2026 promotions recognize commitment to practice & profession
All OPN employees embrace our responsibility to care for each other and our planet through extraordinary design and a boundary-free practice. The promotion of these team members recognizes their contributions to OPN as well as their dedication to personal improvement, practice and our profession.
Brady Dorman, AIA | Senior Project Architect
Brady has been with OPN Architects since 2011 and holds a Bachelor of Architecture degree from Iowa State University. He enjoys working on community and civic projects that serve the greater public.
Monica Bailey, AIA | Architect 2
With a Master of Architecture (2013) from Iowa State University, Monica is both a licensed architect and registered interior designer in Iowa, a member of the American Institute of Architects, and a member of the International Interior Design Association.
Thomas Thatcher, AIA | Architect 2
Thomas Thatcher joined OPN in 2016 after graduating with a Bachelors of Architecture and Digital Media minor from Iowa State University. He is inspired by the impact that architecture can provide to a community while promoting new ideas for the future.
Sophie Donta, AIA | Architect 2
Sophie holds a Master of Architecture degree from the University of Michigan and a Bachelor of Science in Architecture with a minor in urban design from Washington University in St. Louis. Sophie has worked on a variety of projects with a focus on public and community-centered spaces for civic and education clients.
Paige Lorenzo, AIA | Architect 1
Paige graduated from Iowa State University in 2019 with a Bachelors of Architecture degree and became a licensed Architect in 2025. Since joining OPN, Paige has worked on a diverse array of projects including public projects like the renovation and restoration of the Polk County Historic Courthouse and the Iowa State Capitol Dome.
Peter Miller, AIA | Architect 1
Peter holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology and a master’s in architecture. Peter’s passion for architecture lies in the opportunities to collaborate on projects that require a combination of creativity, social and cultural awareness, and technical problem solving.
Ruth Kuswara, AIA | Architect 1
Ruth interned with OPN for the summer of 2021 and joined the Des Moines studio after graduating from Iowa State in 2022. She pursued architecture because of the potential it has to add value to the lives of so many people. Her passion lies in how architecture can manifest her clients’ stories and needs.
Carolan Hoffman, AIA | Architect 1
Carolan joined OPN as a full-time employee in 2021 after interning in 2019 and 2020. Originally from Washington, Iowa, she earned her Bachelor of Architecture from Iowa State University in 2021. Carolan is inspired to practice architecture because of its ability to change in the way that people live and the way the world works..
Ashlee Silver, AIA | Architect 1
Ashlee is a 2023 ISU Bachelor of Architecture grad and a former OPN intern. She loves being able to learn something new every day, seeing designs come to real life, and have a positive effect on how people live.
Ian Van Kooten Laughead, AIA | Architect 1
Born and raised in Des Moines, Ian joined the Des Moines studio after graduating from Iowa State University in 2022 with his Master of Architecture degree. He is inspired by the responsibility embedded in design and that reminding oneself of that makes for a better project from start to finish.
Jamie Craine | Emerging Professional 3
Jamie holds a Master of Architecture with a certificate in digital fabrication. She is inspired by technology and how it influences us as designers: the way we think, create, and build.
Lois Liu | Emerging Professional 2
Originally from Taiwan, Louis is an Iowa State University graduate with a Bachelor of Architecture degree. Louis’ favorite part of the design process is the conceptual story-building phase.
Eric Nofsinger | Emerging Professional 2
A former Marine Officer, Eric joined OPN in 2022 after receiving his Master in Architecture degree from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Eric enjoys architecture for the platform it provides to be ambassadors and implementers of positive change in the world.
Erin Whitman, NCIDQ | Registered Interior Desginer
Erin is a graduate of UW-Madison where she studied Interior Architecture BS because it combines everything she enjoys: working with people using creativity, math, and science. She likes that every project is like a new puzzle, piecing together each part to develop a solution for the client. The impact of these environments on the human experience is her ultimate inspiration.
Delanie Hiemer, NCIDQ | Registered Interior Designer
A University of Nebraska-Lincoln graduate, Delanie enjoys creative problem-solving, 3D puzzling, and the push and pull of materiality with architectural elements.
Julia Schuler | Senior Creative Strategist
A graduate of Illinois State University, Julia’s education in graphic design and business analytics suits her role as a creative strategist for OPN. She has an innovative design process and enjoys incorporating data-driven decision models in her work.