Team

Leadership

Heather Website

Heather Morrison


Chief Executive Officer

Heather Morrison is the Founder and CEO of Morrison Architectural Planning Strategies, LLC and MAP Studio LLC. She is an architectural strategist and project manager with a twenty-five year record of successfully managing large-scale architecture and construction projects.

As a compliance partner, Heather and her team focus on editing architectural designs during pre-construction and strategically plan the path for permitting and licensing, creating better design outcomes while saving time, money, and resources.

Notable developments overseen by Heather and her team include: 400 North Lakeshore Drive, Lincoln Yards, 727 W Madison, Tribune Tower Residences, and The Row (the tallest building in Chicago’s West Loop).

  • Bachelor of Architecture, Rhode Island School of Design
  • Bachelor of Fine Arts, Rhode Island School of Design
George Website

George Guarino III, Assoc. AIA

Executive Vice President, Partner

George Guarino III, Associate AIA joined MAPS in 2015 as employee number three. Throughout his career, George has worked on a wide array of projects ranging from new construction high rise development, historic adaptive reuse, nationwide retail, and infrastructure. Across all project types he has seen the value of detail-oriented strategic planning of a project’s compliance path.

At Syracuse, George participated in the management and design of multiple community-engaged design projects and served as Editor-in-Chief of CRIT, the internationally distributed publication of the American Institute of Architecture Students (AIAS).

  • Bachelor of Architecture, Syracuse University
Patrick Website

Patrick Benson, PMP

Chief Operating Officer

Patrick Benson, PMP is an seasoned project manager and operations professional who drives the execution of day-to-day workflows and long-term strategies at MAPS. Patrick believes that a successful operation requires clear, specific, and measurable goals, a diverse team, and total commitment to the mission of the organization. When this is achieved, it builds efficiencies that are passed along as savings to our valued clients.

With over 17 years in construction and utilities, Patrick has delivered exceptional results in operations management, project management and controls, business analytics, and business planning. Prior to joining MAPS, Patrick managed operations at Illinois' electric utility ComEd, where he managed Chicago's construction and maintenance operations.

  • Master of Science, Business Project Management, Northwestern University
  • Bachelor of Science, Construction Project Management, Illinois State University
Emma Website

Emma Cline, AIA, NCARB

Partner, Architect of Record

Emma Cline, AIA, NCARB is a licensed architect in Pennsylvania and Illinois and is Self-certified in Chicago. She has managed and worked on a variety of project scales and typologies including K-12 schools, restaurants, large multi-unit and single family homes, commercial build outs, and large resort retail spaces. A full scope loving architect, Emma enjoys the big and small picture - from space planning diagrams to plumbing service diagrams; and the cross-functional learning from others it requires along the way.

  • Master of Architecture, Illinois Institute of Technology
  • Bachelor of Science in Architecture, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Tim Artman Website

Tim Artman, RA

Partner

Tim Artman, RA, ALA worked for more than 35 years at the prestigious Holabird & Root architecture firm in Chicago. His experience is a diverse array of programming and architectural design projects, including several academic and hospital additions/ renovations. For the past several years, he has served as a professional code compliance reviewer for the City of Chicago. Since 2003, he has reviewed over 400 projects for various medium to large/complex public and private projects throughout Chicago, including several high-profile projects such as Trump Tower, Ann and Robert H Lurie Children’s Hospital, the Art Institute of Chicago's Modern Wing, Northwestern Memorial Hospital New Prentice Women's Hospital, and renovations at the Palmer House Hotel and U.S. Cellular Field.

  • Bachelor of Architecture, University of Illinois at Chicago
Ashraf Website

Ashraf Hayek, PE, LEED AP

Partner, Mechanical & Plumbing Engineering Consultant

Ashraf Hayek, PE, LEED AP is a detail-oriented engineer with an expertise in building mechanical systems. Ashraf has been involved in designing heating, ventilation and air conditioning, plumbing and fire protection systems for different types of buildings including commercial, residential, health care, institutional buildings and industrial facilities. He is also experienced in municipal pump station and power generation plant design.
Ashraf’s interest in energy conservation and sustainability has been informed by his experience serving as a LEED/ energy specialist evaluating life cycle impacts on new and renovated projects.

  • Master of Mechanical Engineering, Bradley University
Matt Website

Matt Croll


Fractional Chief Financial Officer

Matt Croll has a depth of finance experience including more than 15 years as a CFO. He has worked with a variety of companies in manufacturing/distribution, consumer products, and professional services. Matt brings a multi-faceted view to business opportunities and a strong analytical perspective to business decisions. Matt resides in Naperville, Illinois with his wife and two daughters. He enjoys staying active and participating in various sports in his spare time.

  • Master of Business Administration, Northwestern University
  • Bachelor of Science in Accountancy, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Lauren Website

Lauren Portner


Fractional Controller

Lauren is a hands-on controller responsible for the full cycle accounting process including month end close, budgeting, cash flow, analysis and reporting, and tax and audit support. She has worked in various industries including service, technology, design and development, and non-profit. Her focus includes strengthening internal control processes and procedures, streamlining month-end close, financial reporting and overseeing AP and AR processes.

  • Master of Science in Accountancy Candidate, Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota
  • Bachelor of Science in Financial Advising, Purdue University

Team

Spencer Website

Spencer Blaney, AIA

Senior Project Manager

Spencer Blaney, AIA is a Senior Project Manager who works with Architects, Owners and Developers to efficiently manage their permitting and approval processes.

Spencer knows that the permitting process can seem daunting. He strives to make the process as clear and straightforward as possible through a well thought-out permit and communication strategy.

Spencer has obtained permits for numerous projects across scales; from restaurants to high-rise multifamily and everything in between.

Spencer is a licensed architect in Illinois and is Self-certified in Chicago. He completed AIA Chicago’s Bridge Mentorship program in 2022.

  • Master of Architecture, Ball State University
  • Bachelor of Science in Architecture, Ball State University
Brandon Website

Brandon Clementi


Project Executive

Brandon Clementi is a Project Executive who leads owners and architects through the building permit review process to minimize time from design to construction. Since joining MAPS in 2017, Brandon has guided clients through complex reviews strategically and efficiently to secure permits on a tight schedule. Working across the full breadth of the City of Chicago’s building permit review processes, Brandon leads MAPS in the management of self-certification permitting and CDOT Public Right of Way permitting.

In addition to nationwide retail permit management, especially with Target since 2017, Brandon’s permitting experience in Chicago has included numerous project typologies.

  • Bachelor of Arts in Geography and Environmental Studies, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Ed Website

Ed Feibel, Assoc. AIA

Senior Code Consultant

Ed is a Senior Code Consultant who works with architects to refine their designs to be more compliant with municipal requirements.

Ed knows that while code compliance is not often in the forefront of a designers mind it is a major part of the design process. He is focused on confirming alignment while maintaining design excellence in a process.

From single family homes to major high rises, Ed’s experience covers a wide-range; including the renovation and rehabilitation of a 1940’s baseball stadium.

  • Bachelor of Architecture, Illinois Institute of Technology
Abdiel Website 01

Abdiel Filos Gonzalez

Project Manager

Abdiel Filos Gonzalez joined MAP Strategies with more than a decade of engineering and construction experience. As a Transportation Planning Engineer, his passion for creating comfortable, safe, efficient, and faster service for residents helps fuel his contributions on mass transit and transit-oriented projects. With high attention to detail, Abdiel works with clients throughout the compliance process.

  • Master of Science in Civil Engineering, Purdue University
  • Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineer, Universidad Catolica Santa Maria La Antigua
Michael Website

Michael Grochola, ICC

Accessibility Specialist

Michael Grochola, ICC is an architectural accessibility specialist who works with architects, contractors, and developers to ensure accessibility codes and concerns are being met throughout the design and construction process.

Michael knows how to manage various city, state, and federal codes of any project, regardless of the project’s type or size; with experience in 30+ states. His work has ranged from plan reviews, legal remediation, and construction site visits for 200+ different architects and developers.

Michael is an ICC Certified Accessibility Inspector. At his previous employer he worked with and learned from two former United States Access Board Chairmen.

  • Master of Architecture, University of Illinois at Chicago
  • Bachelor of Science in Architecture, University of Illinois at Chicago
Nelly Website

Nelly Perez


Office Manager

Nelly Perez has over 20 years of experience in the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction Industry; streamlining office operations to allow teams and clients to succeed. Her day-to-day responsibilities include oversight on a range of administrative, financial, and managerial tasks. Nelly’s focus is on strategic alignment between accounting and the compliance process, saving time and redundancy while providing people-first service.

  • Taylor Business Institute

Consultants

Aphrodite Website

Aphrodite Angelakos, SE, RA

Structural Engineering Consultant

Aphrodite Angelakos, SE, RA, has over thirty-five years of experience in Structural Engineering. She got her start as a Reviewer at the City of Chicago’s Department of Buildings and since 2000 she has been working as a Structural Engineering Peer Reviewer.

As Founder and President of a1a Design Group Aphrodite works closely with design teams on each project to complete a thorough structural engineering peer review. Aphrodite’s expertise includes building types across scale and construction material; from new construction to adaptive re-use alterations.

  • Master of Architecture and Structural Engineering: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
  • Bachelor of Architecture: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Jose Website

Jose Deavila


Electrical Engineering Consultant

Jose deAvila, MBA, MSEE, PE, LEED AP is Principal of Jose de Avila and Associates. Jose is driven by the philosophy that excellence in engineering begins with designs that provide healthy, safe, stimulating, and comfortable environments.

Jose has a thorough understanding of the Chicago Electrical Code, and was selected by the project manager for the new Modern Wing of the Art Institute of Chicago to provide consulting electrical engineering designs for the project's infrastructure. For the past ten years Jose has been providing electrical code reviews for permit applicants to the City of Chicago’s Department of Buildings.

  • Master of Electrical Engineering
  • Master in Business Administration
  • Bachelor of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering
Steven Website

Steven Vance


Zoning Consultant

Steven Vance is an urban planner in Chicago. Steven founded Chicago Cityscape, a real estate information platform that aggregates data about all properties in Cook County. Steven consults for MAP Strategies and its clients about local land use and transportation policies and writes zoning reports for all types of existing and new construction projects in Chicago.

  • Master of Urban Planning & Public Policy, University of Illinois at Chicago