Blazing a Path to Leadership: Alta Congratulates New Leaders
Fostering professional growth and creating employee leadership opportunities are built into the core values Alta was founded on 25 years ago. Even the name Alta reflects a decision by founder Michael Jones to choose a name not tied to him, recognizing that the company is the sum of its people and its greatest success is in giving them opportunities to realize their passions and carry the mission forward.
Leadership development opportunities exist at all levels of Alta–from growing our service areas and participating in our R&D Incubator program, to joining our Mentorship Academy or any of our geographic leadership committees, as well as our employee shareholders who serve on the Board of Directors.
We are proud to announce several leadership promotions in our practice areas and regional positions. “We believe in working across regions and disciplines to gain new insights and perspectives,” said Alta President Brett Hondorp, who has been with the company for over 20 years. “Our goal is to create a place where people feel empowered to learn and grow in an environment that rewards those efforts. My own career at Alta has been one of continued growth — starting as an entry-level planner and learning new technical skills, moving into project management, then people management and now serving on our corporate leadership team. Through my career at Alta, opportunity pathways have been created for me and I am proud to continue that legacy and see this next generation of leaders taking the helm.”
As we welcome our newly appointed members of Alta’s leadership team, many of whom have been with Alta for more than a decade, we want to recognize how far they’ve come and the work it takes to develop the skills necessary to step into these important roles.
Introducing our Newly Appointed Leaders
Britt Storck, ASLA, PLA: Landscape Architecture Practice Leader
Britt, who has been with Alta for more than a decade, has become a well-respected landscape architect with a career centered around trail and corridor placemaking, and active community design and planning. Born and raised in Atlanta, Britt returned home with her family in 2016 and now leads an interdisciplinary group in Alta’s downtown office while also serving nationally on the East Coast Greenway Alliance Board of Trustees and as Vice President of the Atlanta-region Chattahoochee National Park Conservancy Board of Directors. She works collaboratively with engineers and planners, urban designers and in a volunteer capacity across the country to develop projects that activate communities and improve quality of life. Her strong technical understanding of design and construction challenges associated with public trails in all types of landscapes and infrastructure palettes means she brings a unique understanding of user experience associated with linear space.
Jason Reyes, AICP: Planning Practice Leader
Jason has over 16 years of consulting experience for active transportation, greenway systems, and open space planning, including more than a decade at Alta. He has contributed to more than 150 projects in 14 states during his career, serving in both lead and support roles as a planner, project manager, commissioner, facilitator, analyst, writer, graphic designer, and cartographer. Jason manages Alta’s office in Durham, North Carolina and we are thrilled to see him use these leadership skills as our Planning Practice Leader.
Adrian Esteban, PE, LEED AP BD&C, AP ND: Engineering Practice Lead
Adrian has over 20 years of transportation engineering experience working in designing roadway, bicycle, pedestrian, and trail projects. His expertise is in managing multi-discipline projects from planning through design and construction. In addition to his engineering design skills, he is certified as a Project Management Professional and has extensive experience in coordinating and facilitating the resolution of project issues by monitoring project risks and developing mitigation plans. Adrian offers a comprehensive knowledge of LEED® Building Design and Construction and Neighborhood Development requirements, as well as all stages of project bidding and construction management phases. He is known by clients for his high quality work, excellent professional ethics, leadership skills, accountability, and decision-making capabilities. He is a graduate from the University of California, Berkeley (1996) with a B.S. in Civil Engineering and from the University of Oregon (2004) with an MBA.
Emily Duchon, ASLA, LEED AP: California Regional Leader
Emily’s creativity, energy, and experience in ecological design give her the tools to create vibrant public spaces and transportation networks in communities. Her ability to conduct successful community outreach efforts means she is able to build project support and community investment in her projects. She’s also skilled in leading consulting teams through feasibility studies, alternatives analysis and construction document development, which will serve her well as she takes on this new leadership role.
Deven Young, PLA: California Regional Leader
Deven is an experienced project manager and landscape architect who has been with Alta for seven years, having worked in Portland and Los Angeles before relocating to our Oakland office. He has helped lead some of Alta’s largest and most complex pathway improvement projects like the LA River Path, Hong Kong Harbourfront and the Coachella Valley Link. His technical strengths are balanced with an ability to find common ground when facing complex infrastructure challenges. We’re looking forward to Deven leading and growing our California practice.
Eli Bisegna: Art Director
We are thrilled to announce Eli Bisegna has been selected as Alta’s Art Director. Eli has been with Alta since 2016. During the interview process, she impressed the Creative Services leadership with her phenomenal artistic vision, her confidence and thoughtfulness, and her dedication to Alta’s mission. Since then, she has continued to expand her expertise and leadership, and is highly valued across disciplines within Alta and with clients who have had the chance to work with her. In addition, she co-leads Alta’s Wayfinding Service Area, where she is influential in creating wayfinding systems that address the needs of each community member, whether traveling by foot, bicycle, car, or transit.
