GARETH MAHON, RLA, ASLA, LEED AP

Partner and Managing Principal

Gareth Mahon is a licensed landscape architect and Managing Principal at RKLA Studio, where he leads a diverse portfolio of institutional, multi-family, and private projects. Raised in Ireland and educated in Urban Design and Engineering, he brings a strong sense of place and a collaborative approach to his work. Gareth joined RKLA in 2004 following careers in technology and new media across Ireland, Spain, and the United States.

Gareth is an active contributor to the broader design community, frequently speaking on professional practice and the evolving role of landscape architecture, including recent engagements at the Harvard Graduate School of Design and national events hosted by the American Society of Landscape Architects. He has served on the Board of the New York Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects and the Program Leadership Council at the Van Alen Institute. He is currently an Executive Board Member of the Queens Botanical Garden and an Advisory Board Member of play:groundNYC.

NAOMI DRUCKER, RLA, ASLA

Partner and Principal

Naomi is a Registered Landscape Architect in New York State and New Jersey and a Partner at RKLA Studio. Having joined RKLA Studio after earning her Bachelor of Science in Landscape Architecture from Cornell University, Naomi focuses on complex urban rooftop landscapes. She is guided by the value outdoor spaces hold within both public and private urban life and by how thoughtful design can expand and celebrate access to nature in the city. Naomi leads projects from concept through construction and has worked on projects that include Tavern on the Green in Central Park, Meeting Street School, and Centre Pompidou x Jersey City, alongside a range of private and multi-family residential landscapes and rooftops across New York City.

Naomi recently served as Secretary on the Board of the American Society of Landscape Architects New York Chapter, where she led the chapter in developing a strategic plan and organizing and executing programs. She continues to stay involved with several NYC Arts Organizations.

ROBIN KEY, RLA, FASLA

Partner Emeritus

Robin Key brings over 40 years of experience in educational, institutional, and residential projects to the practice she founded in 1987. In 2018, she was elevated to the American Society of Landscape Architects Council of Fellows. Her work bridges historic precedent and contemporary design, drawing on deep plant knowledge and a strong background in site planning. She has led numerous historic landscape restorations in New York, including the master plan for First Presbyterian Church in Greenwich Village, the restoration of Saint Patrick’s Cathedral, and the renewal of Tavern on the Green.

Robin serves as the Co-Chair of the board of The Olana Partnership, the Stewardship Council of The Cultural Landscape Foundation, and the Advisory Board of The Noguchi Museum. She is licensed in New York, Connecticut, and Rhode Island.

Michael Weber, RLA, ASLA

Principal

Michael’s passion for landscape is rooted in his childhood in the Hudson Valley, the gardens of his grandparents, and the influence of travel. A dedicated gardener, he is a member of the Garden Conservancy and The Cultural Landscape Foundation, organizations that promote the importance of designed landscapes in everyday life.

Prior to joining RKLA Studio, Michael was a Senior Associate and Director of Landscape Design at Robert A.M. Stern Architects, where he led teams in the design and delivery of projects including private and multi-family residences, cultural and academic institutions, resorts, corporate campuses, and large-scale master plans. His work spans the United States and internationally, including projects in China and Hong Kong.

Michael holds a Bachelor of Science in Management from Binghamton University and a Master of Landscape Architecture from Cornell University. He is a registered landscape architect in New York and Pennsylvania and previously taught in the landscape design program at Columbia University.

JOLIE LEUNG

Senior Landscape Designer | Project Manager

Jolie holds a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, where she received an ASLA Student Award of Merit for her urban design-focused capstone project. She also earned a Master of Science in Data Analytics and Visualization from Pratt Institute, exploring applications of data beyond traditional geospatial analysis in landscape architecture. Her work includes research on climate change and public space, most notably her capstone project, Climate Change’s Effect on Tree Communities, which analyzed multiple datasets to assess impacts on tree cover across the United States through 2060.

Prior to joining RKLA Studio, Jolie worked at Artemis Landscape Architects, focusing on residential design in the Northeast. She contributed to award-winning projects including Coastal Contemporary Landscape in Westport, Connecticut, The Clearing: Sandy Hook Permanent Memorial, and Creating Connections in Bedford, New York. Through this work, she developed expertise in planting design, regional ecologies, and resilient landscape strategies.

Nell Crumbley, RLA, ASLA

Landscape Architect | Project Manager

Nell is a Registered Landscape Architect in New York State. Originally from Northern Utah, Nell grew up surrounded by and loving the dramatic landscape of the Rocky Mountains. After moving to the East Coast for college and graduating in an unrelated field, Nell discovered landscape architecture through Olmstead’s parks in New York City. Nell spent two years pursuing her interest in horticulture as a professional gardener in the city and taking classes at the New York Botanic Garden before enrolling in Cornell University’s Landscape Architecture Master’s program.

During graduate school, Nell worked as a teaching assistant and had several diverse internships across the field of landscape architecture, including with RKLA Studio in summer 2019. After graduating from Cornell in 2020 with a concentration in art and climate adaptive design, Nell worked on public projects in New York City with Nancy Owens Studio before returning to work at RKLA Studio full time in January 2022. In her free time, Nell enjoys walking, caring for houseplants, reading, and chasing after her playful cat, Dax.

JIHONG KIM

Senior Landscape Designer | Project Manager

Jihong Kim is a landscape designer and a licensed landscape architect in South Korea. She holds a Master of Landscape Architecture from the Spitzer School of Architecture at the City College of New York and a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture from SangMyung University in Seoul. Growing up in a dense urban environment, Jihong developed a strong interest in creating opportunities for people to connect with nature in everyday life, a focus that continues to shape her work.

Prior to joining RKLA Studio, Jihong worked at Billie Cohen Landscape Design Studio, where she contributed to a range of residential, commercial, and institutional projects. Her experience includes roof terraces, multi-unit housing, and landscapes incorporating green roofs and greenhouses. Through this work, she developed a thoughtful approach to planting design and sustainable strategies, with an emphasis on minimizing environmental impact while enhancing the quality and usability of outdoor spaces.

SOPHIE FLINNER

Landscape Designer

Sophie grew up in a family of farmers and gardeners in rural Ohio. This early exposure to plants and the outdoors inspired her interest in landscape architecture. She received her Bachelor's degree from the Knowlton School of Architecture at The Ohio State University in 2023, where her academic work received multiple accolades. Sophie continued her education where she received her Master's Degree in Landscape Architecture from the Harvard Graduate School of Design in 2025.

Prior to joining RKLA Studio, Sophie interned at Spackman Mossop Michaels in New Orleans and the Arnold Arboretum in Boston. In both roles, she became captivated by small-scale gardens, intricate planting plans, and orchestrating the color palettes and textural contrasts of aesthetic and functional landscapes. She is excited to continue working on both public institutions and private residences at RKLA. In her free time, Sophie enjoys playing her guitar, producing music, spending time with friends, and taking long walks around New York City.

ABBY BAUER

Landscape Designer

Abby’s interests in design, ecology, and community wellness - and discovering how they can intersect to create beautiful, transformative places - is what inspired her to study landscape architecture at West Virginia University. During her time at WVU, Abby worked on projects that emphasized environmental sensitivity and community enrichment. As a designer for the WVU Fulcrum Project, she helped develop solutions for revitalizing brownfields and environmentally neglected sites, promoting economic development and healthy communities across her home state of West Virginia. Various internships within the landscape architecture field further strengthened her understanding of landscape maintenance and plant material.

Abby deeply values a collaborative, craft-driven design process, which ultimately lead her to join the RKLA team in 2026. Outside of the studio, she enjoys deepening her creative practice through drawing and working with clay.

DAVID VERA

Office Coordinator

David Vera is the Office Coordinator and Marketing Support at RKLA Studio. With over eight years of experience in administration, operations, and digital marketing, he brings a strong background in organization, communication, and creative systems management. Since joining RKLA in 2025, David has streamlined workflows, enhanced internal coordination, and supported the studio’s digital presence across platforms. His work integrates project management, marketing strategy, and design tools to strengthen RKLA’s operations and outreach.