Who We Are

Brian A. Maxwell, RA  

President / Senior Project Architect

With more than 30 years of experience, Brian Maxwell brings extensive expertise in health care design to the MHAworks team. He specializes in leading project teams for health care clinics, hospital renovations, and medical office buildings throughout North Carolina. He is an expert in project management and creative design with strong attention to detail and client communication. Brian has significant experience in accessibility compliance and is sought after for his expertise in planning and design.

As a designer specializing in health care, Brian is inspired by creating environments that promote healing.

George Hining

Vice President / Business Development Director

George Hining has been with MHAworks since 2009. In his role, he focuses on developing overall firm strategies and fostering strong partnerships with clients and the community. George also concentrates on improving the economic development of North Carolina and the individual communities within the state.

George enjoys finding creative solutions to the diverse challenges he encounters every day in his role.

Amanda P. King 

Vice President / Chief Financial Officer

Jared L. Martinson, AIA, NCARB

Vice President / Durham Director / Senior Project Manager

Jared Martinson is the director of MHAworks’ multi-family and mixed-use studio as well as the director of our Durham office. With more than 20 years of experience, including time spent as an owner’s representative and construction manager, he has extensive knowledge of all phases of the design and construction process.

Jared believes in a project approach that is consistently collaborative and focused on partnership. This steady focus has delivered successful projects for a variety of stakeholders, clients, and communities.

Amy L. Spruill, RID, NCIDQ     

Vice President / Greenville Director / Senior Project Manager

In addition to being co-director of the Greenville Office, Amy Spruill has more than 14 years of industry experience and is particularly familiar with processes of the State Construction Office. Since joining MHAworks, Amy has played a critical role as the project manager on large-scale higher education projects that required complicated phasing and code compliance.

As a project manager, Amy enjoys coordinating many different user groups within an institution as well as with contractors and authorities having jurisdiction. As an interior designer, she measures a successful project in renovating unused, unattractive spaces to ones with new energy that encourages its users to be in the space and interact with others.

Peter Y. Alberice, NCARB

Asheville Director / Senior Project Architect

Peter Alberice has practiced in western North Carolina for more than 40 years and has served as a project architect and manager for many commercial, educational, and institutional projects. His specialty is designing mixed-use development projects in challenging urban environments.

As a designer, Peter is inspired by the opportunity to transform a site into an environment that not only meets the needs of the clients and users, but also the greater community

Eric R. Howell, Associate AIA, LEED Green Associate

Asheville Director / Project Manager

Since joining the Asheville office in 2016, Eric Howell has worked on a diverse collection of projects and has experience in project management, design, and production for all phases of architecture. One of his specialties is understanding and implementing the most effective way to obtain approval of a new commercial development in the local government.

Although he is driven to see each project completed successfully, Eric is most passionate about schematic design, general massing, and working closely with the owner to coordinate plans and material ideas.

Mani Medina-Markham

Marketing Director

Mani Medina-Markham is an award-winning graphic designer, project manager, and visual storyteller with more than 20 years of communications and marketing experience. In her role, Mani focuses on developing strategic marketing plans, leading the firm’s creative direction and overall design vision, and finding practical solutions to enhance internal communications across our offices. Since joining MHAworks in 2018, she has been instrumental in the development of our new brand identity, launching our new website, setting up new databases, and helping us enhance our message to the community.

Mani’s favorite part of her job is delivering creative and engaging solutions across a range of media that resonates with users and delivers measurable results.

Barry Hill, AIA

Senior Project Architect

Jeff Trussler, AIA, NCARB

Technical Lead / Senior Project Architect

With more than 30 years of experience in the architecture industry, Jeff Trussler brings extensive expertise in health care, educational, commercial, municipal, and multifamily sectors. Over the years, Jeff has filled the role of designer, project architect, and project manager. These roles have provided Jeff with a deep understanding of the industry.

In his role, Jeff enjoys working as part of a project team to create thoughtful, well executed projects.

John Miliacca, AIA, NCARB

Senior Project Architect

With more than 35 years of experience as an architect and project manager, John Miliacca brings a diverse portfolio in education, health care, commercial, industrial, multifamily, and mixed-use design to the MHAworks team. In his role, John strives to create projects on time and within budget.

John is most passionate about elevating the quality of life through good design. The opportunity to shelter people beautifully is what inspires him as a project manager.

Yi Luo, RA, NCARB

Project Architect

Yi Luo has more than 15 years of experience in the field of architecture and design with a focus on life science, commercial, multifamily, and mixed-use projects and renovations. She brings a wealth of knowledge in her capacity as a project architect having worked in Florida, Louisiana, and New York prior to joining MHAworks. During her time at MHAworks, she has worked on numerous new construction and renovations projects.

As a designer, Yi believes that the most elegant solutions are often the simplest solutions to problems.

Julia Brewer, AIA, NCARB

Project Architect

Since beginning her career in architecture more than 10 years ago, Julia Brewer has worked in a variety of different areas of design ranging from residential interiors to commercial, medical, and historic renovations. Julia has experience in every project stage from predesign to construction administration.

As a project architect, Julia is constantly striving to improve others experience of the built environment through her designs.

Josh Singer, AIA, NCARB, CREIA

Project Architect

Joshua Singer began his career in architecture in 2015 after he received his Master of Architecture at Wentworth Institute of Technology. He brings extensive expertise in mixed use and healthcare design to the MHAworks team.

Positively contributing to the human experience through the built environment is what inspires Joshua to create. He is passionate about resilient design strategies that promote the wellbeing of others.

Emily Burleson, AIA

Project Architect

Emily Burleson began her career in architecture in 2015 after receiving her Bachelor of Architecture at UT Knoxville. While at MHAworks, she has honed her expertise while working on many multifamily and mixed-use projects. Emily is a well-rounded designer with strengths in both concept and technical design.

Emily is a team-player who enjoys working alongside her co-workers at MHAworks to help bring our projects to life for clients.

Bill McCaffrey

Senior Project Manager

Kim Garbisch

Project Manager

Jeff Schmidt

Project Manager

Jeff Schmidt joined the MHAworks team in 2008 after receiving Bachelor degrees in Industrial Design and Building Science from Appalachian State University.  Although Jeff has worked on a wide array of projects while at MHAworks, his specialty is in health care design and life safety.

Jeff’s favorite aspect of his role is working with the health care design team to address the different challenges presented with each unique project.

Mandy Pittman

Project Manager / Interior Designer

Although she has worked on a variety of different projects since joining the MHAworks team in 2007, Mandy Pittman’s specialty is health care design. She is actively involved with the architectural process including space planning, construction administration, and selecting and coordinating interior finishes.

As a designer, Mandy is inspired by the health care industry. She strongly believes that patients deserve the safest, best care possible in an environment where the staff also feel safe, efficient, and productive.

Amber Idol, ADAC, DBIA

Project Manager / ADA Specialist

Amber Idol’s project experience with MHAworks has been for school systems, parks and recreation departments, and other municipal departments. She also has expertise with East Carolina University projects and especially enjoys those associated with athletics. One of Amber’s greatest strengths is her ability to organize information and orchestrate tasks not only on small projects but also on a large scale, which led her to spearhead MHAworks’ ADA survey of over 500 facilities across the state for the North Carolina Department of Transportation.

Amber actively maintains her ADA Coordinator certification to continue her understanding of ADA compliance and further MHAworks’ commitment to creating spaces that are accessible for everyone to enjoy. Amber is also passionate about being a good partner to her coworkers, to contractors, and to clients as seen in her commitment to well-coordinated construction documents and during construction administration.

Ally Gagliardo

Project Manager

Before completing her Bachelor of Science in Interior Design from East Carolina University in 2018, Ally Gagliardo was an interior design intern with MHAworks. After graduation, Ally joined our team full time, and her attention to detail and strong organizational skills benefit the projects to which she is assigned.

Ally excels at State Construction project-types, where her role of project manager lends to collaboration with co-workers, consultants, and clients to create successful projects. Other project types that Ally enjoys includes commercial kitchens and restaurant interiors, as well as projects for the Department of Transportation.   

Dana Herman, RID, NCIDQ

Project Manager

Johnathan Schmitt

Project Manager

Natalya Anissimova, WELL AP, LEED Green Associate

Project Designer

Natalya Anissimova brings advanced knowledge of health and well-being in the built environment and a specialization in the WELL Building Standard to the MHAworks team. Her strength is in space planning, and she works alongside our team to create beautiful 2D illustrations and 3D renderings to identify the structural logistics of new projects.

Natalya is passionate about creating and designing healthy and aesthetically stimulating spaces for people to enjoy. She works to meet each of her client’s needs in the most aesthetic, ecological, and economical ways possible.

Rachael Kelley, NCIDQ

Project Designer

Since graduating from Florida State University in 2015, Rachael Kelley has gained knowledge through a diverse range of projects including commercial, health care, industrial, hospitality, multifamily, educational, and even a few haunted houses. She specializes in inventing creative ways to utilize tools and programs to produce more realistic models and renderings.

Rachael is most passionate about protecting the health, safety, and welfare of users in our spaces through universal design and accessibility.

Gerardo Rodriguez

Project Designer

Gerardo earned his Bachelor of Science in Design from East Carolina University and obtained several certifications within the Autodesk Suite. Since joining the MHAworks team, Gerardo Rodriguez has helped support architects and project managers during all phases of the design process from conception to creation. Gerardo performs a multitude of tasks, ranging from surveying and inputting for assessments to the creation of construction documents.

Gerardo’s strength is working with others to meet project deadlines and to create the best possible outcome for project designs. He thrives on the opportunity to help others and create effective and elegant designs.

Abigail Waldroup

Project Designer

Abigail Waldroup joined the MHAworks team shortly after completing her Bachelor of Science in Interior Design at Western Carolina University. In her role, Abigail works with our team to make sure that all the details of a project line up, from codes to the color of fabrics.

Seeing the ways in which the built environment can mimic aspects that are found in nature inspires Abigail as a designer. Colors and nature inspire her to think “outside of the box” when she is creating.

Alexandra Allen-Krabath

Project Designer

Alexandra Allen-Krabath joined the MHAworks team in 2022 a few years after obtaining her Bachelor of Architecture at Syracuse University. Alexandra brings with her a diverse portfolio in multifamily, residential, educational, and mixed-use design.

As a designer, Alexandra is most inspired when visiting built projects in person and seeing how they are constructed in the field. She loves to travel and search for inspiring architecture on the trips.

Christy Tucker, RID, NCIDQ

Project Designer

Before she joined MHAworks as a full-time project designer, Christy Tucker interned at our Durham office while obtaining her bachelor’s degree in interior design at East Carolina University. Since graduating in 2019, she has accumulated experience designing for a variety of project types including workplace, health care, and multifamily.

Designing projects that make a positive impact for the users and community inspires Christy to continue creating. She is passionate about designing spaces that are beautiful and accessible for everyone to experience and enjoy.  

Thanh Nguyen

Project Designer

Thanh Nguyen is equipped with more than 20 years of experience in the field of architecture and design, as well as possessing two master’s degrees in architecture and business administration. In his role, he helps to generate the best solutions for complicated design challenges allowing projects to be finished on time and without going over budget.

Thanh likes guiding the project through each phase of design from conception to completion and takes pride in helping clients bring their ideas to life. He especially enjoys the conceptual design phase and sees the A/E/C industry as a combination of art and applied technical knowledge.

Chris Tierney, AIA

Project Designer

Chris Tierney joined the MHAworks team after spending several years working and studying architecture in Massachusetts and North Carolina. Chris brings expertise in residential, multifamily, mixed-use, and technical development of building envelopes and façades.

His ability to problem-solve is one of Chris’ greatest strengths. He enjoys collaborating in a team environment to come up with the best solutions to bring a project to life.

Maria Fuentes

Project Designer

Maria Fuentes is a licensed architect in Colombia and is currently working towards obtaining her licensure in the United States. Since her career began, Maria has gained a wealth of experience in the different phases of design and construction with a focus on education, multifamily, and commercial projects.

As a project designer, Maria is inspired to design for the common good of all the people who are involved and impacted by the project. She uses her knowledge of construction methods to solve design challenges and enjoys working with teams to find the best solutions. 

Marilia Pereira dos Santos

Interior Designer

Mari Pereira began her career in 2015 after obtaining dual degrees in interior design and family consumer science from Meredith College. In her role, Mari has experience with designing municipal, higher education, and commercial facilities.

Mari’s strength is her ability to understand the idea that the client has in their minds and translate it into reality. To be able to understand someone’s vision and bring it to life is one of the most exciting parts of her job.

Chloe Townley

Finance & HR Coordinator

As finance and HR coordinator, Chloe Townley oversees invoicing and internal communications, working closely alongside Chief Financial Officer Amanda King to ensure the professional and financial prosperity of all MHA staff members.

Julianne Vance

Office Manager

Julianne Vance is the first person our visitors meet when they step inside the Durham office. Julianne carries out many of the clerical and organizational tasks that keep our office running smoothly. She is a team-player whose greatest strength is her customer service and ability to problem-solve.

Faith Shaughnessy

Marketing Coordinator

Shortly after completing her Bachelor of Arts in mass communications from UNC Asheville, Faith Shaughnessy joined the MHAworks team as a marketing coordinator. In her role, she assists in the development of written and digital content.

Vanessa Almelor

Administrative Assistant

While pursuing a degree in Statistics and Analytics at the University of North Carolina, Vanessa Almelor joined the MHAworks team as an administrative assistant. They use resiliency and organizational skills to help solve everyday problems around the office.