MASTERPLAN - Key Persons
Amy Mathews joined the Masterplan team in July 2022, where she works as a Senior Consultant. Amy is responsible for Due Diligence, Urban Planning, Zoning and Land Use, and Development Codes. With roughly 22 years of experience, she is well versed in municipal development & redevelopment, ordinance writing, working with elected officials on land use planning projects, and much more.
Amy received her Bachelor of Science degree in Geography from the University of Alabama. Before joining Masterplan, she worked for the County of San Diego as an Urban Planner, and worked for the Cities of Little Elm, Rowlett, Flower Mound, Frisco, Richardson, and DeSoto in various roles such as, City Planner, Senior Planner, Planning Manager, and Planning & Zoning Manager.
In her free time, she enjoys going on cruises and traveling to Disney and various beaches. She also spends her time going to FC Dallas games with her husband, Bo, and daughter, Cass.
Areas of Expertise:
Current Planning
Job Titles:
- Senior Consultant
- MUEP Senior Consultant
Andrew Ruegg joined Masterplan in November 2019. He previously worked with the City of Dallas, Sustainable Development & Construction Department for 3.5 years managing zoning cases, leading neighborhood and community outreach meetings, and working with City staff and stakeholders for development code amendments.
Andrew has experience overseeing complex and politically charged zoning cases and understands the dynamics of diverse stakeholder needs in any given project. His understanding of working with local governments allows him to provide an expert level of service on all project matters. Andrew has worked in various planning and research-based roles with the City of Fort Worth Police Department, City of Arlington - Research and Analytics Group, and City of Frisco Development Services.
Andrew has a passion for urban planning and the development of cities. Most recently, he has become a Registered Accessibility Specialist (RAS) and is certified to review accessibility on plans, newly constructed buildings, and renovations. His professional experience and graduate level education brings insightful knowledge and ideas to Masterplan.
Areas of Expertise:
Zoning and Land Use
Carolyn joined the Masterplan team in 2023, bringing 15 years of public sector planning experience, all in the State of Texas. Carolyn has experience as a Planner/Senior Planner in Houston, Dallas, and Georgetown, and as the Planning Director in Hutto (go Hippos!) Most recently, she managed the Regional Codes and the Center for Development Excellence programs for the NCTCOG.
Carolyn works on both Zoning and Permitting projects, providing due diligence and entitlement research for clients in the DFW metroplex, Houston area, and Austin region.
After obtaining her B.A. in Political Science from Trinity University in San Antonio, Carolyn continued her education at the University of Texas at Arlington, gaining a Masters in City and Regional Planning. When she's not at work, you can find Carolyn spending time in her garden, watching movies with her husband, helping her dad, or volunteering with dog rescue groups.
Areas of Expertise:
Platting and Land Use
Job Titles:
- Consultant
- Member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Incorporated
Cherrell has years of experience in local government serving in roles such as Interim Planning Manager and Planning Director. Raised by two military parents she gained excellent adaptability skills. She received her Bachelors degree from Angelo State University.
Cherrell has worked on various projects such as Scenic City, Hampton Road Corridor Redevelopment, Association of Parcel Workers of America (APWA), Comprehensive Plans and more. Cherrell is determined to strive for excellence and implement a vision of sustainability in all communities.
Currently as a consultant Cherrell reviews plans, assist with TABC applications, and helps Masterplan clients through the various application submittals.
Areas of Expertise:
Urban Planning
Christy Lancaster worked for Masterplan in its infancy, then returned in 2016 as account manager, working closely with clients and Masterplan consultants. Before coming to Masterplan, Christy worked in commercial real estate for 40+ years, working with clients in retail, office, and shopping centers. Being a lifelong Dallas resident, partnered with her local knowledge, she has been a true solutions-oriented asset for those she works with.
Christy left the corporate world to work for a nonprofit, The Dallas Children's Advocacy Center (DCAC), where she was its first employee ever hired and oversaw the renovations and construction of the DCAC facilities. Once the facility was built, she worked on day-to-day operations but quickly realized she was drawn to the therapeutic side of what DCAC offered. Christy went back to grad school and received her master's in clinical psychology. Upon graduation, she worked with child abuse and domestic violence agencies and programs in the area.
She returned to the family business, Masterplan, to work alongside her mother and cousin, Dallas Cothrum, in 2016. With a passion for helping others, she enjoys working closely with clients to ensure all projects are to their satisfaction. As a finance major, she puts her expertise to work as she handles most account matters.
Areas of Expertise:
Communication
Job Titles:
- Consultant
- Planning & Land Use
Cole Jeffery joined Masterplan in July 2023, where he works as a Consultant in the Dallas office. Cole is an accomplished permitting Consultant who is dedicated to ensuring swift and efficient permit approvals for a diverse range of clients and projects. He works closely with architects, engineers, developers, and city officials, fostering a collaborative environment to streamline the overall permitting process. Prior to joining Masterplan, Cole worked as a permitting consultant for a telecommunications firm specializing in EV Charging Station Deployment, and possesses a successful track record in client relations, project management, and overall project success.
Cole received his Bachelor's degree in Urban and Regional Planning from Texas A&M University (WHOOP!) in the spring of 2020. In his free time, Cole can either be found in the gym, on the golf course or in the stands cheering on the Aggies or one of the several DFW sports teams. In addition to his very active lifestyle, Cole also enjoys spending time with his friends and family and traveling to new places.
Areas of Expertise:
Permitting
Throughout his career, Dr. Cothrum has worked on numerous politically charged and technically difficult cases. He directed the efforts on Rosewood Court, many types of multi-family projects, and self-storage locations. Over the past decade, he and Karl Crawley, Executive Director - Texas, have worked more cases in Oaklawn and Dallas Uptown than any others.
He is responsible for consulting with and advising clients on requirements for zoning and permit applications for various area municipalities. His practice includes significant experience in public presentations before community groups, municipal boards, commissions, and councils concerning zoning changes, variances, and plats.
Dr. Cothrum serves as President of Masterplan and LaBarba Permit Service. He joined Masterplan in 2003 as a consultant supporting hundreds of business owners and municipalities prior to assuming his current role in 2009.
Danielle holds a BA in Urban Studies from Texas A&M International University. She spent nearly a decade as a land use planner for various municipal governments before joining Masterplan from 2021 through 2023, and then rejoining the team in 2024 as an executive assistant for Dallas Cothrum. She is a board of adjustment nerd and enjoys the aesthetic of a perfectly detailed spreadsheet.
Areas of Expertise:
Zoning and Land Use
Job Titles:
- Office & Accounting Manager
Ms. Lujan joined Masterplan in September 2021 as the Accounting & Office Manager. Over the last 20 years, Denise has served the accounting needs of businesses and individuals alike as a detail-oriented accounting professional. As an accounting professional since 2001, she has gained a deep understanding of Accounting, HR, and Payroll, and has worked in various industries both in Dallas-Fort Worth and in West Texas. She loves making a positive impact in her role and even helped one company save hundreds of thousands of dollars by correcting just one accounting error. Although she has worked for large companies, she believes she is most impactful in startups, family-owned or medium-sized businesses.
While she excels at accounting, Ms. Lujan's passion is helping others. She has assisted individuals with starting up their businesses, has prepared tax returns for low-income individuals in her community, and aspires to become a foster parent one day.
Areas of Expertise:
Financial Reporting
With nearly three decades of experience across diverse sectors, Eric is responsible for developing new strategies and initiatives, building new relationships while maintaining existing client and partner relationships, and advising clients on housing developments. As a licensed commercial real estate agent, Eric uses his expertise and experience within the real estate, finance, and consulting industries to develop relationships with owners and developers to identify solutions that match their goals and ensures and positive client experience.
Eric began his career in finance and investments, moving on to real estate, business development and advising roles working with Fortune 500 clients across the United States. He has more than 20 years of experience working with business owners, investors, developers, and local municipalities. Most recently, he worked with the City of Dallas Housing & Neighborhood Revitalization Department on several new initiatives for the city involving mixed income housing.
As an active member of his community, Eric serves on the Board of Directors and Treasurer for Project Unity, serves on Southeast Dallas Now committee, attends St. Paul United Methodist Church, and is a coach and trainer for youth basketball.
Areas of Expertise:
Business Development
Bio:
Jaclyn joined the Masterplan team in December 2023 as a Development Associate, joining the permitting consultant team and helping clients through the permit application process. Jaclyn is a detail-oriented compliance professional with a strong background in legal support and regulatory adherence. Before joining Masterplan, Jaclyn worked for roughly nine years as a Litigation Assistant at a Law Firm specializing in criminal and Immigration Law.
Areas of Expertise:
Legal Research
Job Titles:
- Director of Dallas Water Utilities During the Drought of the 1950's
Job Titles:
- Executive Director - Texas
Fun Fact: Karl's grandfather, Karl F. Hoefle, was director of Dallas Water Utilities during the drought of the 1950's and was instrumental in having water piped from the Red River to Dallas to keep the city supplied.
Mr. Crawley currently serves as the Executive Director - Texas for Masterplan, overseeing the operations for the firm. Karl joined Masterplan in 1998 and over the past 24 years has helped hundreds of clients across Texas with their zoning and land use needs. A resident of the Dallas area for more than 40 years and a Dallas ISD alumni, Mr. Crawley is a graduate of Texas A&M University with a master's degree in urban planning.
Katelyn joined the Masterplan team in 2023 as the Marketing Manager, where she is responsible for the strategic growth and success of marketing leads as well as overall Marketing support to the Masterplan team.
Katelyn is a Baylor University graduate with a Bachelor's degree in Journalism and New Media from the class of 2020. While in college, Katelyn was selected as her sorority's Executive Office Intern. For Alpha Delta Pi, she assisted the marketing team in preparing for the upcoming recruitment seasons and marketing endeavors. For her senior year, she was accepted into a program where she spent a semester in New York, interning and providing pre-production research for a documentary film.
Professionally, Katelyn has over three years of e-commerce marketing experience in brand recognition and social strategy. In her previous role, she oversaw all marketing efforts, running a small but optimized team of creative individuals to drive daily sales goals. She is passionate about data and its role in marketing and will take the time to understand her audience to optimize the outcome.
In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, planning trips with her sisters, watching movies, and baking new recipes.
Areas of Expertise:
Social Media Strategy
Senior Advisor, Lee M. Kleinman, currently provides Masterplan with companywide leadership and client support based on his in-depth experience working at City Hall. For nearly 15 years, Lee has worked at the City of Dallas as a Council Member and on the Park Board, making him extremely qualified in supporting clients who are seeking government approvals. Before joining Masterplan, Mr. Kleinman began his professional career as a principal entrepreneur for high-growth and startup companies in the cellular and software industries. He brings excellent experience in lobbying and has worked directly with the Texas Legislature in Austin, Texas and the U.S. Legislature in Washington D.C., as well as many local government organizations.
Lee received his B.A. in Economics and Psychology from Pitzer College and, after 10 years of business experience, earned his Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree from the Cox School of Business at Southern Methodist University.
When he is not in the office, Lee can often be found traveling to new places around the world. He has been to all 7 continents and some of his favorite destinations are Cuba, Viet Nam, Patagonia, and Antarctica. He has also had the opportunity to witness Silver Back Gorillas in Rwanda as well as Polar Bears and Northern Lights in Canada. In his spare time, Mr. Kleinman also enjoys staying active by biking, snow skiing, photography, and hiking various trails.
Areas of Expertise:
Community Outreach
What does life look like after serving on the Dallas City Council? For outgoing City Councilman Lee M. Kleinman, it is heading to the private sector to help businesses and landowners navigate the...
Job Titles:
- Consultant
- Project Manager
Mario Amador is an accomplished permitting project manager with extensive experience handling all aspects of permitting for challenging projects. He has demonstrated exceptional project management capabilities, overseeing projects of varying scales and timelines. Mario is well-versed in collaborating with architects, engineers, municipal staff, and project managers, providing valuable consultation and fostering effective communication among stakeholders. His expertise lies in navigating the intricate web of approvals, permits, and licenses required for developments, from initial application to final approval.
Areas of Expertise:
Permitting
Job Titles:
- Accounts Receivable Specialist
Bio:
Michelle Roberts joined the Masterplan team in June 2022, where she works as an Accounts Receivable Specialist in our Dallas office. She is responsible for process improvement, collections, communication with clients and other departments, resolving issues, and reporting. Her favorite aspect of her role has been getting on the ground floor with AR development and being able to be a part of moving the company forward.
Michelle received her Bachelor's degree in management from Saint Leo University in Florida. She previously worked for T-Mobile-MetroPCS and General Datatech where she gained valuable skills such as account reconciliation, cross-functional training, communication with government agencies, and maintaining AR records.
In her free time, she enjoys being a host to friends & family for various events such as birthday celebrations, holidays, brunch, and game nights.
Areas of Expertise:
Customer & Vendor relationship building
As Operations Director at Masterplan, Nicolle oversees the management and operations for our five Texas offices. Her role is to ensure that we are able to achieve successful client outcomes in a way that is efficient and effective.
She is known for her ability to lead high-performing teams, as well as her deep commitment to carrying out client and stakeholder needs. She accomplishes this by collaborating with everyone on her team and making sure everyone has the support they need to do their best work.
She received her B.A.s from Texas Tech University in marketing and management before eventually leading the marketing efforts for a global logistics firm with 36 offices across North America and sales teams located around the world. In 2016, she made the move to join the AEC industry and has worked with some of the top Fortune 500 companies in Texas.
Nicolle is passionate about supporting her community and is an active member of the Dallas Regional Chamber. She is extremely pro-coffee and in her spare time can be found loitering at coffee shops around Dallas-Fort Worth with her husband, Chad.
Areas of Expertise:
Strategic Planning
Job Titles:
- Consultant
- in 2023 As a Senior Consultant
Steve Long joined Masterplan in 2023 as a Senior Consultant. He brings 40 years of public sector experience with a focus on the Board of Adjustors. After graduating from the University of Cincinnati with a bachelor's in urban planning and design, he began his career at the City of Dallas's Department of Planning and Development, where he was involved in the citywide rezoning process. In 1992, Steve became the city's Assistant Board Administrator for the Board of Adjustment, and later, in 1995, he was promoted to the Board of Adjustment administrator as the sole staff person/planner.
While serving as the board administrator, Steve developed a communication system for internal and external members and applicants. Until his retirement in 2019, he administered virtually every request made to the Board, over 3,500.
He has a renowned eye for detail and is known for serving his clients (the citizens of Dallas) and ensuring they understand the process at every step.
A Texan transplant who comes to us from Utah, Trenton Robertson brings nearly 14 years of experience to Masterplan's Dallas office. He previously worked for the Cities of San Antonio and Kerrville as a planner, and for the City of Midlothian as their Planning Director.
Trenton's role has him managing zoning and permitting projects, which includes executing due diligence research, presenting at public hearings, and reviewing plans for compliance. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners and a coach for his son's baseball team.
He attended Brigham Young University where he received his Bachelor of Science in Geography. He continued his higher education at the University of Utah where he received his Master's degree in City and Metropolitan Planning.
Areas of Expertise:
Zoning and Land Use
Vivian Quintero joined Masterplan in 2021 and began working on a wide range of customer support initiatives. Vivian has primarily focused on client contracts and enhancing processes in order to provide new clients with an exceptional experience. Through her involvement with the Dallas Regional Chamber Young Professionals and the Regional Hispanic Contractors Association, she also exhibits a dedication and passion for supporting the community.
She received her B.S. from The University of Texas at Austin in communication and leadership with a minor in business. Vivian also made the Dean's list twice during her college career and graduated with a 4.0 major GPA and a 3.6 cumulative GPA. She spends most of her free time taking walks with her Boxer-Lab mix, Duke, who is 5-years-old. She is also very passionate about weightlifting at the local gym. When traveling to new cities, Vivian strives to try as many local coffee shops as she can during her trip.
Areas of Expertise:
Contract Management
Job Titles:
- Founding Member of 24Hour Dallas
- Managing Director, Fort Worth
Wes is a founding member of 24Hour Dallas and currently services on the board of directors. From its inception, 24Hour Dallas has been dedicated to helping small business owners, particularly those associated in the nighttime economy.
As a Managing Director of the Fort Worth office, Mr. Hoblit is focused on building strong relationships with clients and industry partners. Since joining Masterplan, he has helped position Masterplan as an industry leader in land use and zoning matters. Working closely with the senior consultant team, he uses his extensive knowledge of the industry to work with clients and develop solutions that ensure a positive client experience. .
Mr. Hoblit began his career with Masterplan as an intern while still enrolled at Texas Christian University. During his tenure, he has worked for both Masterplan and its sister company, LaBarba Permit Service, gaining knowledge and experience with zoning application management and permit expediting, including alcohol permitting. Mr. Hoblit successfully led an effort to make Princeton wet and worked to change zoning rules in that city.
Wes brings a sincere passion and commitment to his community. He is actively involved in numerous non-profit and industry organizations including the YMCA Properties Committee Board, Greater Dallas Planning Council (GDPC), The Real Estate Council (TREC), and 24HourDallas.
Areas of Expertise:
Community Outreach & Engagement