Meet Our Team

Risa Yuki, LEED GA

Principal

With more than 20 years of experience, Risa has been with MG2 since the beginning of her career. Her passion spans multiple areas of expertise, including design and delivery for new construction, prototyping, and adaptive reuse projects. Risa is the go-to person on every team. She consistently pioneers effective solutions that translate into new business practices for clients.

Risa not only cares about the work but the people associated with it. Her focus on collaboration and team-building has helped her foster long-term partnerships with internal and external teams. She is not only an inspiring leader but the glue that holds projects together. Her colleagues often request to work with her on critical challenges to observe and emulate her ability to develop authentic, trusting relationships with clients. A “foodie” at her core, if Risa isn’t driving new solutions for dynamic projects, she’s exploring new restaurants and learning about emerging cuisines.

Meet Our Team

Matthew Goelzer, AIA, LEED AP

Principal

Matthew’s extensive background designing warehouse, distribution, food process and cold storage facilities has resulted in his emergence as one of MG2’s most valued design experts. His diverse experience working for both architectural and engineering firms, as well as time spent at a design-build construction company early in his career, has provided Matthew the ability to bring integrated design solutions to projects.

Project stakeholders rely on Matthew for his comprehensive understanding of complex design and entitlement processes. The vast technical knowledge Matthew possesses enables him to serve as MG2’s professional practice lead and sit on the executive committee responsible for maintaining the firm’s overall QA/QC standards and professional risk mitigation.

Throughout his time at MG2, Matthew has been a catalyst for change, overseeing the mentorship of several young architects and working with internal partners to implement a formalized talent development program to foster their progress. The totality of his efforts has ensured MG2 is primed to meet the demands of clients today and tomorrow.

Meet Our Team

Brian Bonar, AIA, NCARB

Principal

With almost three decades of experience designing and developing across everything from education and aviation to residential and retail, Brian Bonar excels at architectural versatility. He’s spent his career leading clients and teams through complex programs and processes, honing each step of development, strengthening relationships, and pushing edges to create dynamic projects.

Brian’s diverse blend of expertise and leadership skills allow him to look ahead and anticipate stakeholder needs, simultaneously focusing on both minute details and the big picture to ensure clients see their visions realized. Continually influenced by the technical precision yet elegant simplicity of modern architecture, Brian has a deep appreciation for, and understanding of, what it takes to bring inspired spaces to life. When he’s not studying the amalgams of light, mass, and shadow, you’ll find him kicking back to a baseball game, or spending time outdoors with his family.

Meet Our Team

Jonathan Chang, AIA, LEED AP, NCARB

Principal

Originally from Taiwan, Jonathan Chang has long been fascinated with and influenced by the cultures, spiritual experiences, and communities born from architectural design. He has traveled the world chasing that inspiration, studying and working in the United States, and settling in Shanghai where he now serves as MG2’s international lead for our longtime client partner, Costco Wholesale.

Jonathan is an ardent project manager, commercial and mixed-retail designer, and observant Principal. He passionately applies his expertise to solving complex challenges that transform the fundamental fabric of global metropolises, guiding and mentoring his teams along the way. Outside the office, you’ll find Jonathan wiling away the hours on long road trips, gardening, or simply day-dreaming about the future of urban landscapes.

Meet Our Team

Doug Brookbank, AIA, NCARB

Principal

With over 25 years’ experience with MG2, Doug Brookbank has proven expertise around navigating the complexities of client programs and helping our partners reach their business and development goals. As versatile as he is passionate, Doug strategically gets involved with projects early on, expertly guiding stakeholders through due diligence, schematic design, design development, and the entitlements process.

His team-first approach to leadership and dedication to finding the right solutions help solve our clients’ most intricate and novel problems. Above all else, Doug values his relationships, built on collaboration, professionalism, and a shared desire to achieve results; it is the friends he has made along the way that create a sense of unity and connection. Ultimately, it is Doug’s purpose-driven approach and rigor that elevate the work of MG2 in every way. When Doug isn’t solving a challenging problem for clients, he is inviting them into a competitive game of golf, exercising strategy, agility, and dexterity in an entirely new way.

Meet Our Team

Russ Hazzard, AIA

President

A fearless and revered leader, Russ Hazzard is a master conductor. He knows how to orchestrate the right team and cues each player to jump into a project at the exact moment they are needed. With Russ at the podium, innovative solutions become the perfect score, exceeding clients’ expectations and tempting them to experience a repeat performance.

Russ knows firsthand how enduring relationships with our partners, some of which span 40 years, elevates MG2’s unique ability to understand and help shape their enterprise. Contributing to the mastery and evolution of dynamic programs deepens his commitment to creating synergies and shared successes. This commitment also helps MG2 pioneer new offerings that elevate all our core practice areas.

People Make the Place: Leading the Way at MG2

MG2 is thrilled to announce the promotion of over 40 employees across our studios and offices. With a culture rooted in recognition and appreciation, MG2 celebrates not just the advancements of those within leadership, but those of every single team member. There are no small roles here; without the outrageous talent and unwavering dedication of all our employees, we would not be the firm we are today.

2020 promotions grid of photos and quote

It’s with great pride that MG2 fosters creativity, acknowledge achievements, and promotes from within, and with that, we’re excited to introduce you to this year’s rising stars who are paving the way for our future across design, operations, program management, and more:

Irvine

  • Nubia Herrera | Promoted to Associate 2
  • Mackenzie Gibbens | Promoted to Associate 3
  • Meadow Pirigyi | Promoted to Associate 3
  • Jessica Labac | Promoted to Associate 4
  • Isaac Perez | Promoted to Associate 5

WASHINGTON, D.C.

  • Gabriella Santostefano | Promoted to Associate 2
  • Hazel Ventura | Promoted to Associate 2
  • Krysten Gormly | Promoted to Associate 3
  • Ishana Mistry | Promoted to Associate 3
  • Paola Moreno | Promoted to Associate 3
  • Behbood Vatani | Promoted to Senior Estimator
  • Meridyth Cutler | Promoted to Senior Associate 1

MINNEAPOLIS

  • Ryan Hartsuff | Promoted to Associate 5
  • Monica Russell | Promoted to Associate 5
  • Liz Aiello | Promoted to Senior Associate 1

SEATTLE | COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENTS

  • Jacob Southard | Promoted to Associate 2

SEATTLE | CLIENT PROGRAMS

  • Sarah Bertis | Promoted to Associate 2
  • Whitney Gomes | Promoted to Associate 2
  • Morgan Nestegard | Promoted to Associate 2
  • Marina Sosner | Promoted to Associate 2
  • Connor Dimick | Promoted to Associate 3
  • Trevor Gunderson | Promoted to Associate 3
  • Darren Mobley | Promoted to Associate 3
  • Kyle Bembenek | Promoted to Associate 4
  • Willie Mak | Promoted to Associate 4
  • Brian Dobry | Promoted to Associate 5
  • Fiona Cutner | Promoted to Senior Associate 1
  • Amy Hart | Promoted to Senior Associate 1

SEATTLE | CONSUMER EXPERIENCES

  • Bridget Arnold | Promoted to Associate 2
  • Robyn Burgos | Promoted to Associate 3
  • Elle Reinhard | Promoted to Associate 3
  • Howard Schulien | Promoted to Associate 5
  • Min Jae Kwon | Promoted to Senior Associate 1

SEATTLE | OPERATIONS

  • Abbie Drake | Promoted to Senior Graphic Designer
  • Kelli Cook | Promoted to Program Manager
  • Natasha Windle | Promoted to Program Manager
  • Chelsea Pagdilao | Promoted to HR Specialist

Amongst our leadership team, MJ Munsell has been promoted to Chief Creative Officer. And, in addition to two new Principals — Risa Yuki and Mark Taylor — and two new Associate Principals — Scott Owen and Mitch Pride — we’re also excited to welcome two additional Shareholders: Melissa Gonzalez and Nick Caputo, who recently joined the MG2 family through our merger with The Lion’eqsue Group.

2020 promotions grid of photos and quote

MG2 Partner Costco Wholesale Opens First Warehouse In China

Costco Wholesale

We recently celebrated the success of our long-time client, Costco Wholesale, on the significant achievement of opening a new warehouse in Shanghai, China.

They hit a new record of 130,000 membership sign-ups before the warehouse opening. New Shanghai members now have a unique, warehouse shopping experience like none other in China.

Another significant achievement for this project is achieving a 2-star rating from the China Green Building Design. This rating is equivalent to LEED Silver and Gold certification. The notable features include solar panels that provide building power, a heat reclamation system, on-site rainwater collection, energy-efficient fixtures, and much more.

We are so proud to stand by our colleagues and our enduring partner during this momentous achievement. Congratulations!