.H., Texas
- M.S., British Columbia
- M.S., Idaho
- P.P., Ohio
- R.S., Georgia
- K.V., New York
Grading, Drainage, and Stormwater Management Subcommittee
- Chair: D.J., Oklahoma
- A.A., Florida
- K.C., British Columbia
- W.H., Florida
- D.M., Massachusetts
- S.R., California
- G.W., Colorado
Outgoing volunteers
Thank you to these Exam Committee members who recently concluded their service terms:
Inventory, Analysis, and Project Management Subcommittee
- Z.C., Texas
Planning and Design Subcommittee
- Chair: V.T., British Columbia
- K.H., Oregon
Construction Documentation and Administration Subcommittee
- R.H., Maryland
- N.N., Wisconsin
Grading, Drainage, and Stormwater Management Subcommittee
- Chair: Z.B., Ontario
- W. W., Pennsylvania
- E.W., Missouri
We also wish to recognize these individuals who contribute to CLARB’s success by generously sharing their time and talent as volunteers.
CLARB representatives
These individuals serve as CLARB’s representatives to our partner organizations:
- Daniel Biggs, CLARB’s representative to the ASLA Exam Prep Committee
- Shana Bryant, CLARB’s representative to the LA CES Monitoring Committee
- Barbara Geiger, CLARB’s representative to the LA CES Application Review Committee
- Lea Ann Macknally, CLARB’s representative to the LAAB Board of Directors
- Avis Pearson, CLARB’s representative to the LA CES Monitoring Committee
Outgoing volunteers
Thank you to these volunteers who recently concluded their service terms:
- Christine Anderson, CLARB’s representative to the LAAB Board of Directors
- Rip Weaver, CLARB’s representative to the LA CES Administrative Committee
Bylaws review work group
This team played a central role in strengthening CLARB’s governance by ensuring our bylaws remain forward-looking, relevant and supportive of our mission:
- Chair: Nicole Crutchfield
- Adriana Hernandez Aguirre, Texas
- Blair Parker, Tennessee
- Bryce Olberding, Idaho
- Carrie Rybczynski, California
- Cary Baird, Nevada
- Erin Jennings, Indiana
- Mark Vaughan, British Columbia
ICOR Practice Overlap
These volunteers have helped develop uniform guidelines and definitions for competent overlap of practice between the disciplines of architecture, engineering, interior design, landscape architecture and surveying.
Steering Committee
This group served as the decision-making body responsible for achieving the 2020 task force outcomes:
- Chair: Wendy Ornelas
- CIDQ representatives: AnnMarie Jackson and Stacey Crumbaker
- CLARB representatives: Jerany Jackson and Phil Meyer
- NCARB representatives: Robert Calvani and Kristine Harding
- NCEES representatives: Scott Bishop, Chris Knotts and Brian Robertson
- Member board executives from multi-discipline boards: Julie Hildebrand and Judith Stapley
- Public member from multi-discipline board: Brett Foley
Landscape Architecture Subcommittee
This team mapped areas of practice to where practitioners are educated, trained and tested — validating competency in each area:
- Chair: Phil Meyer, Kansas
- Chip Brown, Georgia
- Ryan Evitts, Arkansas
- See-Yin Lim, Ontario
- Leehu Loon, Texas
CLARB's success depends on volunteers to bring unique and diverse perspectives to advance our mission. From elected and appointed leadership positions to opportunities that exist throughout the year to serve on committees and work groups, each role has its own qualifications, responsibilities and time commitments.
Applications are now open for a variety of volunteer positions.
About CLARB
The Council of Landscape Architectural Registration Boards (CLARB) is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit organization that designs and promotes standards to ensure that the world’s people, places and environment are protected by landscape architecture. Our members are the licensure boards that regulate the practice of landscape architecture across the United States, Puerto Rico, Northern Mariana Islands and Canada. Together, we forge pathways that enable landscape architects to transform spaces into thriving places where every community benefits from safe, sustainable and inspired design.
