The Leadership

Patel Family Foundation

Christian Leon / President

Christian Leon is a nonprofit leader and Director at the Patel Family Foundation, where he oversees strategic partnerships and community impact initiatives across Tampa Bay. He brings experience in organizational leadership, having previously served as an executive director in the nonprofit sector.

  • Christian holds a law degree from Boston University School of Law and is committed to advancing inclusive, community-focused programs that create meaningful, lasting change.

Sales Manager

Linda Saul-Sena / Vice President

Linda Saul-Sena has worked as an advocate for historic preservation in every phase of her professional life. After graduating with a BA in Art History from Tulane University, she returned to her hometown and worked as an urban planner. Linda was elected to Tampa City Council in 1987 and served for 20 years. She then became a columnist for Creative Loafing.

  • Her past and current board service includes the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation, the Arts Council of Hillsborough County, the Tampa Theatre, the Community Foundation of Tampa Bay, the Athena Society and Community Stepping Stones and TCDC.

Smith and Associates Real estate

Julia Gorzka Freeman / Secretary

Julia Gorzka Freeman is a dedicated real estate professional specializing in luxury residential homes and upscale properties in the Tampa Bay area. As a REALTOR® with Smith & Associates Real Estate, she combines strategic market insight, strong negotiation skills, and an unwavering commitment to client satisfaction.

  • With a career rooted in deep local knowledge and a refined aesthetic sensibility, Julia partners with buyers and sellers to achieve their goals—whether that’s finding a dream home, selling a residence with optimal return, or navigating unique investment opportunities. Her approach blends technical precision (market analytics, listing strategy, staging) with an artful understanding of lifestyle, architecture and sense of place.

    Known for responsiveness, integrity and personalized service, Julia guides clients through every step—from property valuation and marketing plan to smooth closing—making what can often be complex, feel seamless and empowering.

Atelier AEC, Inc.

Vivian Salaga, AIA / Treasurer

Vivian Salaga, AIA, is a Principal at Atelier Architecture Engineering Construction in Tampa, where she leads projects with a strong commitment to historic preservation, adaptive-reuse, and thoughtful urban revitalization. Her work reflects a balance of technical rigor and artistic sensibility, bringing clarity, craftsmanship, and community focus to every project.

  • Vivian’s collaborative leadership style and deep understanding of place help guide clients and teams through complex architectural challenges with confidence and purpose.

The Directors

Atelier AEC, Inc.

John Tennison, AIA

John Tennison, AIA, LEED AP, serves as Principal Architect at Atelier AEC in Tampa, where he brings more than two decades of design experience focused on sustainable, context-sensitive architecture and meaningful community impact.

  • With a strong background in both design leadership and technical coordination, John guides projects from vision through execution—balancing performance, aesthetics and the human experience. He is known for an inclusive approach: fostering collaboration across disciplines, engaging stakeholders early, and championing built environments that feel right for place and people. John holds a degree from Ohio University and combines his formal education with continuous professional development in green building practices and emerging technologies.

Ferrell Design

Stephanie Ferrell, FAIA

Stephanie Ferrell, FAIA, is a Tampa-based architect and preservation specialist recognized for her leadership in adaptive reuse and the protection of Florida’s historic built environment. A Fellow of the American Institute of Architects, she has shaped preservation policy as former Director of the Tampa/Hillsborough County Preservation Board and continues her impact through her consultancy, Ferrell Redevelopment.

  • Her work spans historic tax-credit projects, National Register nominations, community revitalization, and the thoughtful transformation of landmark structures. With a career defined by technical rigor, cultural sensitivity, and advocacy for heritage architecture, Stephanie remains a respected voice in preservation and a mentor to emerging professionals.

Sales Manager

James Schmidt. Esq

James A. Schmidt, Esq. is a Tampa attorney with a background in accounting and over two decades of combined experience in business, tax, and real estate law. A former CPA, he brings a strong financial and regulatory foundation to complex transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, entity structuring, tax planning, and commercial real-estate deals.

  • James earned his B.S. in Accounting and Finance from Drexel University and his J.D. from Widener University School of Law, with additional legal studies in Nairobi, Kenya. He serves in leadership roles within The Florida Bar and the Hillsborough County Bar Association and is active in NAIOP Tampa Bay. His practice is grounded in clarity, responsiveness, and strategic counsel for businesses and individuals throughout Florida.

EMPAD Architecture + Design

Juan Ricardes. Int’l Assoc. AIA

Juan Ricardes, Int’l Assoc. AIA, is an Argentine architect whose work blends technical precision with a strong sense of cultural awareness and creative expression. With over a decade of leadership across AIA chapters and committees, he brings a service-driven approach to advancing equity and the future of the profession.

  • His experience spans architecture, design, development, and community engagement, shaped by a global perspective and a passion for mentorship. Juan’s work reflects clarity, functionality, and emotional resonance; qualities he applies equally to buildings, teams, and the communities he serves.

Tampa Legacy Elder Fund

Harriet Pyler

Harriet Plyler is a 4th generation Tampan who grew up in Hyde Park and with her husband Philip, raised her two children there. As board member and president of Tampa Preservation, Inc in the nineties, she helped spearhead the revitalization of Tampa Heights and creation of the TPI revolving fund for high risk preservation projects.

  • She was a founding member of TUSPR, the board that bought and renovated Tampa Union Station. She relocated to London from 1998 to 2020, working for a British publisher as editor-in-chief of The Good Schools Guide International and Uni in the USA: the British Students’ Guide to University in America; co-organised annual London “University in the USA” college counsellor training conferences. Back in Tampa, she was briefly a board member of CAD, is the co-president of the Tampa Legacy Elder Fund, and has a Youtube cooking channel called Harriet’s Florida Kitchen. 

Account Executive – Bentley Mills

Christina Ranvik

Christina Ranvik is a Tampa-based design professional with a strong background in commercial interior products and manufacturer representation. She partners closely with architects, interior designers, and end-users to guide thoughtful product selection and support project-driven design goals.

  • Christina brings a collaborative, relationship-focused approach to every engagement, helping bridge design intent with high-quality material solutions. In addition to her work in the industry, she serves on the Board of Directors for the Tampabay Community Design Center, The Tampa Legacy Elder Fund and co-chair of the CREW Tampa Bay Sustainability Council contributing her expertise to support design education and community initiatives.

H.W. Lochner, Inc.

Stephen Benson

Stephen Benson is the Florida Planning Practice Leader at H.W. Lochner, Inc., where he guides transportation and urban planning initiatives across the region. With more than 15 years of experience, he works at the intersection of mobility, land use, and community development, helping clients shape practical, people-focused solutions.

  • Stephen brings a strong background in planning strategy, public engagement, and multimodal systems, supporting projects that strengthen connectivity and long-term regional growth. His collaborative approach and commitment to creating more livable communities define his leadership within Lochner’s planning practice.

Clearview Land Design

Garrett Noble

Garrett Noble is the Director of Landscape Architecture & Land Planning at Clearview Land Design and has experience in a variety of project types including public and private parks, amenity centers, commercial development, industrial development, and athletic sports complexes.

  • Garrett serves as the project manager for many projects, and is the liaison between the Environmental, Civil, Entitlement Planning, and Permitting departments at Clearview. His passion is creating places that leave a lasting impact on the people who use them through thoughtful and creative design solutions.