JA Announces New Hires & Promotions!
/SEATTLE, WA - Johnston Architects has promoted Jasmyn Flores to Senior Marketing Specialist, Jesse Baiata-Nicolai, Sierra Borsari and Natalie Lopez to Associate, and John B. Simons to Senior Associate. The firm has also hired Addison Peabody as a Designer and James Seikel as Business Manager.
jasmyn flores
Jasmyn Flores earned her BA in Apparel Product Development with a Minor in Interior Design from the University of Idaho. She joined JA in 2019 and applies her expertise in proposal management, award submissions, graphic design and website development to the firm’s marketing efforts. Jasmyn has been instrumental in JA’s successful pursuits for the Pierce County Library System’s new Sumner Library, Puyallup Library Teen Center Remodel and the Camas Public Library Renovation. She led award submissions for the Winthrop Library, which was recognized with an AIA Seattle Award of Honor, AIA Washington Council Civic Design Award and WoodWorks Design Award. Jasmyn is an active member of JA’s Social Responsibility and Firm Culture Committees. Recently awarded a scholarship through SMPS Seattle to attend the SMPS Pacific Regional Conference (PRC) in 2025, Jasmyn serves on the chapter’s Education Committee and volunteers for the PRC Special Events Committee.
jesse baiata-nicolai
Jesse Baiata-Nicolai earned his BS and Master’s degrees in Architecture from the Wentworth Institute of Technology in Boston. He joined JA in 2021 and serves as the Design Technology Manager, where he optimizes the use of the firm’s design platforms and Building Information Modeling. Jesse ensures that enterprise software is tailored to fit JA’s unique needs, and his responsibilities range from creating custom parametric content in Revit to developing Python plugins. Recently, he has been instrumental in creating a rendering material library to manage the extensive image assets required for high-quality photorealistic renderings. This library aims to improve rendering consistency and quality across JA projects and enable the firm’s designers to iterate more efficiently.
sierra borsari
Sierra Borsari, AIA earned her BS in Architecture from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and holds Master’s Degrees in Architecture and Civil Engineering Construction Management from Washington University in Saint Louis. She joined JA in 2022 and brings her expertise in public projects, multi-family developments, and single-family projects to the firm. Borsari recently served as the Project Manager for Johnston Architects on the Redmond Senior & Community Center, a mass timber project that is targeting LEED Platinum. She has also worked as the project architect for a custom residence in Salida, Colorado, and as the Project Architect for the Lake Wilderness Community Clubhouse. At JA, Sierra also serves as co-chair of the Sustainability Committee, dedicated to strengthening environmentally responsible practices in the firm’s work.
natalie lopez
Natalie Lopez, SHRM-CP studied Human Resource Management at Western Governors University and joined JA in 2021. Natalie has made significant contributions to JA’s operational excellence, including improvements to the firm’s hiring process, employee onboarding, payroll, staff feedback process, and managing employee relations. This includes creating a new assessment system to gather feedback for managers through anonymous surveys and supporting firm leadership in its implementation. Natalie also overhauled the performance review process to ensure a consistent experience for all staff. She holds an HR certification through the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM-CP), and is the co-chair of the JA Firm Culture Committee, a member of the Social Responsibility Committee, and a founding member of the firm’s JE:DI Committee. Outside of JA, she serves as treasurer on the Board of Directors for the Lake Stevens Rowing Club.
john b. simons
John B. Simons, AIA earned his BS in Architecture from Texas Tech University and a Master of Architecture from the Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation at Columbia University. He joined JA in 2019, bringing expertise in design and project management for a mix of project types and scales in New York and abroad. John is currently serving as Project Architect for the 18,000 SF Lake Wilderness Clubhouse for the City of Maple Valley and Project Manager for the new Sumner Library in Pierce County. His experience at JA spans multiple sectors, including multifamily, single-family, civic facilities, and hospitality projects. As Senior Associate, John leads the firm’s Associates group and provides design feedback on a myriad of projects through JA’s Design Excellence Program.
addison peabody
Addison Peabody earned his BA in Architecture from the University of Washington, where he graduated Cum Laude with Honors in 2018. He returned to UW to earn his Master’s in Architecture and was the program’s 2022 recipient of the AIA Medal for Academic Excellence. Prior to joining JA in 2023, Addison’s work included high-rise student housing, mid-rise multifamily and affordable housing developments. He has extensive 3D rendering and visualization experience in traditional and alternative delivery models such as Design/Build. At JA, Addison has broadened his experience with public work, serving as a designer on the Puyallup Library Teen Center Remodel, Camas Library Renovation and a new library for Park County in Powell, Wyoming. Peabody is the co-chair of JA’s Sustainability Committee and a member of the firm’s Social Responsibility Committee.
james seikel
James Seikel, MBA received his Bachelor's in History from Purdue University and earned his Master's in Museum Studies from Indiana University, along with his MBA in Finance and International Business from the University of Illinois. James’ diverse work history includes roles in museum administration for the State of Utah and the City of Port Isabel, Texas, and in operations for Encompass and Semi-Retired MD, and in 2021, James co-founded a bookkeeping business aimed to support small businesses and nonprofits. He brings to JA expertise in accounting, finance, human resources, information technology, marketing, operations, and strategy. In past roles, he has successfully driven the implementation of various payroll and human resource management systems, one point-of-sale system, three project management systems, two building security systems, and two accounting systems. As Business Manager at JA, James maintains the firm's accounting and finance practices, streamline operational programs, and ensure clear fiscal communication with clients,
consultants and employees.
JA employee photos by AV Goodsell