A new season of staff joins OPN
OPN welcomes talented new staffers to four of our studios. These seven team members will use their diverse backgrounds to fill a variety of roles across our organization.
David Selk, OPN Cedar Rapids
What is your degree and from what school? Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from the University of Northern Iowa
Where are you originally from? Keystone, Iowa
What inspires your work? Feeling like I am making a positive impact on a person’s or organization’s ability to do what they do.
What do you like about your industry? I love how the built environment can affect how humans interact with the world, and being involved in projects that hopefully improve or enhance that interaction.
What is your favorite landmark and why? Any national park or forest. I love nature and being in it.
What are you reading right now? “How We Learn to be Brave” by Mariann Edgar Budde
Paul Raisleger, OPN Madison
Where did you go to school? University of Wisconsin – Green Bay and University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee
Where are you originally from? Mishicot, Wisconsin
What inspires your work? The mission and vision of our clients.
What do you like about your industry? Building trust and maintaining open communication create a foundation for innovation and successful outcomes. Through this trust we are able to collectively explore opportunities that brings our clients vision to fruition.
Do you have a mantra or saying that you remind yourself of during projects? “The solution is in there.”
What are you reading right now? “Travels with Charlie” by John Steinbeck
Sierra Wroolie, OPN Cedar Rapids
What is your degree and from what school? Bachelor of Architecture from Iowa State University
Where are you originally from? Akeley, Minnesota
What inspires your work? I find inspiration in the thoughtfulness and empathy of architecture, to transform everyday spaces into moments where the world pauses for a second.
What do you like about your industry? I love that architecture isn’t one thing and takes place at all scales. A building is architecture, but so is a chair and a door handle. It’s exciting to see how the “mundane” can become an opportunity to become art.
If you were a cake, which flavor would you be and why? Lemon! Sometimes I have a sour face, but I swear I’m sweet and chill.
Sara Mrkvicka, OPN Madison
Where are you originally from? Madison, Wisconsin
Where did you go to school? Madison College and University of Wisconsin – La Crosse
What inspires your work? I’m inspired by how different cultures and communities approach design — it’s amazing to see the unique ways people express identity through space.
What do you like most about your industry? What I love most about commercial interior design is its ability to create an emotional experience for the people who use the space.
What is your favorite podcast? “This Is Actually Happening”
If you could eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be? Sushi
Jim Riley, OPN Cedar Rapids
Where are you originally from? New Hampton, Iowa
Where did you go to school? University of Northern Iowa
What inspires your work? I love the daily jigsaw puzzle of creating products from piles of content that have no idea how pretty they’re going to look by the time we’re done.
What do you like most about your industry? I’m proud to be part of a company that uses sustainable design to create attractive, people-friendly buildings that enhance the community, and will for years to come.
Do you have a mantra or saying that you remind yourself of during projects? “The best way out, is always through” – Robert Frost
If you could eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be? Chicago-style pizza. If it’s not as thick as a casserole, I’m not interested.
Christina Gallarello, OPN Minneapolis
Where are you originally from? Las Vegas, Nevada
What is your degree and from what school? Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Miami
What inspires your work? Context is at the forefront of my design process. The way buildings are shaped from their natural, cultural, and social environments — and how they respond to the needs of those environments — is of the utmost importance to me.
What do you like about your industry? I love seeing the world from different perspectives. I can be completely in awe of nature, but I can also feel that same sense of wonder when I’m around buildings.
What is your favorite podcast? “Normal Gossip”
What are you reading right now? Ikea manuals
Emily Kloostra, OPN Madison
What is your degree and from what school? Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Arkansas
Where are you originally from? Edwardsville, Illinois
What do you like about your industry? I like that each day has the potential to teach you something new. You learn about your clients, your site, your project, your co-workers.
What inspires your work? I love to make things. Whether it is furniture, pottery, or some new craft I have yet to pick up, I think that figuring out how things go together at a smaller scale helps inform design at the scale of a building.
What are you reading right now? “The Anthropocene Reviewed” by John Green
What’s your favorite landmark and why? I don’t think I could say anything other than the Pantheon, which takes my breath away every time I step in it.