2025-2026 ExComm Slate

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TO OUR MEMBERS

Dear Members,

July, 7, 2025

The Iowa Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) is excited to bring to you the election slate for the 2025-2026 Executive Committee.

The programming, advocacy, and education our chapter brings to you each year is possible through the ongoing commitment of many volunteers! Countless hours of service go into creating unique, exciting events! Ongoing discussions at the Capitol lead to conversations with elected officials to protect Licensure and ensure landscape architects are brought to the table.

We appreciate the volunteers who have stepped up to run in this year’s election. Their commitment to continuing the good work helps to keep us as a top chapter in the county. While we hope to have a competitive election for each seat, we do have a few uncontested elections this year. Please consider throwing your name in for next year’s election slate.

If running for the Executive Committee seems daunting, joining a committee is a low-barrier way to assist the organization and understand how the Executive Committee works. Consider giving some of your time by getting involved with one of our many committees. If interested, please reach out to Garret, Madison, or Kristina on ways to get involved.

This work would not be possible without the ongoing support of our Chapter Partners. Their support keeps our programming at a reasonable cost.

The election ballot will be open through Friday, August 1st. Please check your emails for the link.

Best Regards,

Iowa Chapter Nominating Committee

RiverLoop Amphitheater + Trails | Ritland + Kuiper

PRESIDENT-ELECT

Serving a 3-year term (President-Elect, President, Past-President)

During the first year as President Elect, they provide support for the current president while preparing to assume leadership. Other responsibilities include the review and update of the strategic plan.

The second year as Chapter President, responsibilities include chapter management and responding to member needs, and oversight of the Spring and Fall Conferences.

The third year is served as Past President, whose duties include preparing election materials for the Executive Committee, assisting with Fellow nomination submissions, presiding over the Government Affairs Committee meetings, conducting the Membership Survey, and compiling the Annual Report.

The President Elect accompanies the Chapter President to the National ASLA Chapter Presidents Council Meetings in conjunction with the National Annual Meeting & Expo in the fall, as well as Chapter President’s Council Meetings throughout the year. The President Elect shall be a Full or Associate Member, elected for a term of three years.

Nominees |

Dani Hodgson, PLA, ASLA RDG Planning & Design

Derek Hansen, ASLA City of Des Moines, Parks & Recreation

PRESIDENT-ELECT

Serving a 3-year term (President-Elect, President, Past-President)

Dani Hodgson

Dani Hodgson is a Landscape Architect at RDG Planning and Design in Des Moines, where she has worked for the past 5 years. Dani began working at RDG after graduating from Kansas State University in 2020 with a master’s degree in landscape architecture and minor in Regional and Community Planning. Although originally from Colorado, a pesky global pandemic landed her unexpectedly in Des Moines where she quickly fell in love with the city and Iowa’s welcoming landscape architecture community.

Dani has been deeply involved in the Iowa Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects, serving as Associate Member At Large from 2021 to 2023 before taking on the role of Vice President this year. In that capacity she played a key role in putting together the new Advocacy Booklet, which was showcased and distributed at this year’s Legislative Breakfast. She’s excited to see this resource grow and highlight the vital role landscape architecture plays in Iowa. As President, Dani is determined to showcase the profession and promote landscape architecture across the state, explore avenues to get professionals more involved in the chapter, and find ways to support emerging professionals on their path to licensure.

In her free time, you can find Dani on an occasional run around downtown, going to watch a musical, or most likely hanging out with her dog, Murphy.

Derek Hansen

Derek Hansen is classically trained as a Landscape Architect and has been a Park Planner II with the City of Des Moines Parks and Recreation Department for just over 6 years. His time with the City has provided him with experience and knowledge in trail systems, park design, multi-milliondollar Capital Improvement Projects management, and system-wide analysis work. He also provides departmental coordination and leadership over the existing multi-use trail development, Liaison for Development Services site plan reviews for the City, ASLA representation for the Department, and is the staff liaison to multiple trail advocacy groups including the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) Bike/PED Round Table. Recently, Derek had taken the role as one of the co-chair’s for the Central States ASLA Conference for the Iowa State Chapter as well as spoke for one of the sessions during the event. He also is currently a ASLA Ex-Comm committee member at large.

VICE PRESIDENT

Serving a 1-year term

The primary responsibility of the Vice President is to aid the President in achieving the goals of their tenure. Other duties include soliciting sponsorship and advertising for the Chapter, oversight of the Awards program, and such other duties as are customary for the office of Chapter Vice President or as may be assigned or delegated by the President.

The Vice President shall be a Full or Associate Member, elected for a term of one year.

Nominees |

Brett Seelman, PLA, ASLA Seelman Landscape Architecture

John Aceto, PLA, ASLA Confluence

Tanner Volk, PLA, ASLA Snyder & Associates

Brett Seelman

Brett grew up on his family’s century farmstead in Johnson County and is a proud 7th-generation Iowan. He received a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture from Iowa State University, graduating magna cum laude. He was also a visiting student at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, School of Architecture in Copenhagen, Denmark.

From 2010 to 2015, he worked at Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates in their New York and Cambridge offices, including work on the George W. Bush Presidential Library, the US Embassy in Mexico City, the Bloomingdale Trail “606” and Maggie Daley Park in Chicago, the Smith Campus Center and Winthrop House Renewal at Harvard University, the Lewis Center for the Arts at Princeton University, the Four Seasons Boston, and residential projects in Upstate New York and Martha’s Vineyard.

From 2016 to 2019, he was a Project Manager at the University of Iowa, overseeing landscape, civil, and small architectural projects, and was involved in Master Planning initiatives through Campus Planning.

After the devastating derecho of 2020, Brett established Seelman Landscape Architecture to help the Cedar Rapids community rebuild after the storm. Seelman Landscape Architecture (SLA) is a design-focused studio based in the Midwest, working on special projects across the country. SLA’s landscape interventions reflect deep analysis of native plants, beautiful materials, and layered site histories. His current clients include the Museum of Danish America, the University of Iowa, Esta Barrett Manor & Gardens, Brucemore National Trust Historic Site, and other civic and cultural projects.

Brett is a Professional Landscape Architect (PLA) and a member of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA). He currently serves as the Vice-Chair of the Capital Planning Commission (CPC) for the State of Iowa and also serves on the Board of Trustees at the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art. He has designed projects in Connecticut, Colorado, Iowa, Illinois, Massachusetts, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Tennessee, Texas, and internationally in Toronto, Canada; Venice, Italy; Mexico City, Mexico; and Copenhagen, Denmark.

John Aceto

John is a Landscape Architect at Confluence in Des Moines, where he has been for over 8 years, and an alumnus of Iowa State University with a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture. John is honored to have the opportunity to serve as the Vice President of the Iowa ASLA chapter. Previously, John served as Member-At-Large from 2022-2024, and Secretary from 2024 to present. He hopes to continue working for the chapter newsletter, planning of chapter events, and volunteering on behalf of the chapter to advocate for the profession.

Tanner Volk

Tanner Volk is a proud Iowa native, raised in Waukee back when it was just bike trails and corn fields. From an early age, he developed a deep appreciation for the outdoors, a creative interest in the arts, and a love-hate relationship with the game of golf. After countless childhood trips to Jack Trice Stadium, attending Iowa State was more a calling than it was a choice. Earning his degree in Landscape Architecture in 2017, followed by a Master’s from the Ivy College of Business in 2022.

Tanner brings a blend of creativity, curiosity, and team spirit to every project. His background spans across construction management, concrete work, sports fields, and thoughtful design of spaces that promote recreation, wellness, and community. His entrepreneurial drive emerged early in his career, fueling a passion for creating meaningful outdoor environments.

Today, Tanner blends himself into a vibrant community of professionals who share his enthusiasm for landscape architecture. When he’s not working, you’ll likely find him at a local food festival, chasing par on the golf course, or crafting homemade pizza for friends and family with his dog, Nelli, close by (especially when the crust pizza comes out just right).

SECRETARY

Serving a 2-year term

The Secretary is responsible for ensuring that accurate and sufficient documentation exists to meet bylaws, and to enable persons to determine when, how, and by whom the committee’s business was conducted. To fulfill these responsibilities, the Secretary records minutes of meetings and action items, ensures their accuracy and availability, oversees updates to the website, proposes policies and practices, submits various reports to the committee, assists with partnership program, compiles articles/partner ads and sends quarterly newsletter to membership, and performs such other duties as are customary for the office of Chapter Secretary or as may be assigned or delegated by the President.

The Secretary shall be a Full or Associate Member elected for a term of two years.

Nominees |

Bailey Aldridge

Bailey Aldridge is a landscape designer who works at JBC. She attended Iowa State University earning her bachelor’s degree in landscape architecture in 2018. After graduation, the urge to explore led her to move to Australia and Texas, where she worked with a design build firm and a civil engineering firm, before bringing her back home to Iowa.

Her passion lies in parks and recreation planning, with a love for playground design. She is deeply focused on the health and exploration of site users – encouraging a connection with the outdoors. This passion has led her to explore different ways of play and has given her the opportunity to travel to Germany to take part in playground manufacturing research. She has previously served on the IA ASLA committee as Public Relations Chair and enjoyed dedicating her time to a profession that has given so much to her. By creating graphic representations of the committee and assisting in planning and running Central States, she has experience organizing meaningful events for her fellow Landscape Architects as well as educating the public on what makes landscape architecture so special. If elected as Secretary – she will continue to her passion to give back to the community she is a part of as well as strengthen her committee to be a service to young and experienced Landscape Architects.

In her free time, you can find Bailey running around Des Moines with her closest friends, planning a wedding, then decompressing with her golden retriever, and creating a fun and adventure filled world for her dear nephew.

Indianola Downtown Square | Bolton + Menk

MEMBER-AT-LARGE

Serving a 2-year term, staggered with a second member-at-large

The Member-at-Large represents the chapter membership in executive committee decision making and assists with various chapter programs and committees. Duties include member recruitment, student membership, and oversight of social events.

The Member-at-Large shall be a Full or Associate Member elected for a term of two years.

Nominees |

Hans Klein-Hewett, PLA, ASLA

Assistant Professor, Iowa State University

MEMBER-AT-LARGE

Serving a 2-year term, staggered with a second member-at-large

Hans Klein-Hewett

Hans Klein-Hewett is a licensed landscape architect, an Associate Professor in Iowa State University’s Department of Landscape Architecture, and a faculty member in Iowa State’s Graduate Program of Sustainable Agriculture. He teaches design studios and lectures about landscape materials, construction documentation, and professional practice. Hans’ research focuses on the role of rural parks as determinants of rural sustainability. He does this by examining rural parks through the lenses of natural resource management, recreation, economic development, tourism, and health and well-being. He also studies students’ perceptions of highimpact design pedagogy to improve student outcomes and experiences in landscape architectural education.

Walnut Creek Regional Park Open Space

ASSOC. MEMBER-AT-LARGE

Serving a 2-year term, staggered with a second assoc. member-at-large

The Associate Member-at-Large represents the chapter associate membership in executive committee decision making and assists with various chapter programs and committees. Duties include oversight of the Golf Outing and assisting the Member-at-Large with student participation at planned social events.

The Associate Member-at-Large shall be an Associate Member elected for a term of two years.

Nominees |

Emily Siler, Associate ASLA Genus Landscape Architecture

Susan Pegg, Associate ASLA JBC Landscape Architects

ASSOC. MEMBER-AT-LARGE

Serving a 2-year term, staggered with a second assoc. member-at-large

Emily Siler

Emily’s passion for design stems from an appreciation for nature and a love for making. She believes that good design has the potential to bring people together, foster a sense of place, and create more resilient landscapes. Emily explored both research-based and collaborative, community-driven processes through her Masters of Landscape Architecture at Kansas State University.

Emily has been involved in ASLA both in school and practice, serving as treasurer for KSU’s student chapter, co-directing the LABash student conference on landscape architecture, and is currently a member of the LAM Advisory Committee.

As an emerging professional, she hopes to support and connect students and other emerging professionals through mentorship and engagement opportunities.

Susan Pegg

Susan Pegg is a designer at JBC Landscape Architects and a 2023 graduate of Iowa State University’s Masters of Landscape Architecture. Susan is active with the Iowa Chapter of ASLA, supporting ISU student reviews and ASLA events. Being the Associate Member at Large is an opportunity to get to know other Iowa ASLA members and support the Chapter. After years in marketing and IT project manager roles, the transition to Landscape Architect fulfills a life-long passion for plants and parks. For fun, Susan loves adventures, cooking, and gardening and she volunteers with the Polk County master gardeners.

THANK YOU TO OUR 2025 PARTNERS

You make what we do each year possible!

PLATINUM:

GOLD:

SILVER:
BRONZE:
Blank Performing Arts Center | Kelly D. Norris

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