Senior Associate, Steinberg

Mani is a Senior Programmer and Project Manager who is integral to campus planning projects for public/private educational clients throughout the United States. Gathering 30 years of experience, Mani has expertise in higher education and K-12 projects for visioning, programming, master planning, and participatory governance. Her passion is listening to constituents, enriching dialogue and building consensus. Mani has led workshops, open forums, and interactive presentations to stakeholders, plus conferences: AIA, A4LE (CEFPI), CCFC, CCLC, SCUP. A lifelong learner, she completed SCUP Planning Institute Step III. Her professional degree was Bachelor of Architecture from Boston Architectural College, in addition to Bachelor of Arts in Architecture from Wellesley College, with cross-registration at MIT. Earlier, Mani graduated from Tehran International School. With eastern roots and western upbringing, she brings a wealth of perspective, plus volunteer duties being a Board of Trustee member for her local school district.

HGA Architects

Patricia was born in the small town of Redding, CA. She developed a love of architecture while traveling with her parents and seeing beautiful concert halls and cathedrals. Patricia graduated from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in June 2015 where she earned a Bachelor of Architecture. While in school she had the opportunity to participate in a study abroad program at Dessau Institute of Architecture at Anhalt University in Dessau, Germany and interned at Bohlin Cywinski Jackson in Seattle. Patricia made both Cal Poly’s Dean’s and President’s Lists and was a member of the Mustang Marching Band from 2010-14. She is currently an AIA Associate working for HGA Architects in downtown San Francisco and eagerly pursuing professional licensure.

Managing Director, Gensler

Joan is Co-Managing Director of our San Francisco office and a leader in the Gensler Client Relationship Community. Her mantra is: “Our client’s point of view determines our success.” She identifies business opportunities in key Gensler markets and also services multi-location and multi-project accounts for leading client companies and organizations. Joan is former President of the Northern California CoreNet Global Leadership Council and the first woman recipient of their Corporate Real Estate Service Provider of the Year Award. She currently chairs the Board of the San Francisco Center for Economic Development and is on the Executive Committee of SPUR (San Francisco Urban Planning & Research). Joan earned a Master of Corporate Real Estate, a professional designation of CoreNet that is focused on the strategic management of corporate real estate. An avid hiker, Joan has raised more than $30,000 as a nine-time participant in the 40-mile Avon Walk for Breast Cancer.

Principal, Atelier Cho Thompson

Ming Thompson, AIA is a principal of Atelier Cho Thompson, a San Francisco-based design and concept firm, engaged in the art of architecture, interiors, graphics, brand strategy, furniture, installations, and exhibition design. Ming and her partner Christina Yoo formed their firm with an aim to transcend the conventional boundaries between these disciplines, resulting in a richness borne of the cross-pollination of ideas and strategies from across this spectrum of design. Ming studied architecture at Yale University and the Harvard Graduate School of Design and has worked for large and small firms around the globe.  As a practicing architect, Ming is focused on bettering human experience through design; she insists that good design must occur at all scales, from the building to the furniture to the logo, and everything in between.  Outside of architecture, Ming serves on the Board of Trustees of the Yale-China Association and the Alumnae Council of The Madeira School, and teaches at the California College of the Arts.