BSLA Fieldbook BSLA 2015 Spring Fieldbook | Page 19

many neighborhoods to rely on their parks
to come together as a community.

CHERI: I was recently promoted to Vice
President at Weston & Sampson. As both
a landscape architect and a woman, this
is something I am very proud of. I am the
Practice Leader for landscape architecture,
company-wide. With my very talented
team, I am focused on Spurr’s journey as
a kick-ass design studio within a larger
infrastructure and engineering firm.

In your transition from the private
?
to public sector (and vice versa)
what has been the most striking
difference?
ANNIE: The level of professionalism
among the Brookline staff is generally high,
and while there can be significant time
and budgetary pressures, I do not miss the
pressure to be billable, and I do like the idea
that I am being of service. In addition, I’m
able to see our built work mature over time
in a way that’s not possible in the private
sector. While in Brookline, I have joined
the Board of the Friends of Fairsted, and
appreciate being exposed to some more
scholarly aspects of the design field.

CHERI: While at Boston Parks, I
appreciated the latitude to perform my
duties without obsessing about the almighty
billable hour. I also really liked the feeling
of protective ownership over Boston’s
open space assets inherent in the position,
which has stayed with me for my entire
career. I developed the foundation of my
professional network by collaborating with
lots of great consultants on a wide range of
projects. For me, this was the perfect first
job. Of course, while in the midst of it, the

grass in the private sector looked very green.
When I made the transition and learned
the hard realities of running a business, my
competitive nature served me well. Through
my partnership with Gene Bolinger, we have
been able to continue doing meaningful
work in park systems throughout New
England, including Boston, which I have
found to be the best of both worlds.

Any closing thoughts?
ANNIE: My father was a doctor who said
it was important for people to choose a job
they love, since they would be spending
so much of their time doing it. I’ve been
fortunate in my education, employers,
mentors, and colleagues, and just plain lucky
at points in timing, enabling me to act on my
values and develop my interests in both the
public and private sectors. I do occasionally
buy a lottery ticket.

CHERI: I agree with Annie, I feel very
lucky that I love what I do. This is a result
of all of the great support I have received
along the way and I find it very fulfilling to
pay that forward to the next generation of
professionals.

Cheri Started Out The Garden State
Education BSLA, UMass Amherst; MLA, Harvard Graduate School of Design
Now Spurr | Weston & Sampson’s Design Studio
Boston Society of Landscape Architects Fieldbook

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