Rice Fergus Miller Announces the Promotion of Four New Principals and Two Associate Principals
Bremerton, Washington – Rice Fergus Miller (RFM), a leading architecture, interior design and planning, firm based in Bremerton, Washington, is proud to announce the promotion of four individuals to the position of Principal and two team members to Associate Principal. The firm’s newest Principals are Sarah Gladics, Inkyoung Haley, Erin Hatch, and Jason Ritter-Lopatowski. New Associate Principals are Susie Parsons and Becky Wall.
The newly promoted Principals join the firm’s existing Principals Greg Belding, Jennifer Fleming, Gunnar Gladics, and Dean Kelly in leading the firm into the next generation. The four existing Principals are major shareholders of the company, which is an employee-owned S Corporation and a Certified B Corp.
Rice Fergus Miller congratulates the following new Principals:
Sarah Gladics, NCIDQ, IIDA: Sarah joined the firm in 2015, and quickly discovered her love for fire service design. Today, Sarah is an NCIDQ-credentialed interior designer who co-leads the firm’s fire and emergency services market. She provides planning and interior design services for fire stations, training centers, 911 call centers, public agency capital facilities plans, and other civic projects throughout the Pacific Northwest. A true advocate for her team, Sarah supports marketing efforts for the firm while working tirelessly to ensure a vibrant internal culture. Sarah is the mom of a 2-year-old daughter, and is passionate about supporting women and moms in the workplace.
Inkyoung Haley, RA, CDT, CCCA: Inky is a talented architect with a diverse range of skills ranging from BIM management to graphic design. She joined the firm a decade ago and has worked on many project types including the brand-new Veterinary Life Saving Center for Kitsap Humane Society, and a range of multifamily housing, healthcare, and community impact projects. Inky is passionate about endeavors that help build community and has led firmwide volunteer days for Habitat for Humanity and mentored high school students through Bremerton School District’s AVID program. As Principal, Inky is most looking forward to helping with the firm’s business operations and delivery of services, to ensure consistency and project success across all the firm’s markets.
Erin Hatch, CPSM: As Director of Marketing and Principal, Erin will work alongside the other firm leaders to build and maintain strong relationships with clients, ensure positive community relations, and win work for the firm. Erin holds a degree in Interior Architecture and has worked in marketing since 2008. She is a Certified Professional Services Marketer (CPSM) and has served in several positions for The Society for Marketing Professional Services (SMPS) Seattle and the Pacific Region. She is a member of the Downtown Bremerton Design Review Board, and is a board member with Wayzgoose Kitsap. Erin has lived in Bremerton since 2017, and enjoys the ability to easily walk to RFM’s downtown Bremerton office. She leads a team of three who help ensure the firm can continue doing meaningful projects that make positive impacts on their communities.
Jason Ritter-Lopatowski, LEED AP BD+C, RA, NCARB: A true Jack-of-all-trades, Jason is a dedicated architect who does what it takes to get the job done, while mentoring others along the way. A builder and fixer at heart, Jason has helped streamline processes at the firm including billing, invoicing, staffing and project delivery. He loves to nerd out over spreadsheets, and his clients love his consistently positive attitude. Jason works primarily in the firm’s hospitality and civic markets, and a few of his notable projects include the 7 Cedars Hotel in Blyn, WA, and several fire stations for Central Kitsap Fire & Rescue. Jason is active in the Kitsap community and serves on the Greater Kitsap Chamber of Commerce board.
The following team members have been promoted to Associate Principal:
Susie Parsons, NCIDQ: Susie is an interior designer with a passion for serving people as they age. She helps lead the firm’s housing market, and has been actively involved in business development efforts for the housing team. Susie recently completed a Certificate in Gerontology from the University of Washington and has dedicated her career to designing spaces that positively impact aging. As an Associate Principal, Susie is most excited to help the firm grow in alignment with RFM’s mission and values. She brings a true sense of care and responsibility to each project she touches and seeks to make a difference for as many people as possible.
Becky Wall, NCIDQ: Becky Wall is an interior designer who leads the firm’s education market. Becky’s role as a mom of two school-aged kids is intertwined with her role at RFM: She is an ardent supporter of work-life balance, Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (JEDI) initiatives, community involvement, and introducing students to the design profession. She is actively engaged in a wide range of internal firm initiatives and external organizations. Becky is a board member of KidVantage, an Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) mentorship program volunteer, and one of Leadership Kitsap’s most recent 20 Under 40 honorees.
These new Principals and Associate Principals will join the firm’s existing leadership team, who together will help the firm navigate the transition to the next generation.
Rice Fergus Miller was founded in Bremerton in 1987 by Steve Rice. Additional founders Dave Fergus and Mike Miller later joined the firm, and it became Rice Fergus Miller. All three former owners retired in 2021 and 2022. The firm’s new chapter is anchored by RFM’s legacy of serving the community through housing, healthcare, hospitality, community impact, education, and fire and emergency services projects.
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About Rice Fergus Miller
Rice Fergus Miller, Inc.—a B Corp., is an architecture, interior design, planning, and vizlab firm based in Bremerton, Washington. Established in 1987, it is the only architecture firm in Washington State with Certified B Corp status. The firm is committed to performing meaningful work that builds and strengthens communities, and is housed in one of the most energy-efficient buildings in the United States. Rice Fergus Miller blends the personal aspirations of its nearly 60 team members with a vision for a more sustainable future. Learn more at www.rfmarch.com