LAND EXPRESSIONS - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Architect
- Project Estimator
Alan Merry handles project estimates, architect's estimates and bid work for Land Expressions. He brings over 20 years' experience to the team. His work has taken him to multiple states, estimating landscape, planting and site work as well as project management, including a variety of construction and demolition projects. Alan graduated from Golden West College, Huntington Beach, CA with an AA Architecture.
In 2012, Alan moved to Post Falls with his wife and two sons William and Brendan. He enjoys motorcycle riding and has traveled across the United States and Canada. He also enjoys camping, traveling, fishing, hiking, basketball, and finish carpentry.
Job Titles:
- Chief Financial Manager Executive Manager
Amy Hamersky presents more than 25 years of accounting experience, 20 of which are in the construction industry. A Land Expressions team member since 1998, she oversees all financial aspects of the business including accounting practices, interfacing with the financial community, financial analysis and monitoring of financial performance.
Clayton Varick started with Land Expressions in 1999 as an intern, and is now an Executive Manager. As part of the management team, Clayton enjoys focusing on systems and processes within the organization, problem solving and critical thinking; always looking to improve our efficiency and maintain the highest standards of quality in design and construction. He provides leadership and technical direction of company resources, including personnel and purchasing.
Also a landscape architect, Clayton serves as a primary resource for the Design Studio, facilitating communication and decisions between our design staff and clients, either through our own operations manager or the owner's representative. He generates and oversees many projects at Land Expressions and is responsible for all aspects of our water features; from planning, design, and estimating to construction supervision, including the majority of all mechanical design necessary.
Clayton graduated from Washington State University in 2000 with a Bachelor's in Landscape Architecture.
Dave Nelson founded Land Expressions in 1987 expanding on a family legacy in the landscape industry by building a firm dedicated to collaborative creativity. He brought new water feature materials and techniques to Spokane, rapidly achieving the reputation as being the premier water feature designer and contractor in the western United States. Dave likes to find innovative and creative solutions for challenging projects, and his eye for design continues to lead Land Expressions to success. Land Expressions has been recognized by Spokane Coeur d'Alene Living Magazine for Best of Spokane for Landscape Design from 2009-present.
Dave graduated from Washington State University with a Bachelor's of Science degree in Landscape Architecture. Upon graduation he teamed with contractors throughout the western United States as a designer and project manager. He currently holds licenses to practice in Washington, Oregon, Arizona, Idaho and North Dakota. During his 30+ years in the industry, Dave has completed work throughout the United States and Japan.
Greg Phillips is responsible for overseeing the entire Construction Division, assigning resources, scheduling and coordinating with the design and estimating departments to ensure excellence in our product, while also ensuring the client receives the best possible outcome and experience. With over 30 years of experience in the wide array of landscape construction, he brings valuable knowledge and dedication to every project. Executive Management responsibilities include decision making, budgeting, strategic planning and coordination within all facets of Land Expressions framework.
Greg has played in Hoopfest since its inception, and also enjoys boating, home improvement projects, and electronic wizardry.
Kara Wooten is responsible for the all-important task of paying the bills and tracking billable hours for our team. Joining Land Expressions early in 2019 as accounting assistant, she tracks all construction and design budgets, as well as payroll and accounts payable.
Kara received a Bachelor of Chemistry degree, minoring in mathematics at Pacific Lutheran University. After 6 years as a chemist in Tacoma, she and her husband returned to her hometown. Kara enjoys raising her young children, traveling and visiting family.
Job Titles:
- Artist
- Residential Project Manager
Kathy Swehla has been a cornerstone at Land Expressions since its inception in 1987. She has a lead role in the residential sector and is a strong creative design force for public works projects, such as parks and plazas, commercial buildings, and private developments. Her landscape designs have won numerous national and state awards and can been seen in a variety of books and magazines.
Kathy is a gifted artist and an active member of Spokane's artist community. She contributes countless hours to non-profit organizations, including The Lands Council, The Ronald McDonald House and as an appointed commissioner with Spokane Arts.
For relaxation Kathy enjoys hunting through junkyards and the back country for abandoned cars and trucks to photograph, doing art shows and enjoying the beauty of our natural and built environment.
Kelli Hochstedler is the first point of contact at Land Expressions providing stellar customer service. She is a versatile team player supporting the design team, construction crews, accounting department, and executive managers. With over a decade of Office Management experience for a local water district combined with 10 years in the construction industry, Kelli is an integral part of operations at Land Expressions.
When she is not manning the front office, Kelli enjoys cooking, gardening, and camping. She volunteers for local non-profit organizations, such as Second Harvest Food Bank and the Spokane Valley Chamber.
Kerry Nelson is co-owner of Land Expressions and serves as Executive Manager and Human Resource Director. She earned her BA in Business Management from Washington State University and spent over a decade with Macy's as Department Sales Manager, Division Sales Manager, and Assistant Buyer.
Kerry has volunteered her time to the Mead School District on many councils, various committees, and in the classroom. She takes great pride in her children who both attended WSU and is currently adjusting to her new "empty nest" lifestyle. In her free time she enjoys spending time with her family at Priest Lake, gardening, and working on creative projects.
Job Titles:
- Designer
- Intern Landscape Architect Designer
Libby Shetlar is a landscape designer at Land Expressions. She assists the team with design work for a myriad of projects ranging from residential to commercial and is responsible for drafting the technical drawings for those projects. She also focuses on creating digital graphics for presentations along with estimating commercial projects for construction.
Libby graduated from Kansas State University in 2016 with a Master of Landscape Architecture degree and has enjoyed building her professional experience in the design/build industry.
Libby recently moved to Spokane from Kansas with her husband Logan and their Australian Cattle Dog, Boom Boom. In her free time, she enjoys meeting new friends, exploring the beautiful Northwest through hiking and kayaking, working on artistic projects, and horseback riding.
Tom Pratt; landscape architect, oversees quality control and production of design and design/build projects for Land Expressions. Tom presents 28 years of professional experience assembling multi-discipline teams and managing the development of contract documents for projects of all types and scales. In this role he is responsible for project management, the preparation and culmination of all related technical drawings and specifications as well as construction management. Tom ensures that all design projects are complete on time, within budget, code compliant and technically accurate.
Tom is well seasoned in site design, landscape master planning, landscape planting, hardscape and irrigation design, erosion control and grading/drainage design. He continues his focus on the integration of Low Impact Design, Sustainable, and LEED design principles in all aspects of design. Tom has been involved in projects ranging from educational facilities (Pre-School to Higher Education) to large commercial and residential projects as well as projects overseas for the State Department.
Mountain biking, kayaking, water and snow skiing are the active seasonal sports that Tom enjoys while indoors he enjoys reading and playing Cribbage.