Since founding R+B in 2003 with his wife, R+B Principal Sarah Broughton, FAIA, NCIDQ, John has been pivotal in inspiring distinction in all aspects of the firm. Involved in projects of varying sizes and scope, he continuously elevates team members, clients, and partners. Paired with R+B’s overriding dedication to sustainability and reducing the impact of the built environment on climate, John’s design skills, architectural integrity, and mentorship drives motivation. From big picture to micro details, he consistently edits and pushes for excellence throughout the design and construction process.

Graduating with a Bachelor of Architecture from University of Colorado Boulder College of Environmental Design, John’s experience includes high–end hospitality and residential architecture, architectural interior design, urban design, and historic preservation. A Licensed Architect, his design leadership spans Aspen and Denver studios. Projects range from coast to coast and beyond.

Through John’s unwavering design leadership, R+B has been the recipient of numerous AIA, ASID, and IIDA awards. In addition, he brings professional expertise and knowledge of commercial guidelines, Land Use Codes, and architectural policies. Paired with his frequent inclusion on influential hospitality and designer lists, experiences gleaned from travel and an insatiable quest for knowledge through reading and research stimulates team creativity. A respected colleague and community member, John has served as a Commissioner with the Planning and Zoning Commission for the City of Aspen, Aspen Civic Master Plan Advisory Committee, and the City of Aspen Build-Out Advisory Committee. A proponent of the arts, he is a board member at Anderson Ranch Arts Center. 

Since founding R+B in 2003 with her husband, R+B Principal John Rowland, AIA, Sarah has embraced a holistic model of practice, continuously elevating the firm’s reputation for excellence in design. A leader to her team, she champions the firm’s overriding belief that sustainable design is an integral component to delivering high quality, thoughtful projects that stand the test of time. The health and well-being of clients is critical, and inclusivity is a hallmark of all interactions.

Graduating with a Bachelor of Architecture from University of Colorado Boulder College of Environmental Design with Honors, Sarah’s experience includes high-end hospitality and residential architecture, interior design, urban design, and historic preservation. Her design leadership spans studios in Aspen and Denver with projects ranging from coast to coast and beyond. In 2022, Sarah, a Licensed Architect, was elevated to the American Institute of Architects College of Fellows, which recognizes significant contributions to the profession of Architecture and society.

Sarah promotes a collaborative approach with clients, the professional growth of her team, of which 50% are women at every level, and diversity of viewpoints via a Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) Committee. Over R+B’s tenure, she has held multiple leadership positions, including Chair of the Aspen Historic Preservation Commission and 2023 AIA Colorado President, and is frequently invited to sit on awards juries and speak on panels, webinars, and podcasts. Under Sarah’s leadership, R+B has been named AIA Colorado Firm of the Year and team projects have been awarded by AIA Colorado, IIDA, ASID Colorado, and PSMJ, among others. Her convergent philosophy led to an invitation for the firm to participate in the 2023 Venice Architectural Biennale.

R+B Partner, Principal, and Licensed Architect Craig Lawrence approaches every project with open interest. His ability to unravel and resolve complexities such as entitlement and permitting is critical to the design process. Coupled with proven management experience, his knowledge of building science, strategies, and codes uniquely positions him as a hands-on leader. An understanding of the importance of both team and client dynamic is key to achieving extraordinary results.

A Colorado native, Craig received a Bachelor of Arts, Magna Cum Laude, from Colorado State University and a Master of Architecture, Outstanding Graduate, from University of Colorado Denver.

With the intent of building a team with common consensus and purpose, Craig focuses on internal and external leadership. Contributing to R+B’s success across all aspects is a personal hallmark. Parallel to his in-studio work, he participates on Denver’s Lower Downtown (LODO) Urban Design Review Committee and serves as an invited critic in graduate level design reviews at the University of Colorado Denver.

A native to Aspen exposed at a young age to architecture and construction through building family homes in the area, R+B Partner, Principal, and Licensed Architect Will Otte carries a unique appreciation of and perspective on mountain towns and project types, along with institutional knowledge that facilitates the navigation of highly regulated jurisdictions. High attention to details, he navigates complex projects with dexterity, breaking them down step by step into manageable pieces. An expert in land use, Will’s advisement was pivotal in the rewriting of City of Aspen’s comprehensive Aspen Land Use Code.

With a Bachelor of Environmental Design from University of Colorado Boulder and a Master of Architecture from University of Colorado Denver, Will is an insightful and creative thought leader across all aspects of the firm. A primary goal is assuring sustainability in every project.

Will excels in mentoring, career development, and instilling a positive work ethic in up-and-coming team members to embrace goals of being best in class. Focus on supporting R+B in achieving client goals on a professional level and the team on a cultural level is a hallmark of his professionalism. Expertly overseeing the execution of projects provides space for focus on the entrepreneurial nature of the firm.

An accomplished and accredited interior designer, R+B Partner and Associate Leslie Cope embraces the concepts of timeless aesthetics and designing for longevity so vital to R+B’s projects. As leader of the firm’s Interior Design team, she continuously spearheads outstanding design while supporting the seamless integration of architecture and interior design that results in a fluid and productive workflow.

Endeavoring to push boundaries and keeping the pulse of new concepts, research, developments, and tools, Leslie empowers individual creativity and approaches to interior design, while encouraging the career and professional development of her team. Mindful of materials and working within potential constraints of a project, she promotes innovative repurposing whenever possible.

Graduating California State University at Long Beach with a Bachelor of Fine Art in Interior Architectural Design, Leslie began her interior design career in Southern California.

A collaborator and a craftsman, R+B Partner and Associate Steve Harris finds satisfaction in guiding projects through the design process from beginning to end, while executing ideas and ensuring the final product aligns with the client’s guiding vision. As a leader, he works to nurture and grow the R+B team, supporting personal, professional, and project-related needs. Supporting the firm’s sustainability goals and initiatives, he drives innovation and consciousness vital to R+B projects.

Complementing his considerable knowledge of design, construction systems and types, budgets, schedules, fee proposals, and documentation is Steve’s experience with residential and commercial projects. World-wide travel has spurred his interest in and understanding of the impact a wide variety of cultures have on their built environment.

Steve received his Bachelor of Fine Arts from St. Lawrence University of Fine Arts and his Master of Architecture from the University of Colorado Denver.

A technology-driven designer, R+B Partner and Associate Brandon Herbst has a passion for innovation and collaboration. As leader of the firm’s Revit Committee, he provides a unique perspective on technology’s role in the design, communication, and project delivery process. He believes that training and education are critical to ensuring effective use of technology, particularly to realize R+B’s unique collaboration, visualization, analysis, and documentation capabilities. Leading career and professional growth within the team is essential to his role.

Focusing on elevating developmental tools to streamline and support the design process, Brandon’s expertise has helped reimagine the handshake between modeling, documentation, and rendering software, encouraging seamless integration of all processes. His approach to managing software in context of the design process helps to balance speed, efficiency, and quality to meet project and firmwide goals.

Originally from California, Brandon received his Bachelor of Architecture from California Polytechnic Institute San Luis Obispo. He is currently an active advisory member of Denver’s Lower Downtown Urban Design Committee, and consistently promotes the importance of a firm’s connection to the community.

Keeping a pulse on the team as a whole, R+B Partner and Director of Human Resources Shana Broback plays a pivotal role in shaping the organization’s people strategy and driving its overall success. Her ability to manage expectations while maintaining neutrality is critical to internal stability and progress alike. 

Championing creative thinking and staying ahead of the curve, Shana is a passionate and strategic leader, supporting all stakeholders with the unique perspective that people are an organization’s greatest asset. Known for her collaborative leadership style, Shana excels at building strong relationships at all levels of the organization. She believes in fostering open lines of communication and providing guidance and support to create a positive work environment where individuals can thrive. Professional skills include employment law and compliance, organizational and leadership development, compensation and benefits, and talent acquisition.

Leading the R+B team’s in-house Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) committee she recognizes the significant impact this has on employee satisfaction, innovation, and overall firm performance. Shana earned a Bachelor of Science in Sociology degree from Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado. She received a Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM-CP) designation in 2016.

A Certified Public Accountant and Certified Financial Planner, David Forsman brings over two decades of knowledge and experience to R+B’s financial operations. In his role as Director of Finance, he is directly responsible for overseeing all financial functions of the firm, from budgeting and forecasting to financial analysis and reporting.

Working closely with the firm’s leadership team, David develops and implements financial strategies that support the firm’s growth and profitability goals. Through effective financial management, he has helped drive financial performance and improved business operations.

David holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Pepperdine University. Dedicated to advancing the field of corporate financial planning & analysis, he is working toward achieving the Financial Modeling & Valuation Analyst (FMVA) Certification with Corporate Finance Institute.

R+B Director of Marketing Karley Bessez leads the firm’s overall marketing strategy and communication efforts. A brand storyteller, she brings a unique view to initiating branding efforts, leveraging the team and promoting the firm’s multi-faceted, two decade-plus portfolio of work.

Collaborating with R+B’s Leadership Team, Karley is responsible for key marketing activities, including proposals, CRM oversight, accolades, social media strategy, photography direction, content management, and SEO direction. Her positive, creative attitude and interaction with team members promotes participation and teamwork.

Karley received a Bachelor of Arts, International Relations and French from Bucknell University and earned a Certificate in Graphic Design from Parsons School of Design.