People — DJR

Associate | Project Manager
Amanda started at DJR shortly after finishing her Masters in Architecture from the University of Minnesota. She brings to DJR a strong background in Public Interest Design and Sustainable Design. Before beginning her professional career she spent three years serving in AmeriCorps working on disaster relief and affordable housing projects. She is actively involved with AIA Minnesota, and previously served as co-chair of the Housing Advocacy Committee.
In her free time Amanda is an avid reader and musician. She and her husband love to make delicious meals from their vegetable garden, go camping, and spend time with their daughter and cat.

Associate | Project Manager
Aron is an architectural design leader, working since 2002 with diverse global experience in design leadership and communications on large-scale projects and master plans. He offers the proven ability to work closely with clients, end-users and consultants to quickly achieve creative solutions that are technically feasible and responsive to client needs and concerns. Aron’s design knowledge creates innovative, high-performing environments for both client and user.
Aron is an active member of Urban Land Institute Minnesota and is a facilitator for the REDi Program, which provides mentorship for people of color and women looking to enhance their architectural or real-estate development experience.

Associate | Project Manager
Ben brings over 10 years of diverse project experience and a strong interest in community development and design to DJR. Fascinated by how cities grow, he believes that each building project can add vitality to its urban environment. On the AIA Housing Advocacy committee he helps promote quality design in projects related to affordable housing and homelessness. When he is not thinking about design, Ben is thinking about winning on the soccer field. His team has played in tournaments as far away as Vancouver and Cologne, Germany.

Associate | Project Manager
Chris started at DJR as a summer intern while in graduate school at the University of Minnesota, and became a full-time employee in 2003. Now an Associate, he focuses mainly on commercial, retail and mixed-use projects. Outside of work, Chris enjoys watching his kids in their many activities and makes multiple annual trips to the Boundary Waters. Chris also volunteers with local charities, including Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Twin Cities, Be The Match Registry, and The Salvation Army.

Principal | CEO | Founder
Dean founded DJR Architecture in 1985 in the Phillips Neighborhood with an emphasis on affordable housing and community development. Dean continues to evolve the firm into a broad based provider of architectural services while still playing an active role in the development of the Phillips neighborhood. This includes the Phillips Community Aquatic Center, East Phillips Community Center, the Bii Di Gain Dash Anwebi Elder housing and many others.
Dean has also been involved in the revitalization of several commercial streets in the Twin Cities and in the emerging oilfields of North Dakota. More recently, he has been the lead contact for several local urban projects such as Bridgewater Bank Corporate Headquarters in St. Louis Park, the 7200 and 7250 France Avenue mixed-use in Edina and the 13.5 acre development City of Victoria Downtown West.

Associate | Project Manager
Eli came to DJR with a wealth of experience working in many different parts of the world. Born and raised in Israel, Eli brought his skills to DJR via many different locales including Israel, South Africa, San Diego and finally St Paul, where he lives with his wife and three children. Being an Israeli, Eli developed an interest in studying the controversies of the Middle East through the eyes of an architect and urban planner. He continued evolving this interest by exploring religion and territory and its effect on the built environment. Eli enjoys traveling, spending time with his family and educating his office workers on the idiosyncrasies of his amazing hummus.

Director of Operations and Administration
Joan has been a part the DJR team almost from the beginning and has a wealth of knowledge regarding the history of the firm. Joan oversees the operations and administration of the firm, making sure all aspects run smoothly. Joan is a member of the Society for Design Administration and has been actively involved with the organization for many years. Joan’s best accomplishment outside of work are her three kids: Colleen, Bridget and Charlie, whom she loves to hang out with. She is also an avid crocheter and blanket maker.

Associate | Project Manager
As a young student, when asked why he was enrolled in the architecture program, John simply answered, “Because I want to fulfill George Costanza’s dream of becoming an architect.” Growing up, this short, stocky, slow-witted, bald man on the popular television show ‘Seinfeld’ may have been his first impression of the word architect, but John’s love for design, critical problem thinking, and the belief that architecture is an expression of culture that enhances the rituals of everyday life is the real driving force behind his passion. From multi-family to commercial, John’s diverse background and skills allow him to work on an array of projects at DJR. Outside of work, John enjoys hanging out with his family and friends, traveling the world as much as possible, and staying physically active in sports and outdoor activities.

Director of Interior Design
Madi has a passion for creating original and dynamic spaces for clients which develop into great success and new opportunities. Madi’s eye for design paired with a business and marketing approach allows for a thoughtful project from top to bottom. She sees no line between interior and exterior spaces but instead a seamless relationship from one environment to the next. Madi is involved in all phases of the project from concept design, space planning, programming, rendering, marketing, documentation, to construction administration. Her unique blend of creative design excellence and structure allows for each of these phases to be well managed, timely and on budget.
Madi’s obsession with design doesn’t stop at work – she is constantly creating concepts, sketches, and elevations for her next home project. She is handy and a very hard worker so seeing projects through from concept to reality in her own home brings her much joy!

Associate | Project Manager
Mick has been with DJR since 2001. He honed his design skills on the East Coast at highly regarded design firms Centerbrook Architects and Polshek Partnership. As an architect with a focus on design he has helped shape many of DJR’s most prominent projects.

Principal | COO
During his career at DJR, Scott has established himself as an expert in various types of residential architecture. His projects have included homes, apartments, condominiums, mixed-use developments, elderly housing, and hospitality. In particular, Scott has an interest in specialty housing, including affordable and transitional housing, elderly housing, assisted living and memory care. In his free time, Scott loves to travel with his wife Mary, visiting many locales around the world. Scott lives in Minneapolis and has a son in Eden Prairie and one in Boston, MA.

Principal | CFO
Sheldon brings to DJR a wealth of information related to mixed-use building design and development, and experience in Urban Planning and Sustainable Design. He has also spearheaded numerous award-winning retail developments. He has a keen sense for the entire architectural and building process from planning to construction, and has a deep knowledge of industry standards and market trends. As the primary point of contact for clients throughout the entire process, Sheldon is able to assist clients with their vision no matter the size.

Associate | Project Manager
Todd’s passion for building and design began at an early age when he began playing with Legos. He always knew his career would be in the field of architecture. Todd joined DJR after working for several local architectural firms allowing him to gain experience in residential, commercial, hospitality and clubhouse design. While at DJR, Todd has excelled in the area of residential design by working on various townhomes, condominiums, student housing and mixed use projects. Outside of work, Todd enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling and attending sporting events.

Interior Designer | Project Designer
Most of Callah’s experience has been working on additions and renovations to K-12 school buildings and urban facade renovations. She feels a great responsibility for sustainability in Architectural Design and thinks it’s important for to help clients choose sustainable strategies that work with their budget and have the greatest impact on their sustainability goals. She also loves learning about the software that is used for our work and enjoys creating graphics to clearly represent the design decisions being made.
Callah enjoys knitting sweaters and creating prints and illustrations for friends and family. She can be found searching the city for great cocktails and food and attending concerts of her favorite bands. She also enjoy hiking in the summers, downhill skiing in the winters, and petting all the dogs all year round.

Interior Designer
Emily propels each project towards success with her creative enigma and fresh perspective on the built environment. Her design eye, marketing mind, and desire to produce a detail-oriented product, work simultaneously from concept development to construction administration. Emily brings 5 plus years in 3D modeling and rendering experience which breathes life into the right design long before the project is completed. Emily loves a challenge and there’s nothing she enjoys more than problem solving with the client’s unique needs in mind.
When Emily is not designing, she enjoys collecting architectural inspiration traveling the world, and frequenting some of Minneapolis’ best museums.

Project Designer
Alyssa is a strong believer that excellent design can positively change the world. She brings passion to her work by combining her knowledge of sustainability, and strive for cohesive community conscious projects.
Alyssa is a new resident to Northeast Minneapolis, where she spends her free time working on house projects and her gardening. Her favorite weekend activity is taking her dog, Oatmeal, to the dog park.

Interior Designer
Julia is passionate about making unique, colorful and functional spaces. To her, the design of an interior is more than finishes and furniture - it is the sculpture of story. She loves to blur the lines between interiors and architecture to create truly captivating interior environments. Julia strives at graphic expression and making architecture a playful experience. Her love for high concept is grounded in the technical and functional. Her past experience in airport design lends a critical eye to spaces that can stand the test of time both aesthetically and in terms of materials. Through grad school and her time in DJR, she’s been able to push her creativity and real-life problem-solving skills in every sector including hospitality, corporate, residential, multi-family, and religious sectors. Recently, she has taken lead to DJR’s marketing and graphic design efforts.

Project Designer
Karlie is interested in residential design and is passionate about how design impacts communities and subsequently how people live and work. She believes it is important to create projects that not only adhere to what a client may want or need, but to also think about the occupants of a space and how each space could be utilized. During school, Karlie completed a minor in Urban Studies and has an interest in large scale designs like master planning and city planning. In her free time, Karlie likes to go to concerts, have game nights with friends and try new recipes.

Internal Services Manager
Simone has a background in education and also brings several years of experience as an office manager, bookkeeper, and executive assistant in the professional sector. She prides herself on her organization and enjoys collaborating with teams to reach their goals. Her responsibilities at DJR include accounts payable, accounts receivable, and many things in-between.
Simone was born and raised in Minneapolis but finally moved to the suburbs in 2021 with her husband, two sons, and two dogs. She enjoys exploring the parks, lakes, and restaurants the Twin Cities have to offer.

Controller
Julie has worked in many industries over her career and brings much experience to DJR. She is responsible for financial statements and cash management.

Project Designer
Since joining the DJR team, Travis has been able to work on a variety of different project types. Whether it be retail, mixed-use, senior living, or single family residential, Travis has relished the ability to see different parts of the architectural process as they relate to the whole. When he is not working on licensure or discovering more about the architectural process, Travis is thinking about his next road or camping trip, getting out to play a round of golf, settling in to watch one of his Minnesota sports teams, or trying to investigate just which place in the Twin Cities might serve the best food.

Project Designer
Will’s interest in architecture started at an early age, which led to his experience in the multi-family and commercial sector. Through years of practice, he has learned that architecture impacts people emotionally and culturally. His appreciation for critical problem solving, innovation, and design excellence fuel his passion for the profession. Will’s experience includes corporate headquarter projects, luxury, market rate, and affordable multi-family housing at all scales. More recently, he has been involved in several master planning projects and looks forward to the positive impacts that they will bring to the community.