Meet the Dedicated Team Behind NOMA CEF
NOMA CEF in Numbers
5
Board Members
50
Participating Firms
120
Firm Representatives and Volunteers
NOMA CEF Board Members
Kathy Denise Dixon, FAIA, NOMAC, LEED AP+ CDT, NCARB
Kathy Denise Dixon, FAIA, NOMAC, LEED AP+ CDT, NCARB has been a contributor and respected leader in the architectural industry for thirty years. She has been involved in every stage of the design and construction process and has experience in educational, commercial, residential and government projects. During her career, Kathy has worked in various organizational structures including corporate, institutional, federal government, non-profit, and private industry.
Ms. Dixon is a tenured professor in the Department of Architecture and Urban Sustainability at the University of the District of Columbia where she has taught design studio and sustainable design courses for over ten years.
A graduate of Howard University’s School of Architecture, Ms. Dixon continued her secondary education at UCLA, matriculating with a Master’s degree in Urban Planning, with a focus on Housing and Community Development.
She is also the co-author of the book titled “The Business of Architecture: Your Guide to a Financially Successful Firm” published in December 2017.
Ms. Dixon has been certified by the USGBC’s Leadership in Energy and Environment Design Program (LEED AP), the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB), as well as CSI’s Certified Documents Technologist (CDT) program. She is licensed as an architect in Maryland, Virginia, the District of Columbia, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and New Jersey.
Kathy served as National President of the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA) from 2012-2014 after serving for six years as the Northeast Region Vice-President. She was subsequently inducted into the NOMA Council (NOMAC) as an advisor to NOMA. Ms. Dixon was elevated to the College of Fellows in the American Institute of Architects (AIA) in 2017.
Most recently, Kathy was honored with the American Institute of Architects’ 2022 Whitney M. Young Jr. Award as a collaborator with “Riding The Vortex”, a organization created to increase the number of people of color licensed to practice architecture in the United States.
Sanford E. Garner, FAIA, NOMAC, LEED AP ND, NCARB
Sanford is President and Founding Partner of RG Collaborative, a design firm, where his primary area of focus is historic preservation, master planning, urban design, and project assessment. A1993 graduate of Howard University of Howard University, he has also spent time studying at Helsinki University of Technology in Helsinki, Finland; and UCLA. His work has received such notable recognitions as “Best in American Living for Best Smart Growth Community” by the National Association of Home Builders magazine, “Awards for Excellence” from the Urban Land Institute, and the “Implementing Smart Growth Award” from the American Planning Association as well as numerous awards and citation for community development and design. Sanford felt honored to receive the Governor's Award for Outstanding Achievement in Business & Entrepreneurship in 2002. He was recognized in the 2004 Indianapolis Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 and most recently in the 2009 Building Design+Construction’s 40 Under 40 and awarded the Juliet Peddle Award, at the 2009 Ohio Valley Regional AIA Conference. In June of 2011, he was named one of eleven of the America Institute of Architects (AIA) “Young Architects.” In 2012, he received the AIA Indiana’s Edward D. Pierre Service Award and was elevated to the National Organization of Minority Architects’ (NOMA) Council. Additionally, in 2023 he was awarded Fellowship in the AIA.
During his tenure, Sanford has been involved in various project types, but his passion has always remained rooted in Urban Design and Preservation. His strong commitment to community service and community development keeps him active with several Civic boards and Affiliations such as 2011- 2012 president of the National Organization of Minority Architects, past-president of the Indianapolis Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, past-chairman of the board of Citizens Health Center, Board member of the Greater Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce, Board Member of Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana, Board Member of Near North Development Corporation, and Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity.
Dr. Anzilla R. Gilmore, FAIA, NOMAC
Anzilla Gilmore has worked in facilities in higher education for over 20 years. She joined Louisiana State University System in 2023, serving as the Chief Facilities Officer for the LSU System and teaches Professional Practice for the LSU School of Architecture.
Anzilla’s passion for the built environment manifests itself through service. She has dedicated herself to professional mentorship and leadership in professional organizations over her entire career. She is an active member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA), the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA) and established the first NOMA chapter in Houston, TX. She also served as a director on the first board of the Architects Foundation (AF), the philanthropic arm of the AIA, leading the rebranding of the AF Diversity Advancement Scholarship and founding and launching the AF’s Diversity Scholar’s Mentorship Program. Anzilla was elevated to the AIA College of Fellows in 2019 and the NOMA Council in 2021. In 2020, drawing on her years of experience leading programs for HNOMA, Anzilla co-founded the NOMA HBCU Professional Development Program (PDP), a program designed to advance the promise to diversify the architectural profession. Anzilla is also a Lifetime member of the PVAMU National Alumni Association. Anzilla believes in the value of networking. She uses her connections to support her staff, colleagues, and the institutions for which she has served while also increasing engagement in the design and construction professions, all while supporting the next generation of young people in the profession.
Anzilla is a graduate of the School of Architecture at Prairie View A&M University, the University of Texas at Arlington’s Graduate School of Architecture and she holds a doctorate in education from Vanderbilt.
Heather Philip O’Neal, AIA, NOMAC
Heather Philip O’Neal, AIA, NOMAC, is principal of her own practice, HPP International LLC, focused on affordable housing and was formerly the design principal with TONA (Terrence O’Neal Architect LLC) in New York City. In an architectural career span of more than 20 years, she has developed expertise in housing, schools, and public buildings. Her work was exhibited in “2% -Women of Color in Design” at the Boston Architectural College (BAC) and, currently, in the United Nations’ traveling exhibit “SAY IT LOUD: Distinguished Black Designers of nycoba|NOMA”.
In addition to presiding as chair for NOMA Conferences in 2004 and 2019, she served as Past President of the New York Chapter (nycoba|NOMA) and on the National board as Treasurer. She also served on the (AIA) New York Chapter Board and in 2023 as a board member of the AIA Small Firm Exchange. Ms. O’Neal is currently serving as the 2024 and 2025 National AIA Treasurer.
Ms. O’Neal is an adjunct professor of architecture at the New York Institute of Architecture. She was an assistant professor in the architectural technology program at CUNY, New York City College of Technology, for ten years. Subsequently, she served as the Director of Education on the American Institute of Architects (AIA) New York Chapter board where she expanded the Schools of Architecture exhibition and Dean’s Roundtable from the nine schools of architecture in New York State to seventeen across the tri-state area and beyond. The extensive list included Yale University, Rhode Island School of Design, Princeton University, and, University of Pennsylvania.
Ms O’Neal holds a Bachelor of Architecture from Pratt Institute and a Master of Science in Real Estate Development from the Graduate School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation at Columbia University. Ms. O’Neal is licensed to practice architecture in New York and New Jersey.
She was honored in 2019 by the Professional Women in Construction with the Women of Achievement Award for leadership in the design industry. O’Neal together with Terrence E. O’Neal, FAIA, of TONA, were recently honored with the Harry B Rutkins Award from the AIA NY chapter. It commended their service “to the chapter, to the Institute, and to the profession” and noted their commitment to increasing awareness of the role of minority architects for students and the general public.
Carlton R. Smith, FAIA, NOMAC
Carlton Smith, NOMAC Emeritus, FAIA Emeritus had a career in architecture spanning over 45 years. He was the Managing Principal of MWA Architects, a San Francisco-based architecture, urban design and interior architecture firm with additional offices in Oakland and Portland. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Architectural Science and Master of Architecture degrees from Tuskegee Institute. He practiced as a licensed architect in California, Florida, Louisiana, Michigan, North Carolina, Oregon, Texas and The District of Columbia.
Mr. Smith developed a commendable portfolio of work for both public and private sector clients. An award-winning designer, his work was extensively published, including features in among others, Architectural Record, Contract, Interior Design, and Facilities magazines. In addition, his design for the
Alameda County Self-Sufficiency Center was featured in the book, Design Secrets: Architectural Interiors by Justin Henderson and Nora Richter Greer (Rockport Publishers, Inc.).
Mr. Smith’s design skills earned him the loyalty of several clients, such as the County of Alameda, the City of Oakland and Apple Computer, for whom he has completed many projects. Of particular note is his work at the former Eastmont Mall in Oakland where he developed a number of projects that combine to create a new Town Center that revitalizes the former underutilized shopping mall. Projects have included the Self-Sufficiency Center, the Alameda County Adult and Aging Services Facility, a new Police Precinct for the City of Oakland, and the Nathan A. Miley affordable senior housing project.