Katie Cortez : Architect
Originally from Pennsylvania, Katie earned her Master of Architecture degree from the University of Virginia, and moved to Richmond after graduation. Katie owns and operates her own Architectural practice, through which she focuses on the making of place, the building of community, and also hopes to teach about the importance of design through the built environment.
Samuel T. Gray, Esq. : Legal Counsel
A graduate of the Cardozo School of Law, Sam has developed a wide range of experiences across the business, housing, and nonprofit sectors. He has been a fellow with the Sustainable Economies Law Center (SELC) since 2015. He is also a member of the Cooperative Professionals Guild, as well as the co-founder of Common Shares, a nonprofit focused on developing the cooperative sector in Virginia.
Sam's expertise extends from the development of foundational legal and governance structures to property transactions, lending negotiations, and conflict resolution. His clients have included worker cooperatives, nonprofits, and traditional businesses in fields as diverse as nature conservation, intentional community, therapy, medicine, advertising, manufacturing, arts education, yoga, martial arts, and the service industry.
He has been a guest lecturer at University of Virginia's Community Organization and Social Enterprise Clinic as well as the New School in New York City. He has also represented many businesses converting to cooperative ownership in collaboration with the ICA Group.
Fred Øesch : Environmental Design
Fred Øesch (pronounced "Esch") is the principal of Øesch Environmental Design [Ø.E.D.] near Charlottesville, VA. As the founder of a Design / Build firm, Oesch has designed Master Planning, Architecture, Interiors, Furniture, and Fine Art for more than 40 years. He has conducted research and lectured at Universities across the U.S. and Europe. His specialty is healthful, energy efficient, alternative building, inc., solar design, timber frame, straw bale construction, earth sheltered structures, living earth roofs, and natural environmental control systems. Oesch has technical experience, teaching, and management of human and material resources; encompassing the full range of design disciplines.
Øesch projects have been featured on Home and Garden Television [HGTV], and in numerous newspaper and magazine publications. Oesch received the Virginia Sustainable Building Network [VSBN] 2007 Green Innovation Award for the Best Single Family Residence, the 2009 Green Innovation Award for Best Green Designer, and the 2019 Viridiant [EarthCraft] Award for Best Single Family Residence. Oesch is currently completing a new book titled, "Symbiotic Living: Elements of Timeless Design & Building Solutions."