W H O W E A R E
At CKD, it’s all
about teamwork.
We design and deliver innovative landscape solutions that exceed our clients’ expectations, and gain their trust through creative and thoughtful solutions – by every member of our team. We are inspired by nature, bringing organic forms into the spaces we design, and develop unique solutions that enhance the environment and the experience.
We work closely as a team, share, communicate, and brainstorm continuously. These are the awesome folks that make it all work and transform your project into a landscape that engages, entices and enriches your community.
Amy Cupples
Principal
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I’m Amy Cupples, landscape architect, professional dot-connector, and the person who will absolutely remind you to wear sunscreen, drink water and sit up straight (you’re welcome). I love taking the scruffy, overlooked spaces — tired parks, sad courtyards, that weird empty corner everyone ignores — and helping them grow into places that feel safe, shady, and cared for. I’m big on practical magic: clear drawings, calm coordination, and designs that can survive real life (kids, dogs, budgets, and Tuesday afternoons). If it serves the community and has room for a tree, I’m in.
Keith Billick
Senior Associate - Studio Director
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I’m Keith Billick. I build landscapes that last. Empty lots, eroded slopes, forgotten corridors—they don’t need hype; they need a plan and follow-through. I work at the overlap of ecology, engineering, and design to make places that function, recover, and hold up over time. Restoration, parks, habitat in the city—the goal is the same: do the work well, respect the site, and leave it stronger than we found it.
Monty Hill
Senior Project Manager
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I’m Monty Hill, landscape architect and believer in the power of a good site walk. Give me a place, a pair of boots, and a little time to pay attention, and I’ll start noticing how water moves, where people actually cut across the lawn, and which tree is doing all the heavy lifting. I like practical solutions that look effortless, spaces that feel natural without being accidental, and designs that get better as they grow in. My goal is pretty simple: make places that work well, wear well, and give people a reason to stay a little longer.
Nathalia Frignani-Burini
Job Captain
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I’m Nathalia Frignani-Burini, a landscape designer who gets genuinely excited about plants — like, "hold on, I have a great idea" excited. Give me a site and I’ll start imagining the future canopy, the seasonal color, and exactly where people will stop to say, “Ooo, what is that?” I like designs that work hard and have a little flair (because why be practical if you can also be delightful). I bring curiosity, big energy, and an unapologetic stash of colored pencils to every project — plus a soft spot for any fern that’s trying its best.
Cathryn Ng
Landscape Designer
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I’m Cathryn Ng, a landscape designer passionate about creating spaces that bring people together and encourage meaningful experiences. I’m especially drawn to designing play spaces because they inspire creativity, exploration, and connection across all ages. I enjoy turning complex ideas into welcoming, functional environments that people want to spend time in. I believe great landscape design should solve real problems while creating places that are engaging, inclusive, and memorable.
Mark Penaran
Landscape Designer
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I’m Mark Penaran, a landscape designer who grew up in San Diego — sunny, vibrant, and (in a lot of neighborhoods) seriously short on green space. That stuck with me. I’m here for the simple, good stuff: more trees, more places to sit, more shade, more “let’s meet at the park” moments. I care about making public spaces that feel welcoming and easy to love — the kind of places where kids can run around, neighbors can say hi, and you can take a deep breath without dodging a sprinkler. If a space can help people feel like they belong, that’s the whole point.
Mim Hossain
Intern
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I’m Mim Hossain, landscape intern and enthusiastic question-asker (seriously, I have so many). I’m here to learn fast, help wherever I can, and turn ideas into clear graphics, research, and solid production work. I love the “why” behind everything — why this plant, why this slope, why this detail — and I’m especially into sustainable site moves that make everyday places cooler, greener, and more comfortable. Hand me a task and I’m on it… and then I’ll probably ask one more question.
Lin Ellis
Accounting
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I’m Lin Ellis, the accountant — which means I’m the person quietly making sure the numbers behave. I like clean spreadsheets, tidy processes, and invoices that don’t raise philosophical questions. I keep the financial side organized and accurate, catch little issues before they become big ones, and make sure things add up the way they’re supposed to (because they should). It’s not flashy, but it’s satisfying — and it keeps the whole operation running smoothly.
A B I T O F H I S T O R Y
A legacy of enriching
landscape architecture.
In 1988, Jacque Keller, Jerrold Mitchell, and Lisa Caronna founded Keller Mitchell Caronna in San Francisco with a desire to improve their community. When Lisa decided to move on in 1995, Jacque and Jerry rebranded the firm to Keller Mitchell & Company and moved the office to Oakland in 2003.
In 2009, Amy Cupples joined Jacque and Jerry, and established an immediate connection. After over three decades of management, Jacque and Jerry decided to step back from their roles in 2020, and passed the reins to Amy. In January 2023, the firm was officially renamed Cupples Keller Designs.