Biographies

INTEGRITY IS ESSENTIAL TO GOOD DESIGN.

_DON BLAIR

 

Click on the links at the bottom of this page to get to know the people who make KMA what it is.

BILL KARRASCH _ASSOCIATE

Bill Karrasch is a LEED accredited, veteran architect with over 25 years of experience in San Diego and throughout Southern California. His portfolio includes a variety of educational, civic, planning, corporate, commercial office, retail, residential and industrial projects. Currently he is lending his expertise to the design of the new 250,000 square foot headquarters facility for San Diego-based ResMed Corporation, as well as a tenant improvement project for Alphatec Spine, Inc. in Carlsbad. During his career, Karrasch has earned numerous awards, including an AIA Orange County Award of Merit for the Bolsa Chica State Beach Redevelopment and the Orchid Award for Tony Gwynn Stadium at San Diego State University.

HEATHER MERTES_ASSOCIATE

Heather Mertes has 14 years of design and construction management experience for multi-family and commercial projects in California and Washington with construction budgets up to $145 million. She specializes in project development, from site selection to design, contracts, permitting and administration. Her ability to analyze and mitigate risks when establishing contracts, project scopes and budgets makes her a vital part of the KMA team. She has executed fast-track residential projects, exceeding expectations for service and quality. Her portfolio includes the Dublin Transit Center in Dublin, CA, the Mission Bay North (Phase II) in San Francisco, Alderwood Parkway Retail Complex and The Pavilion Cinema and Retail Shops in Stanwood, WA. Mertes earned her BA in architectural studies at the University of Washington after attending UCSD.

RICH GUERENA_ASSOCIATE

Guerena brings expertise in contemporary design to KMA’s design team. He is currently on the team producing the construction documents for the Naval Air Weapons Station P745 at China Lake, California.

 

Rich Guerena began working in an architecture office after school his senior year of high school in 1997. He then worked during summer and winter breaks in between semesters in college. After graduating from college in 2002, he spent several years focusing mostly on urban residential projects. This experience included all phases of the project, from early concept design to construction and building occupancy. These projects were delivered using different contractual arrangements, including design-build, design-bid-build, and design-assist.

 

While earning his degree in architecture from the University of Southern California School of Architecture, Rich had the unique opportunity to travel throughout Italy and other parts of Europe as part of a small group that studied architecture and urban development from the second century through modern time.

 

He is also an experienced user of Revit software, the latest in Building Informational Modeling (BIM) technology. He is licensed in California, certified with the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards, and a LEED Accredited Professional.

JAMES A. BELMONT _SENIOR ASSOCIATE

Senior Associate James Belmont contributes over 20 years of expertise in mechanical design to KMA’s engineering division. He has lent his experience to several of San Diego’s most high-profile buildings including the Marriott Spectrum Hotel and Parkloft, the first residential loft complex in downtown San Diego’s East Village. His versatile designs extend to commercial, institutional and recreational facilities, as well as a number of thriving retail centers.

 

DON BLAIR _PRESIDENT

With over 25 years of design and planning experience, Don Blair has been an integral force at KMA since he joined the firm in 1986. Blair’s resume reads like a blueprint of architectural authority demonstrating knowledge in all phases of pre-design, construction documents, construction management and administration. The depth of his expertise includes site analysis and master planning to management of multi-million dollar construction projects.

 

LYNDA FELDMAN _ASSOCIATE

Lynda Feldman has managed KMA’s accounting department for more than 20 years and is a key member of KMA’s exceptional management team. She is responsible for cash management, project accounting, general ledger and financials, billing, accounts payable, payroll and the firm’s quarterly wage reports. During her tenure at KMA, Lynda has been credited with implementing several software upgrades to more efficiently generate reports for project managers, principals and clients.

 

B. MOON HAJJAR _ SENIOR ASSOCIATE, DESIGN DIRECTOR

B. Moon Hajjar joined KMA Architecture & Engineering in 2004 as a graduate designer. He was promoted to associate in 2006 after demonstrating a unique ability to continuously evaluate and revise the design process in order to maximize efficiency and client satisfaction. He is responsible for managing and educating fellow team members through the design process from inception to completion.

 

JOHN HILGEMAN _SENIOR ASSOCIATE

John Hilgeman has over 20 years of architecture experience ranging from design to construction. His areas of expertise include medical and educational facility design, as well as industrial and high-tech projects. Hilgeman has contributed his skill to numerous educational buildings. His innovative designs have also shaped dozens of worker and patient-friendly medical facilities throughout California. From complete remodel to tenant improvements, Hilgeman’s portfolio features many of the state’s most high-profile medical centers.

 

TIMOTHY RUBESH _PRINCIPAL

Solid experience is the foundation of Timothy Rubesh’s 35 years in the architectural and engineering fields. His knowledge spans the private and public sectors, including commercial, industrial, retail, schools, hospitals, hotels and government facilities. Rubesh joined the KMA team in 1974 and worked his way up the ranks from draftsman to job captain to project architect. In 1988 he was promoted to Vice President and now serves as a Principal.

 

ROBB M. WALKER _MANAGING PARTNER

Educated as a mechanical engineer and an architect with experience as a manager of a successful international yacht design firm, Walker is a rare combination of creative designer, sharp businessman and strong leader with broad international business experience. An entrepreneurial thinker, he believes that creating means challenging conventions, discovering and understanding new relationships, and assembling and leading extraordinary teams.