SLAM promotes seven to associate principal

Glastonbury, CT., January 12, 2021 – SLAM (The S/L/A/M Collaborative) is pleased to announce the following team members have been promoted to associate principal: Linda Bennet, P.E., LEED AP BD+C, Tracy Caisse, AIA, NCARB, Douglas Infelt, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP, Amy Samuelson, AIA, LEEP AP, Todd Schaefer, Gordon Smith, AIA, and Robert Zygmunt, PE. SECB, LEED AP.

Linda Bennett, P.E., LEED AP BD+C, a resident of Winter Garden, FL, is a civil engineer with more than 30 years of experience, serving as civil engineer of record, design partner project manager and LEED contributor on government, higher education, entertainment and site infrastructure projects, overseeing design and construction of utilities, stormwater management systems and roadways.  Among Linda’s work are numerous entertainment venues at Walt Disney World, serving as civil engineer design partner, and as civil engineer of record on the AIA award winning project, Lake County Justice Center in Tavares, FL, completing multiple new buildings and infrastructure improvements. A licensed professional engineer in 18 states, Linda has worked with local, state and federal agencies across the country and holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Iowa State University.

Tracy Caisse, AIA, EDAC, a resident of Glastonbury, CT, joined SLAM in 2005 and is a registered architect, serving as a designer and healthcare planner who manages and provides technical expertise for the firm’s national healthcare and medical education projects. Tracy actively attends national conferences and has presented about patient-centered care at the Planetree International Conference. She has also achieved Evidence-Based Design Accreditation and Certification, which provides a method for developing design solutions that are rooted in research to help achieve a healthcare client’s desired goals and improved outcomes. Her leadership skills extend outside of the firm, serving local organizations, as Director on the Board of Professional Women in Construction’s CT Chapter (PWC-CT) and as chairperson of the Mentorship Committee providing opportunities for students interested in pursuing careers within the architecture, engineering, and construction industries. In 2019, Tracy received an Excellence in Mentoring Award from PWC-CT.  Tracy is a member of the American Institute of Architects and holds a Bachelor of Architecture and Bachelor of Arts in Foreign Language from Roger Williams University.

Douglas Infelt, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP, resident of Coralville, IA, is an architect with more than 35 years of experience as a healthcare programmer, planner and designer, where his responsibilities include mentoring the firm’s intern architects. Doug’s approach of working in close collaboration with his clients is an integrated process weaving together the disciplines of programming, planning, and design, to create healing and innovative environments for more than 400 healthcare facilities nationwide and internationally. His healthcare projects include the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, University of Rochester Medical Center, University of Colorado Health, Yale New Haven Hospital, Jackson Memorial Hospital – University of Miami, Kaiser Permanente, and work with the Veteran’s Affairs and Department of Defense Health Systems. Doug is a member of the American Institute of Architects and he holds a Bachelor of Arts in Architecture and a Bachelor of Architecture from Iowa State University, where he has served as a guest juror for their healthcare studio.

Amy Samuelson, AIA, LEED AP, resident of Woodbury, CT, has been a member of the SLAM team for 25 years and serves as a project architect and project manager, bringing an expertise in higher education and public/independent education facilities of all types. Amy was recently named to the Studio Core Team Leadership as the Management and Human Resources Leader. Highly regarded for her exceptional team building skills, Amy manages notable complex projects, overseeing large teams from planning through design and construction.  She is a member of the American Institute of Architects and holds a Bachelor of Architecture, Magna Cum Laude, from the Catholic University of America, where a passion for sustainable design began. Amy is a LEED Accredited Professional and a member of the United States Green Building Council. At SLAM, she is a member of the GREEN Team and currently leads the firm’s AIA 2030 Commitment. Amy was named the 2019 Designer of the Year by the Associated General Contractors (AGC) of Connecticut. 

Todd Schaefer, resident of Willington, CT, has been a member of the SLAM team for 22 years. He currently serves as Director of Quality Assurance & Control (QA/QC), leading the development and implementation of SLAM’s QA/QC process, the development of SLAM standards/best practices, and performing project QC reviews firmwide. As one of SLAM’s Technical Leaders, he serves as a resource in matters including documentation, codes, sustainability, construction administration and Revit. Prior to this role, he was a project architect, who managed the documentation, specifications, code analysis, engineering coordination and construction administration on complex educational facilities. On the University of Notre Dame Campus Crossroads Project, Todd led the development of a unique masonry façade support technique for the new additions, including documentation and coordination. He holds an Associate in Science – Architectural Engineering degree from Wentworth Institute of Technology.

Gordon Smith, AIA, a resident of Atlanta, GA, has more than 35 years of experience as a design architect, serving a broad range of industry sectors, including the firm’s Healthcare and Sports Studio.  Gordon’s portfolio includes serving as design lead for the Olympic Stadium in Atlanta and its post-Olympic conversion to Turner Field, as well as lead of the exterior envelope development team for the University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital. He also worked on the recently complete Doylestown Hospital addition and renovation in Doylestown, PA. He has presented on healthcare design topics at the ASHE Seattle Conference and AIA Iowa State Chapter Annual Convention.  Gordon is a member of the American Institute of Architects and holds a Master of Architecture from Princeton University and a Bachelor of Science – Architecture from the University of Virginia. He is proud of his long-standing commitment as juror of student architectural projects at Kennesaw State University since 2004. 

Robert Zygmunt, PE. SECB, LEED AP, a resident of Glastonbury, CT, joined SLAM in 2007 and serves as a structural engineer in the corporate, municipal, hospital, laboratory, education and entertainment resort markets. Bob is a registered engineer in the state of Connecticut and was appointed Chairperson of the Connecticut Structural Engineering License Committee and a member of the Connecticut Structural Engineers Coalition, and National Council of Structural Engineering Associations (NCSEA). Bob also is a committee member on the NCSEA and Connecticut Chapter of the Structural Licensure Committee, leading a local effort in Connecticut to establish a structural engineering licensure bill.  He holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering and a Master of Science in Structural Engineering from the University of Connecticut.

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About SLAM
SLAM (The S/L/A/M Collaborative) is a national, multi-disciplinary design firm offering architecture, planning, interior design, landscape architecture, site planning, structural engineering, and pre-construction, with S/L/A/M Construction Services offered throughout the New England region.  Our market focus is on higher education, K-12 public/private education, healthcare, corporate, justice, sports and recreation sectors. In 2020, SLAM launched a new brand that underscores our infinite drive to unlock and solve complex design problems, rendering creativity in design to enrich lives. SLAM has offices in Atlanta, GA, Boston, MA, Denver, CO, Glastonbury, CT, Iowa City, IA, Los Angeles, CA, New York, NY, Orlando FL and Philadelphia, PA. For more information on SLAM please visit www.slamcoll.com