HOLT Architects Announces Staff Promotions

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Stephen Kimball
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Ithaca, NY – HOLT Architects is pleased to announce the following promotions as it continues its strategic growth in the firm’s key sectors of healthcare, higher education, and multi-family housing.

Kelly Maher has been promoted to the position of principal of the firm. Ms. Maher joins the firm's existing principals—Paul Levesque, Steve Hugo, and Quay Thompson—in a continuation of the legacy that began in 1963. Kelly has been with HOLT for 10 years and, overall, brings nearly 20 years of architectural experience to her new position. At HOLT, her primary focus has been on healthcare and childcare facilities. In healthcare design, her passion is for designing behavioral health spaces and she is a respected professional in this area, having contributed to the national guidelines that impact these facilities. In addition, her healthcare experience includes a wide range of inpatient and outpatient modalities.

“I appreciate the opportunities that HOLT has provided me and its culture, which fosters growth in balance with family and life,” states Kelly Maher. “I am excited for our future as we continue the pursuit of great design and places of well-being and healing for the communities where we work.”

According to HOLT’s president, Paul Levesque, “Kelly has consistently demonstrated outstanding leadership across every aspect of our practice. She excels at mentoring emerging professionals, fostering a collaborative culture, and guiding her project teams with clarity and purpose through every phase of design and construction. What truly sets Kelly apart is her unwavering commitment to her clients. She not only leads complex projects to successful completion, but she also becomes a trusted, go-to partner for her clients—someone they rely on long after the project is done. Her promotion to Principal reflects both the impact she’s made at HOLT and the confidence we have in her continued leadership.”

Catherine Blakemore has been promoted to Principal Associate. Ms. Blakemore has a passion for creating spaces that are both inspiring and functional. Cate works closely with clients to ensure their vision is realized through innovative, sustainable, and thoughtful design solutions. She will join the firm’s Senior Leadership Team—allowing her wealth of expertise in design, keen eye for detail, and working closely with designers to grow their skills and experience, which allows her to have an even greater impact on HOLT and its staff. In addition to being a licensed architect, Cate is also a NYS Code Official and will continue her role as Director of Code Compliance for the firm. She believes in the power of architecture to positively impact communities and the environment, aligning with HOLT’s commitment to sustainability and forward-thinking design. Her collaborative approach and technical skill make her an invaluable member of the HOLT team, contributing to projects that set new standards for our firm. Cate says, “I really enjoy the variety of work that HOLT pursues and the ability to collaborate with all my colleagues.  As a team, we are continuously expanding and honing our subject matter expertise to provide each client with the best possible design for the present and the future. I am extremely honored to be part of the HOLT team and excited to join the leadership team.”

Tom Kinslow has been promoted to Associate. Mr. Kinslow has been a practicing architect since 1978 and brings his extensive knowledge to his work. In his new role at HOLT, Tom will continue contributing as a leader and mentor in the firm’s Syracuse office and his work with key clients in our higher education and community sectors. Before joining HOLT, much of his career was in Boston. Tom taught at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and has been a visiting critic at Syracuse University, University of Maryland, Boston Architectural Center, Northeastern University, and the University of Tennessee. Tom has extensive experience in multi-unit residential projects, higher education, dormitories, labs, retail spaces, restaurants, offices, and master planning. For Tom, his work at HOLT supports his “passion about the next generation of Architects and how we can transfer knowledge to them. This helps accelerate our profession as a whole, with the goal of improving our built environment.”

HOLT is also proud to announce the advancement of team members whose contributions are vital to the firm’s continued success.

Lacey Bolton has been promoted to Project Manager 2. Ms. Bolton has nearly two decades of professional healthcare experience, working with numerous New York State Institutions. Her focused design background and project management skills are essential to the success of each project. She is dedicated to the clients’ needs and sensitive to the goals of each project, keeping it on schedule and on budget. According to Lacey, “Healthcare design is my passion. It is very rewarding to create healing environments that strengthen the health and well-being of my community. There are so many learning opportunities with every project. By embracing cutting-edge medical technology and staying ahead of emerging trends, I help ensure that the design we provide is not only compassionate, but also innovative and future-focused. I’m incredibly blessed to love what I do.”

Matthew Gavette has been promoted to Project Manager 1. Mr. Gavette’s work is focused on the planning and design of healthcare environments. He balances stringent requirements with the project vision to ensure that projects meet the immediate needs of patients and staff. Matthew holds an Evidence-Based Design Accreditation and Certification (EDAC), which is awarded to individuals who demonstrate the ability to apply an evidence-based process to healthcare facility design, including measuring and reporting results. Matthew says he values working at HOLT because he’s “passionate about working with doctors and nurses to design thoughtful spaces that promote healthy work and patient healing. “

Brigette Rotker has been promoted to Project Manager 1. Brigitte is a talented Well Certified Healthcare Designer who brings her dedication and thorough approach to the design process, making her an integral part of the team from concept to construction documents. She works collaboratively to help define the vision and then create solutions to meet a project’s stated goals. With her extensive experience in new construction and renovation projects of all sizes, she has a strong aptitude for problem-solving and construction detailing. In reflecting on her work with HOLT, she feels “inspired by our commitment to sustainable, responsible design and its impact on the communities we serve. I take pride in contributing to thoughtful, energy-efficient architecture that responds meaningfully to both client needs and the environment.”

About HOLT

Founded in 1963, HOLT Architects believes in creating enduring, sustainably designed buildings that enhance the quality of life of their inhabitants and the community. We foster a listen-first approach to design, involving clients at every phase. We cultivate an environment of collaboration as well as individual initiative and growth. We value integrity and are committed to serving our clients and the communities where our projects are built.