Jane Cataldo

Principal

Jane is the Senior Project Manager at LCI, with over four decades of experience. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Cornell University specializing in landscape architecture. She is responsible for expanding our services and growing our client base. Jane directs the operations within the firm to ensure consistent design services and delivery to our customers. She is an expert in a broad range of project types including retail development, public plazas, streetscapes, parkways, educational facilities, and transportation centers. Jane also has extensive expertise in desert landscape and continues to expand her professional skills by achieving LEED certification and pursuing sustainability programs within the framework of landscape architecture.

Gina Ortega

Operations, Administrative, Finance and Project Accounting Management

As Finance Manager at LCI, Gina is responsible for project accounting, human resource administration, operations and finance management. Providing ongoing and cognizant business operations and informative financial analysis on a per project basis.Gina is a talented leader with a specialty in building and managing successful project and administrative teams. She is proficient at identifying financial issues and integrating strategic solutions to achieve a profitable outcome. Personal interests:Gina enjoys flamenco dancing, fishing, hiking, and camping. Road trips are always a favorite.

Erwin Gutierrez

Sr. Project Manager

As Sr. Project Manager, Erwin is responsible for all aspects of the design process, project work plan preparation, controlling project schedule and budget, and coordination with clients in the private and public sectors. Erwin’s specific talents include hand sketching, color rendering, technical proficiency with leading industry-standard design and rendering programs, such as the latest version AutoCAD, MicroStation V8i, and Adobe Photoshop, construction administration, quality assurance and quality control, and preparation of Visual Impact Assessment (VIA) reports. His areas of expertise include Caltrans Highway Landscape/Infrastructure projects (Districts 7, 8, 11, and 12), VIA reports (all-levels), visual simulations, streetscapes, bike trails, freeway interchanges, Port of Los Angeles and Port of Long Beach projects. Personal interests:Erwin’s personal interests and hobbies include team and individual sports, reverse engineering electronic devices, tuning cars, and collecting vintage memorabilia.

Soda Pay

Sr. Project Manager

As Sr. Project Manager, Soda is responsible for all aspects of design, plan preparation and client coordination. Soda is an experienced designer and has a talent for plaza design and public spaces. His areas of expertise include: educational facilities (K-12 & higher education), park rehabilitation/ stormwater capture, drought tolerant demonstration gardens, butterfly gardens, multi family housing, retail and commercial complexes, roof gardens, creative office, streetscapes, plazas and aviation projects. Personal interests:Soda enjoys spending time with his family, fishing, camping, off-roading, and testing plants in his garden.

Kevin Yamachika

Landscape Designer/ Project Manager

As a Landscape Designer /Project Manager, Kevin is responsible for both project design and management and interacts regularly with the design team leadership to facilitate communications, client service, consultant coordination, and drawing/design package preparation.
Kevin is experienced in working on large infrastructure projects and is adept at multidisciplinary and multi-jurisdictional coordination. Additionally, he has hands on experience with Caltrans construction management for landscape and irrigation installations.His areas of expertise include Caltrans projects (districts 7, 8 11, 12), Rail and transit stations, grade separations, higher education, streetscapes, bike trails/ lanes, freeway interchanges and transportation projects.Personal interests:Kevin enjoys spending time with his family, cooking with the kids, traveling and fishing

Patricia Lear

Licensed Landscape Architect/ Project Manager/ ISA Certified Arborist

As a Licensed Landscape Architect/ Project Manager, Patricia is responsible for all aspects of design, plan preparation, client coordination and construction administration. Her specific talents include specification writing, construction observations and methodology, tree tagging, tree assessments and inventory and visual simulations. Her areas of expertise include: environmental restoration & mitigation, drought tolerant & specialty plant palettes, phytoremediation, visual simulations, well sites, commercial, retail and industrial centers, desert plant palettes, roof gardens, green walls, creative office and higher education. Personal interests:Patricia enjoys painting, jewelry design, floral design, & traveling.

Cong Phui

Certified Irrigation Designer

As lead irrigation designer at LCI, Cong is responsible for design and plan preparation for all projects requiring irrigation. Cong works closely with LCI’s project managers as well as the interdisciplinary teams for the various projects. Congs specific talents include the development of computer programs that calculate water use/savings for various installation scenarios. Additionally Cong is leading clients and LCI staff in research and development for grey water use in the landscape. His areas of expertise include: Caltrans (districts 7, 8, 11 & 12), large infrastructure projects in transit and transportation, commercial / industrial complexes, recreation, education, hospitality, healthcare, multi family residential, stormwater capture and restoration and mitigation projects. Personal interests:Cong enjoys food, Sci-Fi movies, welding and metal work.

Matthew Taylor

Project Manager & Landscape Designer

As Project Manager / Landscape Designer, Matthew is responsible for all aspects of the design process, project work plan preparation, controlling project schedule and budget, and coordination with clients for both private and public sectors projects.

Matthew’s specific talents include, plant material selection and plant availability review, value engineering, use of the Adobe Creative Suite, approaching technological and project challenges from a variety of perspectives, an avid AutoCAD user, construction administration, quality assurance and quality control within landscape packages, and researching alternative design approach options.

Participating in organizations that cross at the intersection of Landscape Architecture Students, Education, and Scholarships is a passion that Matthew has followed and participated in over the last 20 years. Specific organizations such as CLASS Fund and Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo’s Landscape Architecture Department Advisory Council are his main areas of focus, beyond his numerous project and office duties.

Personal Interests:

Inside the House: Spending time with my toddler-aged twin sons is my main focus with activities including: baking, reading books and playing hide-and-go-seek.

Outside the House: Spending

Lynn Capouya

President And Founding Principal

Lynn has been a practicing landscape architect for over 39 years. A graduate of the University of Arizona, she has a genuine love for the desert environment. She has functioned in all aspects of the business and practice of landscape architecture. Fortunate to have been assisted by many larger prime consultants and corporate clients, Lynn learned the marketplace one project at a time. She has extensive experience in educational facilities, transportation and transit, water/mitigation and recreational projects, retail development, and sustainable master planning. Focused on good practical design, Lynn works as a team member to ensure aesthetic goals, reduction of water use, and effective life cycle costs. As President of LCI, she is responsible for developing client relationships, strategic collaborating, and corporate management. She takes a hands-on approach to projects, often participating in design charettes and presentations, plant palette/materials selection, and quality control.

“In building successful and long-lasting relationships, attitude counts for a lot, and willingness is key.”