lewis rice | Christian T. Gordon has joined the law firm as a member of the corporate department. Prior to joining Lewis Rice, Gordon served as an attorney in the legal arm of the United States Air Force for more than 10 years. In 2019, he was one of only five competitively selected to obtain a master of laws in government procurement and environmental law from the George Washington University School of Law. His practice focuses on assisting clients with environmental aspects of real estate and corporate transactions as well as regulatory compliance. He has experience in real estate development, including environmental due diligence, land acquisition, construction contracts and leasing, and negotiating the environmental terms of acquisition agreements.
washington university
Aki Ishida has been named director of the College of Architecture and Graduate School of Architecture & Urban Design in the Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts. Ishida is currently an associate professor and interim associate director of the School of Architecture at Virginia Tech. Along with her new position, she will hold the Sam and Marilyn Fox Professorship. “Aki is an accomplished architect and designer, a respected scholar and a dedicated teacher and mentor,” says Carmon Colangelo, the Ralph J. Nagel Dean of the Sam Fox School and the E. Desmond Lee Professor for Collaboration in the Arts. “I am confident she will be an inspiring leader who will connect deeply with our community and advance the strategic goals of the school and university.”
hoffman brothers
The family-owned home service provider has appointed Matt Whiat as its new president. Whiat held the position of senior and founding partner of Chapman & Co. Leadership Institute, a leadership consulting company within the Barry-Wehmiller organization. Prior to that, he served more than 20 years as a United States Air Force Officer, with assignments at the Pentagon, as a member of the United Nations and with Nato Partners. “I am excited and grateful to welcome Matt Whiat to Hoffmann Brothers as our president,” says CEO and former president Chris Hoffmann.
robinson elementary school
The Kirkwood School District Board of Education has approved the hire of La’Kendra Garrett, Ed.D., as the elementary school’s new principal. Garrett has more than 15 years of experience in education. She currently serves as the assistant principal at both Old Bonhomme and Reed Elementary schools in the Ladue School District. She also was director of secondary summer school for the district. She holds a doctorate of education in leadership in teaching and learning from Missouri Baptist University.
metro theater company
Jacqueline Thompson has been appointed the theater company’s new artistic director. Her background includes a master of the fine arts in acting from the University of Louisville and a bachelor’s in speech communication from Clark Atlanta University. She currently serves as a faculty member at the University of Missouri-St. Louis and has held various teaching and directing positions across the country, including helming previous productions at Metro Theater Company. “Jacqueline’s passion for theater that inspires, challenges and transforms fits perfectly with our mission,” board chair Nancy Garvey says. “Her extensive experience, coupled with her profound understanding of the transformative power of storytelling, makes her the ideal leader to guide us into the future.”