David Hertz, FAIA – Architect & Founder, Syndesis & S.E.A.

David Hertz, FAIA, Architect, founded Syndesis in 1983 and S.E.A.The Studio of Environmental Architecture, a practice focus on regenerative design in an age of resilience.

David won the 2022 Smithsonian Cooper Hewitt National Design Award for Climate Action. in 2018 Hertz won the Water Abundance XPRIZE a 1.5 M prize to make over 2,000 liters of water from air. In 2006 David was awarded the Distinguished Alumni Award from the Southern California Institute of Architecture SCI-Arc and in 2008 he was elected to the prestigious American Institute of Architects College of Fellows, as one of its youngest members in its over 155-year history.

David’s award-winning work has been published widely and exhibited internationally. Some highlights include exhibitions in the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA), Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, the National Building Museum, and the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum. David has taught studios and lectured at Yale,USC, UCLA SCI-ARC, U PENN and Art Center College of Design. In 2024 he was amongst a select group of experts invited to the White House to participate in the National Resilience Framework working group. David is also a trained Wildland Fire Fighter with LA County Fire Division 7 Community Brigade.

Toni Lewis, AIA – Lewis|Schoeplein Architects

A third generation Los Angeles native, Toni is founding principal of Lewis/Schoeplein architects, a multi-disciplinary practice focused on sustainable community-based projects for institutions, government, non-profits and private developers. She has served as AIA/LA Treasurer (2022-present), as CFO of AWA+D (2019-2021), and on the Mulholland Scenic Corridor DRB (2012-2014). Her previous gigs included stints at Frank Gehry’s office, and at Gensler. Toni has a BA in Architecture from UC Berkeley and an M.Arch from UCLA. She lives in an empty nest in Los Angeles with partner/husband Marc Schoeplein, two chickens, and a clownish pit-bull.

Susan Nwankpa Gillespie, AIA – Nwankpa Design

Susan Nwankpa Gillespie is the founder and principal of Nwankpa Design, a Southern California architecture and interiors firm known for striking, elegant spaces that honor culture, identity, and the human experience. Her firm specializes in the holistic design of residences, aviation/aerospace projects, cultural and civil rights projects, and branded commercial environments.

Over the course of her career, her bold, contemporary designs have been published in some of the industry’s most-read publications including Dwell, The New York Times, and Architectural Digest, and have been recognized by the American Institute ofArchitects.

Dave Intner, AIA, CEM, LEED AP – Senior Advisor, Building Decarbonization and Energy Codes, and Standards, Southern California Edison

Dave Intner, with Southern California Edison’s Building Electrification and Codes & Standards team, is a Licensed Architect, LEED AP and Certified Energy Manager. A graduate of Cal Poly SLO, Dave provides education and outreach supporting Building Decarbonization and Energy Code Compliance Improvement. Dave has 28 years of professional experience split between architectural practice and utility program delivery. Dave serves on the statewide AIA Committee on the Environment, the Central Coast Green Building Council board, and was a voting member on the LEED Energy and Atmosphere Technical Advisory Group (EA-TAG). He is a Past President of the AIA Ventura County, and recently termed off the board of directors of USGBC Los Angeles.