Laurie A. Sperling, MArch, CPSM, co-founder of HERA, is a native New Yorker, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Anthropology/Archaeology from the State University of New York at Binghamton. She came to St. Louis to earn a Master of Architecture at Washington University. Laurie has extensive experience in master planning and programming. Her project experience includes university teaching and research labs, forensic/medical examiner facilities, R&D facilities, and clinical core laboratories. She is actively involved in understanding and analyzing client needs, strategic planning, and project management. A frequent speaker at conferences and workshops and an author, Laurie also is a Certified Professional Services Marketer.

Now with both of their children in college and out of the house, she and her husband have time for things like long walks with the dog and dance lessons.

Kenneth C. Mohr, Jr., a principal of HERA, has worked with governmental agencies, universities, corporations, and healthcare institutions on technically demanding projects from programming and schematic design through construction administration. These laboratory projects include research, animal, analysis, teaching, and manufacturing. Ken leads the firm in forensics laboratory planning and design. He has successfully completed new and renovation design of numerous crime labs and medical examiner facilities. He is also an author of special guideline publications, as well as articles on lab planning for science. He speaks on a variety of planning topics at conferences and workshops.

When he’s not traveling around the globe, Ken enjoys spending time with his two daughters and his neighbors and community.

James F. Cartwright, AIA, has a thorough understanding of the technical issues involved in highly complex laboratory environments and their support systems. Jim has planned and designed research and instructional laboratories and animal facilities for academic medical, healthcare, and private sector clients, bringing knowledge of emerging science design trends and a wealth of lessons learned. He knows the laboratory vendor community and is well-informed about their products. Jim has direct project involvement in all phases of design, including planning studies, programming, schematic design, design development, and code review. As a consummate project architect, he is skilled in coordination and supervision of construction documents, including working drawings and specifications, as well as construction administration for both new construction and renovation work. Jim also has expertise in existing building condition analysis, interiors, project administration, and quality control/review.

Jim wanted to be a jazz musician. Being an architect instead works out just fine—he can still have the beard, the funny glasses and the black clothes.

Barbara A. Spitz, AIA, has comprehensive experience in the planning, master planning, and design of laboratory facilities for R&D, clean rooms, academic research and science, medical, healthcare and other sophisticated technology-driven spaces including biocontainment. She is familiar with leading the entire process, from pre-design through documentation and construction administration to post occupancy evaluations. With her specialized expertise in developing incubator facility strategies, Barbara addresses issues such as modular planning and casework for flexibility, shared procedure rooms and lab support, common equipment in a general laboratory, sustainable laboratory and building features, and office-to-lab ratios. She speaks at conferences such as the Society for College and University Planning and the Association for the Study of Higher Education.

A rowing enthusiast, Barbara can often be found on the Schuylkill River.

Clay Stafford has focused his career on integrating the goals and needs of all project stakeholders into a viable framework of requirements that leads to effective design solutions or business strategies. Clay has exceptional skills in facilitating programming/planning sessions with project stakeholders from macro level to detailed requirements for laboratory facilities.