EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
GREGORY T. SWITZER, AIA, NOMA, NCARB
PRESIDENT
Mr. Switzer founded SWITZER Architecture, P.C., a full-service architectural practice with emphasis on design and the management of the design process in 2003 as a response to the ever-changing architecture and interiors marketplace, in an effort to provide design conscious projects with the highest level of attention to detail and cost. He is responsible for day-to-day firm-wide operations as Managing Principal and CEO. Mr. Switzer’s extensive and unparalleled experience in multiple project situations allows him to work with clients and project teams to establish and maintain overall project direction with clarity and focused direction.
Firm projects encompass the perfect balance between creative thought and the leveraged use of technology with a true sensitivity and appreciation of process and their effects on the built environment. Committed to guiding clients through the often - tedious tasks of organization and understanding the impact of the built environment with respect to their unique projects. He believes every client’s unique needs are always addressed during the firm’s true hands on process of implementation.
Mr. Switzer is licensed in 16 states and is involved in numerous organizations which include the American Institute of Architects as well as and his local Planning Board. In addition to his in-house experience, he has extended experience with several notable architectural and design firms totaling more than 30 years of hands on practical knowledge.
He received his Bachelor Degree in Architecture from Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York and a Bachelors of Interior Design from Louisiana State University. He was also a research fellow at Cornell University, a participant in the Affordable Housing Institute at the Harvard GSD and has authored several sections of various books and publications with his most recent contribution to the Interior Design Handbook of Professional Practice.
Mr. Switzer also received recognition in The Network Journal’s 40 Under 40 list, has lectured on master facilities planning for the American Management Association and recently received a Best for New York City Honorary Award.
Allison Lane, RA, AIA, ASID, NCARB,
NCIDQ, LEEED AP, WELL AP, NOMA
PRESIDENT ELECT
Allison Lane is a licensed Architect and Associate at AECOM with experience as a Design, Program and Project Manager for AECOM’s Buildings and Places (B+P) Architecture and Asset Advisory practices based in New York. With over 11 years of experience in the design and construction of award-winning projects, her background includes architecture, interior design, real estate development and asset management.
Allison has a proven track record in luxury high-end residential, hotel/hospitality and mixed-use commercial buildings. She holds additional expertise in managing pursuits that are affordable, accessible, and sustainable, including educational, institutional, and historic preservation projects. With a career spanning from single family homes to high rises, industrial buildings, and transportation hubs, Allison’s career continues to expand with projects on a local, national, and global scale.
Allison’s commitment to promoting inclusive design opportunities for diverse industry professionals, is evidenced through her engagement in equity and inclusion efforts at AECOM and various industry organizations. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Architecture from the University of Pennsylvania and a Master of Architecture from Pratt Institute. Recent fellowships include the Beverly Willis Architecture Foundation Emerging Leaders Fellowship and the Real Estate Associate Program Fellowship (Project REAP). She currently serves as the Professional Development Committee Co-chair for nycobaNOMA.
lopita das, NOMA, Assoc. AIA
TREASURER
Lopita Das is an Architectural Designer at Cavalry Associates. She has a Bachelor of Architecture from Pratt Institute. She was born in India, raised in Dubai moved to New York to pursue architecture. The emergence of three cultures and regions of the world helped Lopita learn early on about the power of being authentic and the value of working together for a common good.
Lopita is currently the treasurer for NycobaNOMA and a director for AIA Brooklyn. She has a passion for creating architecture that enhances and encourages the symbiotic lifestyle of communities and endeavors to portray the value of differences as a benefit.
Hoping to give back to the circle she is hoping to be further involved in mentorship to future architects and designers who are motivated to use architecture as a powerful memorial for our time.
Mel loyola agosto, NOMA
CORRESPONDING SECRETARY
correspondingsecretary@nycoba.org
Mel Loyola Agosto is a junior designer at Marvel Architects. She is also a freelance designer and fine artist. Mel has a BFA in Film/Animation/Video from Rhode Island School of Design, and an MArch from Columbia GSAPP.
Hoping to never return to school (as a student) again, Mel is motivated to be out in the professional world and spending her free time making art or working with local organizations. She has been volunteering for Project Pipeline since 2017, and hopes to dedicate more time to doing workshops that make art and design classes more accessible for first-gen state residents and similar groups.
maya madison, aia, NOMA, ncarb
PARLIAMENTARIAN
Maya Madison designs with a sense of community and serving the public in mind. She comes from a family of architects and engineers and is a third-generation architect with both of her parents, great uncle, and grandfather all being architects. Her great grandfather was an engineer. Having graduated from Syracuse University with a Bachelor of Architecture degree, she has always viewed architecture as an art form that is essential to the everyday life and well-being of humanity.
As a licensed architect in New York with over six years of post-graduate experience, Maya has served a variety of important roles designing and detailing projects ranging from performing art centers to commercial skyscrapers and currently aviation projects. With a passion for drawing and painting, Maya brings her creative flair and artistic eye to the design and construction process.
Maya has been an active member of nycoba|NOMA for the last four years and has previously served as the organization's corresponding secretary and has continued to be a part of the Professional Development Committee.
leslie epps, NOMA
RECORDING SECRETARY
Leslie Epps is an accomplished architectural designer at WXY Studio and a recent graduate of the Bernard and Anne Spitzer School of Architecture undergraduate program at the City College of New York. Awarded NOMA Student Member of the Year 2019, Leslie Epps founded the NOMAS at CCNY Chapter and served as President for two years, before becoming a NOMA Student Representative and serving on the NOMA Board of Directors until 2021.
She has been passionate about architecture for half of her life and is eager to learn more and enact change moving forward in her career. In the future, she aspires to combine architecture with urban planning in an effort to address social issues and ultimately better society. She envisions her role in architecture as one of service and aims to work towards her hopes for the profession by gaining experience working with untapped communities.
aMBER lIU
iNTERIM mARKETING dIRECTOR
Amber Liu is a freelance illustrator and graphic designer. She loves creating all kinds of work—her portfolio includes projects from illustrated books, movie posters and entertainment merchandise, to marketing graphics, animations, and social media content.
She has a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Communication Design from Pratt Institute, with minors in Psychology and Art History. She was also a Business and Media Visiting Student in New York University and The University of Hong Kong.
Growing up in the Philippines, going to boarding school in Singapore and then moving to New York, she aims to bring cultures and communities together through her pieces. Her designs are detail-oriented, her fonts are often hand-drawn, her palette is colorful, and as an extrovert, her goal is to use her voice to showcase the power that art has in fostering empathy, strengthening relationships and formulating decisions.
Website: artbyamberliu.com
Instagram: @artbyamberliu
kedishia joseph, nomas
social media manager
Kedishia Joseph was born on the beautiful island of Grenada and currently resides in Brooklyn. She is a second-year B Arch major at CCNY Spitzer School of Architecture. Spontaneous travel, cooking, dancing, and socializing are some of Kedishia’s favorite hobbies despite her irrational fear of millipedes and phobia of small seeds (watermelon, lemon).
Kedishia is currently the Secretary at NOMAS CCNY and VP candidate for their upcoming election in the Spring, Social Media Chair for NYCOBA, and Volunteer with NYCMAKESPPE a grassroots organization that donates free PPE such as face masks and shield to both essential, non-essential businesses and minority communities throughout the five Boroughs.
Helping others, advocating for equality are a few of the qualities Kedishia posses and strives to enhance daily.
past executive committee members
president
Samantha Josaphat, RA, NOMA, NCARB, LEED GA (2019-20)
Ibrahim Greenidge, NOMA, RA (2017-18)
Pascale Sablan (2015-16)
Mark Gardener (2014)
Tonja Adair (2012-13)
Kelly Powell (2010-11)
Heather Oneal (2004-05)
Zevilla Jackson Preston
Jack Travis
Roberta Washington
president elect
Talisha L. Sainvil, AIA, NOMA, NCARB, LEED (2021)
Gregory T. Switzer, AIA, NOMA, NCARB (2019-20)
Samantha Josaphat, NOMA, AIA, LEED (2018)
vice president
Oral Selkridge, NOMA, RA, LEED AP (2017)
Corr. secretary
Maya Madison, Assoc. AIA, NOMA (2019-20)
Shakera Kyle, NOMA, Assoc. AIA, Allied ASID (2017-18)
rec. secretary
Maimouna Sow, NOMA (2020-21)
Sharlita Green, NOMA (2017-18)
TREASURER
Ellen Abraham, MBA, NOMA, Assoc. AIA (2020-21)
Jeffrey Charles-Pierre, NOMA, Assoc. AIA (2017-19)
parliamentarian
Jeffrey Charles-Pierre, NOMA, Assoc. AIA (2021)
Camille Sherrod, RA, NOMA, NCARB (2019-20)
Joseph Cole, NOMA (2018)
Anaelechi Owunwanne, NOMA (2017)