Team

Andy Spurlock
Andrew Spurlock
Founder | Principal
RLA | FASLA

Andrew is the firm’s founder. His work is noted for its sensitivity and innovation, and has been recognized throughout his career with awards and honors. He has maintained a freshness of vision, seeing each project as a new opportunity to examine the complexities – and possibilities – of the particular site and situation and mold them into an original and responsive solution. He likes to work on projects of varying scales ranging from private gardens to major planning studies. As part of this experience, he has worked with many highly regarded artists and architects. He enjoys the planning process through collaboration with communities and agencies over a period of time to holistically integrate multiple projects for a successful vision.

Andy holds a Master of Landscape Architecture from University of Michigan. Andy serves as a founding member of the San Diego Canyonlands whose goal is to develop a coherent open space restoration for the region. Andy is a Fellow of the American Society of Landscape Architects in recognition for a career of design excellence.

Brad Lents
Brad Lents
Partner | Principal
RLA | AICP | LEED AP

With degrees in landscape architecture and urban planning, Brad’s problem solving approaches to site planning and design enable him to be an effective designer on a broad range of public and private sector projects. Of particular interest to Brad is managing a project from preliminary planning through site design and implementation. His focus is to create places that are pedestrian friendly, environmentally sensitive, and that fit into the larger neighborhood context.

Brad joined Spurlock in 2008 and became a Partner in 2016. Brad received his Bachelor of Landscape Architecture from Iowa State State University, and a Master of Urban Planning from the University of Illinois Urbana.

Leigh Kyle
Leigh Kyle
Partner | Principal
RLA, ASLA

Leigh is a Project Principal and Designer at Spurlock. She has broad expertise but has deep passion for designing parks and public gardens. A licensed landscape architect with an architecture background, Leigh brings over 25 years of professional expertise, technical rigor and sensitivity to the wide range of regional project conditions. Stimulated and inspired by collaboration and dialogue, Leigh’s communication and management skills and ability to embrace complexity in pursuit of creative and elegant solutions are integral to the success of her work.

Leigh joined Spurlock in 2004 and became a Partner in 2016.

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Amelia Capron
Partner | Principal
RLA, ASLA

As a San Diego native, Amelia is most inspired to work within the communities that shaped her vision for design and appreciation of the environment. During her time as a Project Manager with Spurlock Landscape Architects, her background and passion for public work has helped her knit the inherent relationship between people and their environment. Her work includes a range of place-making projects from City parks to major corporate campus design. Amelia has served on the San Diego American Society of Landscape Architecture Executive Board, and as a mentor for the ACE Mentor Program of America.

Amelia received her Bachelor of Landscape Architecture from California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo.

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Erin Leugers
Partner | Principal
RLA, ASLA

Erin joined Spurlock Landscape Architects in 2018. She has worked as a landscape architect and lived in San Diego for over 17 years working on many of the region's K-12 facilities, public parks, and corporate campuses. Erin’s passion for landscape architecture grew from her affinity for the outdoors and appreciation for how the built environment contributes to the aesthetic, environmental, and socio-economic experience of our daily lives. She enjoys the complexity and variety of the projects she manages and her designs strive to reflect a larger social and environmental context.

Erin holds a Bachelor’s degree in Landscape Architecture from Purdue University.

Adam Kutemeier
Adam Kutemeier
Staff
ASLA

Adam joins our team from the Hoosier state where he spent five years beginning his career working on a host of public sector projects. From public park activation, city and county-wide strategic plans, and even large-scale transportation projects, he brings a wealth of knowledge to the team. Adam is a Project Landscape Designer at Spurlock, providing graphic and technical project support on multiple projects.

Adam is a graduate of Ball State University Landscape Architecture program, where he earned his BLA in 2017.

Ania Armour
Ania Galka Armour
Senior Associate
RLA, ASLA, LEED Green Associate

Ania grew up in the Western Carpathian Mountains of Poland surrounded by pristine natural environment, mountain ranges, forests, creeks and wild life. Her love and respect of the natural environment motivated Ania to achieve Master Degrees in both Landscape Architecture and Horticulture.
Ania enjoys discovering the rich historical heritage of San Diego neighborhoods. She uses her wide knowledge of local climate, ecology, plant formations and ornamental plants specific to Southern California to produce detail-oriented and artful designs.
 

Chad Evans
Chad Evans
Associate
ASLA

Working at the intersection of humanity and the environment, Chad is fascinated by Landscape Architecture’s ability to alter people’s everyday lives through the spaces around them. Embedded in that practice, he believes that this profession can be used a catalyst of social change, in creating spaces in the urban environment that not only add ecological value but economic and community enrichment for its users.

Chad holds a Bachelor’s degree in Landscape Architecture from California Polytechnic State University- San Luis Obispo.

Corianne Andrews
Corianne Andrews
Senior Staff
ASLA

With a background in interior architecture and landscape architecture, Corianne has developed a holistic approach and perspective towards design thinking and problem solving that seeks to sensitively merge the built environment with the natural world. She is most inspired by sociocultural landscape narratives and spatial experiences that encourage dialogue and expression.

Derek Gay
Derek Gay
Senior Staff

As a landscape designer Derek strives to develop designs that positively influence social, economic and cultural values by supporting and extracting from a site’s regional identity. He believes design can serve a greater purpose when a larger context is studied. This regional approach enriches site specific design solutions by combining aesthetically pleasing elements with function and integrates ecology into the built environment.

Derek received his Bachelor of Landscape Architecture from Texas Tech University.

Emily Dowgiallo
Emily Dowgiallo
Senior Associate | Marketing Manager
SMPS

Emily is the firm’s Marketing Manager. She collaborates with the principals on the firm’s strategic initiatives and directs the business development and marketing efforts. With a master’s degree in landscape architecture from North Carolina State University, Emily’s experience in the profession and ability to think as a designer enables her to represent the firm’s strategic decisions with passion and efficiency.

Eric Ellinwood
Eric Ellinwood
Associate
RLA

Eric is a Project Manager at Spurlock with exceptional organizational skills and a strong understanding of design processes and expectations.  Eric holds a Bachelor's Degree in Landscape Architecture from Iowa State University.

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Jing Cao
Staff

Since joining Spurlock in July 2022, Jing has enjoyed being involved in a variety of projects and developing her professional skills through a rigorous design process. Jing holds a Master's degree in Landscape Architecture from University of Pennsylvania.

Jing Pan
Jing Pan
Senior Staff
LEED Green Associate

The phenomenological aspects of nature inspire Jing to create imaginative and artistic landscape designs. She is interested in revealing the natural qualities of a landscape through art and public installations to allow for experiential and social interactions to occur. Her interest in the interactive arts lends itself well towards creating memorable landscape designs.

Jing holds a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture from University of Massachusetts Amherst, and a Master of Landscape Architecture from the Harvard University Graduate School of Design.

Lori Tang
Lori Tang
Associate
ASLA

Inspired by the power of design to connect people to each other and to their surroundings, Lori has focused much of her career on creating community spaces. Her interest in the experience of place is often through the lens of children, who learn through experience and are masters at finding magic in the ordinary. This has informed, not only, her designs for learning and play environments but in everyday urban environments as well.

Lori holds a Master of Landscape Architecture from University of Washington.

Manman Shao
Manman Shao
Staff

Manman joined Spurlock in May 2021.

Mark Stempniak
Mark Stempniak
Associate

Mark Joins Spurlock Landscape Architects with 25 years of experience in the landscape architecture industry as a project manager and irrigation specialist. He has skills in all areas of landscape design, from concept plan development to construction documents and construction administration.

Mark earned his BS in Landscape Architecture from Cal Poly Pomona in 2000. He then went on to receive his Masters in City Planning from San Diego State University in 2004.

Penny Carter
Penny Carter
Senior Staff | Administrative Assistant

Penny is the firm's Administrative Assistant. Trained as a commercial interior designer, she started even earlier as an architect’s assistant; holding the end of a measuring tape for her Dad who was an architect in New York City. She is the firm’s first face and she loves to acknowledge our clients with a friendly comment and a good laugh. She assists with billing, coordinates schedules, organizes travel and keeps the office well- supplied. She is involved with sustainability/recycling programs which fits right in with the whole purpose of a greener environment.

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Rylee Maas
Staff

Since joining Spurlock in July 2022, Rylee has experienced various design approaches including an art to balancing form and function, and transforming sites based on their cultural and physical contexts. Rylee received his Bachelor's degree in Landscape Architecture with a Certificate of Environmental Studies from University of Wisconsin.

Samantha Murray
Samantha Murray
Staff

Samantha joined Spurlock in May 2021.

Tori Talbott
Tori Talbott
Senior Staff

Tori joined Spurlock in January 2020.

Yuanchi Zhao
Yuanchi Zhao
Associate
RLA, ASLA, LEED Green Associate

Yuanchi believes quality landscape design shall respect local ecology and cultural history, and enhance economic and recreational value for the communities we serve. He believes landscape architecture is a significant component of responsible site development and that the design process serves to increase the function and health of a site while creating unique experiences for the user.