Joni Monroe, AIA

Executive Director

Joni Monroe, AIA, was instrumental in laying the foundation for the RRCDC since its inception in 1998. During her tenure the RRCDC has developed from a group of volunteers, community advocates and supportive design professionals lacking a permanent base to its current state housed in the historic Hungerford Smith building supporting a staff, a design gallery and an educational resource center in the heart of one of Rochester’s redeveloping communities. Joni continues with a dedication to civic involvement in all aspect of community design by actively engaging Rochester’s citizens, community leaders, design professionals, artists, neighbors and a varied array of friends and supporters through her vision and leadership as an Architect, Educator and citizen of Rochester.

Joni holds a Master of Architecture degree from Yale University, a Master of Science in Historic Preservation from Columbia University and a Master of Education from the University of Rochester. Her work experience includes her tenure as Associate Architect in Monroe County’s Department of Engineering and preservation as President of Mack Consulting Associates.

In recent years Joni’s dedication to community development and work through the RRCDC has seen her guest presenting to varied venues such as Build Boston, the National Conference of the Association for Community Design (ACD), the New York State Council of Governments and as a guest Juror for Cornell University’s School of Design. Locally she is a performing member of the String Song Ensemble Orchestra and is an accomplished oil painter.

Jonathan Logan

Design Coordinator

Jonathan Logan joined the RRCDC in 2007 and serves as the Design Coordinator for the varied programs, publications, Charrettes and presentations the RRCDC facilitates throughout the year. His dedication to civic engagement and experience in Urban and Regional planning continues to strengthen the mission and goals of the RRCDC. Jonathan provides balanced solutions for a wide variety of design needs including technical expertise, data assembly, information gathering, presenting and public engagement.

Jonathan holds a Masters of Urban and Regional planning from Virginia Tech and a Bachelors of Landscape Architecture from the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry.

His extensive experience includes landscape design with the Urban Research & Development Corporation, assisting in projects ranging from borough hall improvements to a master plan for a 10-mile rail trail. Jonathan has assisted in completion of reports on vacant and abandoned property management policies for the National Vacant Properties Campaign and a HUD-funded study on the impacts of environmental regulations on housing affordability. When not offering his dedicated spirit to facilitating and implementing sustainable design for the RRCDC Jonathan enjoys mountain biking, hiking and is an avid outdoorsman.

Ethan Borshansky

Assistant to Executive Director

Ethan joined the RRCDC in 2008 after completing a degree in music composition from the University of Rochester’s renowned Eastman School of Music. His belief in civic engagement and community building through collaborative efforts paired with a unique background in the arts assists the Design Center in its role toward providing comprehensive design. Using his communication and organization skills Ethan has implemented new office systems and database organization as well as possibilities for office work share and future office expansion. His technical skills also provide solutions for media capture and web delivery such as our audio content for our award winning Reshaping Rochester lecture series.

Ethan coordinates with the executive director to communicate between staff, volunteers, constituents, friends and the board of the RRCDC.

Roger E. Brown, AIA, CNU

President, Board of Directors

Mr. Brown has been a practicing architect in New York State for over 35 years. He is an Associate Partner with Barkstrom & LaCroix Architects (1981). Roger is a member of the American Institute of Architects and the Congress for the New Urbanism. He is a founding member of the Rochester Regional Community Design Center (2003) as well as its predecessor organization, the AIA Rochester Urban Design Committee (1998). Roger has designed many AIA Rochester award winning residential projects around the Rochester area including Cornhill Landing, the Crescent, Elmwood Manor Townhouses, and Cornhill Commons along with the neighborhood and community vision plans for Pittsford Village and Hilton Village. Roger regularly gives presentations on urban and community design to neighborhood groups, municipalities, and professional organizations. He has helped plan and facilitate numerous community design charrettes and design conferences/workshops on urban design and planning issues.

Dean Biancavilla

Vice President, Board of Directors

Timothy Raymond

Secretary, Board of Directors

Tim holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts and a Bachelor of Architecture from Rhode Island School of Design. He is one of the founding members of the RRCDC and a former member of the AIA Rochester Urban Design Committee, which preceded the RRCDC. Tim has helped to coordinate and facilitate community design charrettes and been involved with several other urban design projects and activities in the Greater Rochester Area. Tim is currently employed by the City of Rochester Bureau of Buildings and Zoning, and has worked at several architectural firms in Rochester and in Hartford, Connecticut. Tim is a member of the Congress for the New Urbanism and has participated in plenary sessions on the Transect and Form-Based Codes at Congresses IX and XI.

Malinda Gaskamp

Treasurer, Board of Directors

Malinda holds a Bachelor's Degree of Landscape Architecture from the University of Georgia. She has been practicing Landscape Architecture for 23 years. She is currently the Managing Leader for Urban Land Engineering for Stantec Consulting Services, Inc. In addition to serving on the board of RRCDC, Malinda is also a landscape consultant to the City of Rochester Preservation Board and a board member and buildings committee chair for the Mary Cariola Children's Center. Contact Info : Melinda.Gaskamp@stantec.com