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Cool, Calm, and 10 Years Collected / Monty's 10 Year Work Anniversary

This year, we’re celebrating Monty’s 10-year milestone at Carducci Associates! Over the past decade, Monty has brought calm, sharp design insight, and deep technical know-how to every project he touches.

He loved projects like Gilead Park, where collaboration brought together expertise in plant communities, stormwater management, construction detailing, and site furnishings. Gilead Park was Sustainable Sites Gold certified, and he assisted with the SITES documentation as the office’s only SITES Accredited Professional. Monty focused on irrigation design and planning for a future recycled water source, but the real magic came from the whole team working together.

Gilead Park - 2025 NCC ASLA Biodiversity and Climate Action Award Winner

At San Mateo Medical Center, Monty grew into his dual role as designer and project manager, shaping unique rehabilitative outdoor spaces and an active hillside yoga turf, while partnering closely with Taylor Design.

Today, he is tackling exciting projects like a Santa Clara corporate campus with walking loops, roof terraces, employee lounge decks, and even a pickleball court. He’s also guiding school projects with CAW and QKA Architects through DSA review and into construction.

For Monty, the best part of landscape architecture is seeing people enjoy a completed space, when design becomes lived experience, all the challenges feel worth it. His advice to young landscape architects: keep an open mind about where the profession will take you. While design begins with big ideas, the craft also requires learning constructability, sustainability, codes, budgeting, and collaboration. That continual learning is what keeps the profession exciting.

Looking ahead, he is excited to keep shaping projects with innovation in water conservation, stormwater management, and sustainable technologies. Through it all, his calm, thoughtful approach and steady leadership make a lasting impact on our team and our work.

Thank you, Monty, for 10 amazing years! Here’s to more creativity, collaboration, and fun projects ahead! 

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Celebrating Tim Skinner’s Retirement

After more than three decades in the landscape architecture profession, and over a decade of dedicated service at Carducci Associates, we are proud to celebrate the retirement of Tim Skinner.

Tim began his career in 1989, building a diverse foundation in both urban design and theme park design early on. Prior to joining Carducci Associates, he worked at Moorhead, Fleming, Corban / FORREC Design International, where his experience spanned both urban design and theme park projects, including work for Universal Studios Orlando. Following the economic downturn of the early 1990s, Tim relocated to Texas, an important chapter that shaped both his personal and professional path.

In 2014, Tim joined Carducci Associates as an Associate and Project Manager. Over time, his role evolved to Senior Associate and, most recently, Project Director, reflecting his broad influence across many projects, particularly those involving the Division of the State Architect (DSA). Tim played a key role in strengthening and establishing our in-house DSA process, and his steady leadership, technical knowledge, and collaborative approach have been instrumental to our firm’s success.

During Tim’s tenure, Carducci Associates experienced significant growth and change, from internal restructuring to navigating the challenges of the pandemic, while continuing to deliver the park and school projects that remain central to our practice. Through every phase, Tim was a constant presence, guiding teams and projects with clarity, preparedness, and good humor.

Among his many memorable projects, Tim often points to San Rafael High School Stadium as a standout. As Project Manager, he led the complex DSA project from construction documents through ribbon cutting. The work included a synthetic track and field, restroom and concession buildings, grandstands, and extensive agency coordination, including close collaboration with the Department of Health. The depth of construction administration and teamwork required made it a particularly rewarding experience. Tim also took great pride in the many track and field projects completed over the years, appreciating how each one, while familiar in scope, presented unique clients, challenges, and opportunities.

As a firm, we have deeply valued Tim’s commitment to strong communication and preparedness. He consistently emphasized clearly conveying design intent through thoughtful, precise drawings and fostering meaningful collaboration among multidisciplinary teams. He especially valued the relationships built with architects, civil, structural, and electrical engineers, believing that successful projects are rooted in trust, teamwork, and mutual respect. Beyond his technical contributions, Tim’s clever wit and calm presence have left a lasting impression on colleagues and collaborators alike.

Those same qualities extend beyond the office. Outside of work, Tim enjoys gardening, traveling, and spending time in the kitchen. As he steps into retirement, we are excited for him to slow down, live fully, and enjoy time spent cooking, tending his garden, and embracing a more relaxed pace of life.

Reflecting on his career, Tim often encourages emerging landscape architects to always make room for creativity, even within constraints. He reminds us to balance innovation with codes, budgets, and requirements and to keep a sense of humor along the way. Designing something unique and meaningful with limited resources, he believes, can be one of the most rewarding aspects of the profession. Above all, he reminds us that we are working together to make a positive impact on society.

Please join us in thanking Tim Skinner for his years of dedication, mentorship, and friendship. We wish him all the best in a well-earned and joyful retirement.

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Creativity and Collaboration / George's 3 Year Work Anniversary

Three years ago, George Loew brought his vision, curiosity, and collaborative spirit to the Carducci team and we’ve been better for it ever since.

George didn’t take the traditional path into landscape architecture. In fact, he was working in a completely different field, at a nonprofit focused on revitalizing low-income neighborhoods, when a community meeting changed the trajectory of his life. Someone rolled out a drawing -  a vision for transforming a struggling commercial corridor -  and George thought, “That’s a cool job.” That spark led to a career shift, and ultimately, to the landscape architect he is today.

Now, George thrives on the creative problem-solving the profession demands. Whether it’s the big-picture thinking of urban design or the hands-on detail of construction documents, he values the variety, the complexity and especially the people. Collaboration is where he shines, and where his designs truly come to life.

George (centered) on a site visit to Mountain View Whisman School District

One of George’s most rewarding projects at Carducci Associates is Jose Antonio Vargas Elementary School, a project he co-led with Karly Behncke. Distinct from anything else in our portfolio, the project came with no predefined program, giving George and Karly the rare opportunity to shape its goals from the ground up. The result is a site that feels inherently connected to its surroundings, seamlessly integrated in both scale and layout. The design prioritizes nature-based spaces that foster well-being, support learning, and strengthen students’ connection to the environment.

Looking ahead, George dreams of working on more public space at the urban scale - plazas, civic commons, and places that shape how people experience their cities.  He’s especially passionate about reimagining forgotten or underused places, like the time he helped develop a vision to turn a failing mall into a vibrant, walkable urban hub.

George, we’re lucky to have your talent, tenacity, and passion on our team. Here’s to the last three years and many more to come! 

Jose Antonio Vargas Elementary School

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Celebrating 10 Years of Community / Karly's Work Anniversary

This year, we celebrate a major milestone - Karly Behncke’s 10-year anniversary at Carducci Associates! Over the past decade, Karly has shown passion, dedication, and a strong focus on community-centered design in every project she has worked on. Her journey reflects not just her evolution as a designer and project manager, but also her unwavering dedication to creating spaces with and for the people who use them.

When asked which projects stand out most in her career, Karly consistently points to those where community outreach played a central role. One that especially resonates with her is the recent Abel De Luna Community Center Project in Healdsburg. For Karly, it was far more than just a project - it was a true partnership between city agencies, non-profits, and, most importantly, the people of Healdsburg.

Abel De Luna Community Center Workshop

This sense of connection and purpose isn’t new for Karly - it builds on a foundation laid early in her career. Her experience in Healdsburg brought her back to formative projects like the San Rafael High School Stadium, and the John Hinkel Park and Sunset Futsal Courts community engagement processes. These were the moments that grounded her in design and gave her purpose: “Why are we doing this job? It’s for the people.”

Another standout moment in her career was Don Biddle Community Park - a complex, interdisciplinary project close to her home. As both a designer and construction administration project manager, Karly navigated layers of coordination between geotechnical consultants, artists, city agencies, contractors, and even a sign designer.

“This project challenged me and helped me grow,” Karly shares. “The complexity pushed me to ask better questions, think more broadly, and manage relationships with greater empathy and insight.”

Don Biddle Community Park

Karly’s spirit of community engagement and working with a broad spectrum of stakeholders is what makes her work so special. Whether she’s leading a design charrette, gathering community input, or helping clients find the best value for their budget, Karly brings a rare ability to truly understand people and weave their voices into the spaces she helps create.

At Carducci Associates, we pride ourselves on being deeply embedded in our local projects, from visioning to implementation. Karly exemplifies that ethos. Her work reminds us that good design isn’t just about aesthetics or function - it’s about belonging.

We are beyond proud to celebrate Karly’s 10 years with us. Her commitment to thoughtful, inclusive design and her belief in the power of community continue to inspire us all. Here’s to the next decade of dream-making, meaningful connections, and creating places that truly reflect the people she serves.

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