NWA ARCHITECTS
OUR PEOPLE
Brian has been practicing civil engineering in Northwest Arkansas since leaving the active duty Air Force in 2003. He joined Hight Jackson in 2007 and is licensed in four states. His experience as a U.S. Air Force officer and navigator provides a wealth of knowledge in leadership skills and personnel management. Brian currently serves as the President of the Heritage High School Booster Club, is the President of the Rogers Mountaineer Athletic Hall of Fame Board of Directors, and is a member of First Baptist Church Rogers. He is also a retired Lieutenant Colonel United States Air Force Reserve, a graduate of Leadership Benton County, and was recognized as a leading business professional in NWA Business Journal’s “Forty Under Forty” in 2009. Brian is a Northwest Arkansas native and currently lives in Rogers with his wife and their two sons.
Email: bjackson@hjarch.com
Larry earned his Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Arkansas in 1979. Before joining Hight Jackson Associates in 2004, Larry was the President of EBCO Construction Company, bringing vast experience in construction development, management, and award-winning design. He served in the JBU Construction Management School at John Brown University, and authored the Strategic Plan for the school’s recruiting and fundraising efforts. He is currently on the Fayetteville Public Education Foundation Board of Directors and on the Board of the Helen Walton Children’s Enrichment Center, and is an advisor to several non-profit organizations in the area.
Larry enjoys entertaining, cooking and painting.
Email: lperkin@hjarch.com
Having grown up in Rogers, Gail appreciates the forethought, generosity, and unity the region has always had. She attended Drury College for two years before transferring to the University of Arkansas where she earned a Bachelor of Architecture. Gail began working summers at Hight Jackson while she was at the U of A and then full time after graduation. After a short time working elsewhere, Gail returned in 2009, becoming a partner in 2013. She is licensed in Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma. She served a 5-year term on the Arkansas State Board of Architects, Landscape Architects, and Interior Designers, appointed in 2018. She served as President her last year, becoming the first female to have held that position. She is the president of the Rogers Historical Museum Foundation Board. She is a LEED Accredited Professional and a member of the Association For Learning Environments. It is important to Gail that Hight Jackson maintains our foundation of client-focused design while continuing to raise the standards of architecture in Northwest Arkansas and the surrounding regions. She lives in Fayetteville with her patient husband, three exuberant sons, and one sweet beagle.
Email: gshepherd@hjarch.com
Shayan graduated from University of Arkansas and joined Hight Jackson in 2010. He became vice president in the firm in 2017, and became a partner in January 2020. His key projects include the Lobby Dome Addition to Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, the Bachman Wilson House reconstruction on the grounds of Crystal Bridges, and Arkansas Arts Academy High School. He is Principal in Charge overseeing the Crystal Bridges expansion project and Northwest Arkansas National Airport Terminal Modernization. Shayan is actively involved in our community and is a member of the Bentonville Rotary Club. He serves as Membership Chair of Urban Land Institute Northwest Arkansas. His hobbies include biking, hiking, soccer, tennis, and playing bass guitar.
Email: sdehbozorgi@hjarch.com
Following his studies in the School of Architecture at the University of Arkansas, Mark began his professional career in Little Rock. After a decade of experience there, an opportunity arose with a design-build firm in Northwest Arkansas. Mark then joined Hight Jackson in 1992. He shares his technical expertise and manages contract document production office-wide. Mark has extensive experience designing and managing a variety of projects, including athletic complexes, K-12 facilities, churches and civic projects, from state-of-the art high schools to intricate historic preservation projects at the state capitol, working closely with the Arkansas Secretary of State’s Office. Mark and his wife Martha live in Fayetteville and are members of Central Methodist Church. Mark enjoys golf when time allows.
Email: mhaguewood@hjarch.com
Michelle graduated from the College of Architecture, Planning, and Design at Kansas State University in 2003. She enjoys working on K-12 school projects, developing relationships with school district faculty to create a building that is a valuable part of the educational environment and acts as a tool, assisting the educators. Her goal is to create fun, functional spaces that promote student learning and social skills, with attention to space relationships that create community and safety in the school environment. Michelle has been an avid horseback rider since age three, having ridden the Shawnee, Mark Twain, Ouachita and Ozark-St. Francis National Forest. To become more involved with equestrian trail riders she is serving as Arkansas State ambassador for Horse Trails of America and a member of the local Back Country Horseman of Northwest Arkansas.
Email: mmcclaflin@hjarch.com
Bradley grew up in Oklahoma and moved to Arkansas in 2005 in order to attend the University of Arkansas School of Architecture. He graduated with a Bachelor of Architecture in 2010. He and his wife loved the sense of community in Northwest Arkansas, so they decided to make the area home. He is actively involved in his local church, and tries to improve his middling golf game when he has the chance. He enjoys working on projects with a collaborative owner who wants the end product to be something that both they, and the community, will be proud of.
Email: bwest@hjarch.com
Jorge grew up in Rogers, Arkansas and graduated from the University of Arkansas in 2008 with a Bachelor of Architecture. As a licensed architect, he has been involved in the planning, design, and construction documents development for many of the firm’s projects and has served as project manager for several projects. Jorge is actively involved in the community, and currently serves on the Rogers Planning Commission. As a first generation college graduate, he enjoys taking part in events that focus on helping first generation students attend college by providing advice, support, and resources. Jorge is an avid runner and enjoys running and hiking the great scenic trails that Arkansas has to offer. Another hobby that he really enjoys is drawing, sketching, and painting unique buildings and nature. Jorge and his wife enjoy family gatherings and traveling, and of course running races together.
Email: jandrade@hjarch.com
Tim decided he wanted to pursue architecture after receiving praise for his math skills and drawing of the onion domes of Saint Basil’s Cathedral in Moscow. He received his Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Arkansas in 2009 and worked at the U of A Community Design Center, which shaped his sense of urban design and place making. He believes architecture should create a sense of place and positively affect the community, which requires thinking at a large scale and carrying great design through to the small scale. Tim enjoys spending time outdoors with his wife and their daughter and son, hiking, and getting in as much basketball and mountain biking as he can.
Email: tschmidt@hjarch.com
Esteban was born in Mexico and moved to the U.S. at the age of 13. He graduated from the University of Arkansas with his Bachelor of Architecture, and is a licensed architect. His multicultural background is his main source of inspiration. He enjoys working on small projects such a residences, libraries, or community centers, which are the main generators of culture in the community. Esteban is a member of the AIA Emerging Professionals and Young Architects Committee (AIA EPYA) which empowers emerging professionals throughout the state through engagement and outreach. He also serves as a board member of the City of Rogers Historical Museum Foundation. Esteban loves the outdoors, but hates camping.
Email: eayala@hjarch.com
Amy grew up in a big family in Central Arkansas. She believes this explains her overactive imagination, competitiveness, flexibility, adventurous spirit, and ability to create spaces that everyone will enjoy. Amy decided to make Northwest Arkansas her home after graduating from the University of Arkansas. She began her career in 2003, and after gaining years of design experience, she became a licensed architect in 2019. Now that her son is grown, Amy loves to travel to new countries with her husband. While she enjoys letting the new architecture inspire her, she admits to also loving all of the other new experiences that come with traveling, including the food and the people.
Email: abarnett@hjarch.com
Phillip was born and raised in Southern Illinois. He received his associate’s degree in Architectural Technology from Rend Lake College, and his Bachelor of Science in Architectural Studies and Master of Architecture from Southern Illinois University.
For him, inspiration comes from the way people use spaces. Designing for education is always a joy, with ever changing ways of how classroom spaces are used and how kids are learning.
Phillip has enjoyed getting involved in his church serving on the board of directors, becoming a youth group leader and teen Bible study teacher for Bella Vista Lutheran Church. He also enjoys spending time hiking and hanging out at the dog park with his dog Penny. When weather and time allow for it, Phillip enjoys getting out on the golf course. He enjoys helping with the chain gang at local high school football games and making trips up to Arrowhead Stadium to cheer on the Chiefs throughout the football season
Email: pmevert@hjarch.com
Casey transitioned into Architecture after playing baseball at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio his freshman year. He studied Architecture at the University of Arkansas graduating with honors in 2010 and received a Master of Science in Advanced Architectural Design from Columbia University in 2015. After working in Los Angeles for 8 years, Casey moved back to Arkansas in 2023. He brought with him valuable years of experience in a variety of typologies including affordable housing, single and multi-family residential, commercial office interior and commercial office ground-up. He is a licensed architect in Arkansas and California and enjoys cycling in his free time.
Email: cworrell@hjarch.com
Kelly grew up in the DFW area and then moved to Northwest Arkansas in 2018 to attend the University of Arkansas to pursue her degree in architecture. While in school she fell in love with the people and places of NWA. After graduating in May of 2023 with her bachelor’s in architecture, Kelly decided to stay in the area and started working for Hight Jackson. Kelly loves all the great outdoor activities Arkansas has to offer. She also has a love for the arts and has many hobbies that include keeping her artistic passions alive.
Email: kalspaw@hjarch.com
Liz has over thirty years of interior design experience, working on a variety of projects including high-end residential, corporate, worship, and education design. She enjoyed a period of years raising her two children before resuming her career, and considers that to be her most important work in life.
Since joining Hight Jackson in 1999, Liz has been involved in the design and coordination of interiors for many of the firm’s projects as well as directing the firm’s marketing efforts.
She is energized by the creative process, whether in the design of projects, painting, photography, gardening, or cooking something new. Liz is a mentor at Saving Grace, a local non-profit organization that helps young women aging out of the foster care system, a member of the Artists of Northwest Arkansas, and participates in Spectra Artists through Fellowship Bible Church of NWA, which seeks to nurture and foster spiritual growth through artistic expression.
Email: lcox@hjarch.com
Jason has over 25 years of experience working as a carpenter in both the framing and finish trades. He was the lead carpenter and supervisor on the Bachman Wilson House, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and re-built on the grounds of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, and was the lead finish carpenter on the 15,000 square foot Red and June Hudson house in the Pinnacle subdivision in Rogers. One of the notable projects he has worked on during his time at Hight Jackson is the bike pavilion structure at the North Walton Arvest Bank in Bentonville which adds an amenity along the NW Arkansas bike trail.
He earned a business degree from Liberty University and his Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Arkansas in 2015. Jason, an Eagle Scout, lives with his wife in Anderson, Missouri where they raised their 6 children.
Email: jhackett@hjarch.com
Kaylee joined Hight Jackson in May 2024 after graduating from the University of Central Arkansas with a Bachelor of Science in Interior Design and a Minor in Business with a Marketing focus. Kaylee grew up in Little Rock, AR, and has been extremely involved in the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID). She served as the UCA chapter president and as the South Central chapter’s (Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi) Regional Student Representative to the Board. After graduating, Kaylee moved to Rogers, AR, to be closer to her family and began her career with Hight Jackson. She enjoys playing basketball, staying active, spending time with friends and family, finding new music, engaging in outdoor activities, and traveling.
Email: khopper@hjarch.com
Originally from Central Arkansas, Chloe moved to Northwest Arkansas in 2019 to pursue her architecture degree at the University of Arkansas. After graduating in May 2024 with distinction, she joined Hight Jackson’s team. Alongside her professional endeavors, Chloe dedicates her free time to nurturing her creative spirit. She is passionate about fiber arts, loves playing musical instruments, and is currently illustrating a children’s book. Her diverse interests reflect a deep-seated love for artistic expression and a commitment to bringing imagination to life in both her professional and personal pursuits.
Email: cjones@hjarch.com
Rachel has called Northwest Arkansas home since she was eight years old. She earned her undergraduate degree from Hendrix College and completed two years of law school at the University of Arkansas before deciding she was not destined to be a lawyer. She is addicted to audio books and unsweet iced tea, and loves cats despite being extremely allergic. Rachel and her husband Corey adopted a sweet beagle mix named Lucy in November of 2017. Before starting at Hight Jackson in 2011 she never realized there were so many complex elements that go into the design and construction of a building and considers herself very lucky to have her own little role in this industry.
Email: rmcanally@hjarch.com
Somnath Mukherjee (Som) holds a professional bachelor’s degree in architecture from India and has an international background. After graduating, he worked with a global architectural and construction company in the Philippines and collaborated with a U.S.-based architectural firm upon his return to India. Furthering his education, Som obtained a Master of Architecture Post-Baccalaureate degree from Kansas State University. Som actively contributes to rural communities in Northwest Kansas, participating in the restoration of historical buildings and downtown master planning. Beyond his architectural pursuits, he is passionate about design, art, and music, regularly participating in design competitions. His artistic talents, showcased through watercolor paintings, have been exhibited globally, including in Europe, India, the Philippines, and the USA. Proficient in playing Indian and western percussion instruments, Som has performed on stages worldwide. Dedicated to promoting architectural education, Som serves on the AIA Educational Committee in Arkansas, focusing on introducing architecture to elementary and middle school students.
Email: smukherjee@hjarch.com
Shivang moved to United States from India for his bachelor’s degree in 2017. He earned his Bachelor of Architecture (graduating with Honors) with a minor in sustainability from Iowa State University in 2021 and joined Hight Jackson Associates. Shivang has a passion for modeling, sports and traveling. You can often find him doing a photoshoot, on a camping trip, catching a flight or watching a game. Raised in an Indian family who loves spices, he likes to try new dishes with exotic spices. He is currently in the process of Architect Registration Examination testing in order to become a licensed architect.
Email: spatel@hjarch.com
A Springdale native, Isaak graduated from the Fay Jones School of Architecture in 2023 and joined Hight Jackson in 2024. An avid concert goer, Isaak explores new music as he attends to his hobbies which include cooking, quilting, running, reading, painting, roadtripping, camping, cycling, and hiking. Isaak is enthusiastic to design for his community while he works towards becoming a licensed architect.
Email: ibenchoff@hjarch.com
An Arkansan by birth, Lorrie moved to Northwest Arkansas in 1992 to attend the University of Arkansas, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Architecture. Lorrie has been involved in the planning, design, and construction documents development of many of the firm’s projects and has several years of experience as project manager and specifications writer on a number of projects.
She loves road tripping with her family – but enjoys coming home to Rogers. Lorrie finds inspiration in the details and loves seeing the positive impact that a good project can bring to an area.
Email: lsmith@hjarch.com
Jeanie and her husband moved to Rogers in 1977 with their three children. She loves being a grandmother to her eight grandchildren and enjoys reading. When Jeanie started working for Hight Jackson in 1983, there were only four employees. She has seen the company grow and evolve from producing specifications on a typewriter to high tech computer drafting programs. She would not want to work anywhere else.
Email: jward@hjarch.com
Robert was born a Texan, but grew up near Kansas City, Missouri. He raced BMX most of his youth, winning multiple state championships until deciding to attend Drury University over continuing his racing career. He moved to Arkansas in 2012 and joined Hight Jackson in 2019 where he continues to develop his skills as a project team member. Robert enjoys the design process and seeing a concept develop into a functioning project. Seeing the finished product is his favorite part. His hobbies include mountain biking, playing video games, and watching his three girls compete in dance, gymnastics, and softball.
Email: rsnyder@hjarch.com
Sanand Maddipati (Maddi) is a designer and researcher with a Master’s in Architecture from Arizona State University and a Bachelor’s from GITAM University (India). His work has earned international acclaim, including the Best Research award at the ARCS 4.0 Summit (2019 and 2020), Recognition at the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group, Phoenix AZ (2023), and multiple published papers. and has won multiple competitions, including the AOA-DAC Academy of Architecture, india (2022), “Reusing Rooftops” competition in Barcelona (2024). Sanand is passionate about the cultural rejuvenation of urban core cities, the exploration of liminal spaces, and integrating circular economy principles into design. Outside of his architecture, Sanand enjoys sketching cartoons and caricatures, as well as riding motorcycles.
Email: smaddipati@hjarch.com