Our Leadership
Meet The Force.
Craig Atkinson
President
Craig is a Director | Senior Principal Architect with more than 3 decades of experience in the design and construction of public projects. He is currently the California Education sector lead in charge of the education practice with offices in Los Angeles, Irvine, San Diego, San Jose, San Luis Obispo and Bakersfield. In addition he leads the firms JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion) Task force that is developing recommendations to improve the culture of the firm in these areas and to make sure IBI follows through with the statements made in our response to the tragic and unjustifiable killing of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery and Regis Korchinski-Paquet, “Working Together to Respond to Systemic and Institutional Anti-Black Racism.”
He holds a Bachelor of Architecture degree from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. During his time at Cal Poly he studied architecture for a full year in Copenhagen Denmark. He became a California Registered Architect in 1994. His career started with BFGC Architects in 1990 where he became a firm Principal. In 2009 BFGC was acquired by IBI and in 2013 Craig accepted an opportunity to be part of the leadership in the Los Angeles Office. He has been involved with all aspects of complex public project business development, project management, planning, design, quality control and project delivery for public clients throughout California. He is most proud of his ability to build project consensus and become part of the fabric of a client’s organization. His resume includes educational and civic sector projects ranging from programing to new construction to tenant improvements for K-12 schools, Community Colleges, University, and Civic Sector Projects including Libraries, Transit and Public Safety Projects.
He has also been a part of several boards, commissions, and community groups including a supporter of the SoCal NOMA Chapter. Most recently he led the effort to provide a virtual exhibit space using the IBI Group Digital Foyer to display the work of the participants of the SoCal NOMA Summer Camp – NOMA XXPO 2020.
First Vice President
bio coming soon
Angela Ball
Second Vice President
Angela, AIA, NCARB, NOMA is an Associate with IBI Group and an Architect with over 17 years of architectural and interior design experience. With a current focus on Civic and Interiors projects, she has worked on a variety of project types, including libraries, schools and office buildings throughout California. She is a native of Minneapolis and completed her Bachelor of Art with an Architecture Major/Interdisciplinary Design Minor and Master of Architecture at the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities. During her undergraduate studies, she and some fellow classmates began the first NOMAS chapter at the University of Minnesota. After moving to Los Angeles, Angela became involved in SoCal NOMA by first volunteering at the summer camps and later becoming a member. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, wine tasting, skiing and watching ice hockey.
Carla Flagg, NOMA, AIA
Treasurer
Carla Flagg, Architect, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo graduate, and established Project Manager currently working with Masbuild, Inc., has been a valued member of the National Organization of Minority Architects for over 25 years. Over the years, Carla has maintained membership both locally and nationally, was the local chapter Secretary from 2000-2008, National Board Secretary from 2002-2005 and then again from 2009-2010, organized the 2016 NOMA Conference, was NOMA Founder of the Year Award recipient in 2016, Assistant Editor of the NOMA magazine for Spring and Fall 2020 and brings her skills and talents to the current role of Treasurer for the SoCalNOMA chapter.
Catherine Hernandez
Secretary
Born and raised in South Central Los Angeles, Catherine has an extensive background in community organizing, policy, and the built environment. She leads capital investments in Southern California at a non profit development and architecture studio where she creates service-enhanced affordable housing and socially-beneficial community facilities that promote the social, economic and physical transformation of underserved communities. She’s a housing advocate in her field and supports various organizations throughout Southern California ranging from tenant unions to policy development pushing for initiatives like Housing for Health and health policy integration in Architecture. Additionally, as an educator- she co-teaches at Cal Poly Pomona and spends her free time working with youth throughout LA County in classrooms, workshops, and summer camps.
Saif Vagh
Parliamentarian
Saif is an Associate Principal and Designer at NAC Architecture’s Los Angeles office and a leader of the firm’s JEDI committee. As a design thinker, his experience working with a broad spectrum of clients has sculpted his view of how policy and the built environment can incorporate a broader perspective of inclusion. He strives to create facilities that help break down stereotypical assumptions and help a broad cross-section of students grow and thrive. He has spoken on issues of designing for inclusivity and equality at numerous conferences and continues to lead valuable discussions in planning and executing the design of educational spaces. Saif graduated with a Master of Architecture from the Harvard Graduate School of Design and is both a LEED AP and a certified member of the Design Build Institute of America.
Wei Dan
Historian
Growing up in New York City and currently living in Los Angeles, Wei Dan has always been inspired by the constantly changing urban environment around her. With a Bachelor of Architecture and a minor in Nutrition and Health Promotion from USC (Fight On!), she uses her knowledge and skills to make a positive impact through design. As a Job Captain at KTGY, she works on residential and mixed-use projects that influence the way we live, work, and play.
Wei Dan has been a member of SoCal NOMA for six years and counting. She believes that as architects, we should be more involved in the communities in which we build and be more connected to the people for whom we build. As the Assistant Director of the SoCal NOMA Project Pipeline Summer Camp / Bootcamp, she introduces the next generation of youth to the endless possibilities of architecture.
When she is not doing architecture related things, she enjoys being active (hiking, running, bouldering, playing basketball, traveling – you name it).
Mateo DeLeon
Student Member
Mateo De Leon, born and raised in Southern California, is a third-year student studying for his Bachelor’s in Architecture at Woodbury University. Mateo is an architecture intern at Jacobs Engineering Group.
Mateo has been going through the path laid out by the SoCal NOMA Project Pipeline Program, as he was introduced to architecture through the SoCal NOMA Summer Camp and High School Boot Camp. He now volunteers and mentors middle and high school students who are also looking to pursue a career in architecture. Mateo has served on Woodbury University’s NOMAS Executive Board as a freshman doing media for the chapter.
Lance Collins
Recent Past President
Lance Collins is a Director at Partner Energy with experience in sustainable design and construction practices including whole-building analysis/benchmarking, energy conservation measures, resource consumption reduction strategies, LEED certification administration, building commissioning, solar project development, and project/construction management.
As a licensed architect in the state of California, a LEED Accredited Professional, a Green Globes Assessor, and a Certified Sustainable Building Advisor, Lance holds over 15 years of professional experience in the fields of sustainable design, architecture, and urban design. He is a member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA), the United States Green Building Council (USGBC), and the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA).
In addition to his professional experience, Mr. Collins has also been an adjunct professor at Long Beach City College and has guest lectured at the University of Southern California, Santa Monica College, California State University at Long Beach, and Mt. San Antonio College, teaching Green Building Principles and suastainable design strategies to students and industry professionals.
Drake Dillard
Past President
Drake Dillard has served as President of the Southern California Chapter of the National Organization for Minority Architects for over 8 years. His tireless dedication to the profession, commitment to mentoring youth and exceptional people skills have served the organization well. A registered Architect with more than 30 years of experience in the management of design and construction of medical facilities, educational and commercial projects. He has worked on projects in Los Angeles, Chicago, San Diego, New Orleans, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Africa. A proud architectural graduate of University of Illinois Urbana/Champaign and Howard University, Drake is actively involved in the professional community serving many organizations: Historic Preservation Overlay Zone Lafayette Square, Board Chair for Crenshaw YMCA, AIA Los Angeles and Commissioner for the Los Angeles County Commission on Local Governmental Services. Join us as we honor and salute Drake for his service to the National Organization for Minority Architects on the local and national level.