Martin P. Goldsbrough
President

Prior to co-founding Firma Design Group with Michael Tarnoff and Mike Cook in 2011 (previously Land Development Solutions, Inc from 2000 ‘till 2011), Martin was Principal of Martin Consulting, a land development and construction service company in Novato. Earlier, he was a Principal and project manager at CSW/Stuber-Stroeh Engineering Group, Inc., and from 1970 to 1980 was employed at the Marin Municipal Water District.

His areas of expertise include project management, entitlements, plan processing through government agencies, and civil engineering design.  He has 37 years of experience in project management and coordination of residential and commercial developments, land entitlement processing and coordination through the local, state, and federal agencies, construction supervision, feasibility studies, and the design of residential and commercial infrastructure improvements.  He has successfully represented clients before the many review agencies whose approval was needed before projects could proceed; and he coordinates the engineering design and other design disciplines on numerous projects from inception through construction completion.

Marty is a motorcycle buff and enjoys riding throughout the Bay Area and beyond.  He especially likes spending time with his family and many grandchildren – both in Sonoma and in southern California.  In his spare time, Marty enjoys shooting pool and listening to live music.

Dan Hughes, P.E.
Director of Engineering

Dan joined Firma Design Group in 2012 as Director of Engineering.  Dan has worked throughout Northern California as a Civil Engineer for over 12 years.  Dan’s strengths in civil engineering and Project Management have made him the go to person on countless projects, and established his incredible reputation throughout the Bay Area, and especially in Sonoma County, where he lives.  Dan has been sought after for grading and drainage solutions, vineyard development, erosion and sediment control, plan checking and inspection, tracking budgets, schedules and permit processing, research and analysis for feasibility studies, storm water pollution prevention plans, ADA accessibility design and guidelines, and the development and implementation of improvement plans.  He has worked in the private and public sector, has intimate knowledge in the workings of public agencies and staff management, and an excellent understanding of the public/private land development environment. Dan received his Professional Civil Engineer registration in February 2000 (California license # C 60225).

As Director of Engineering for Firma Design Group, Dan is responsible for engineering oversight of the company and its 8 employees. Dan is responsible for Quality Assurance and Control and is the Engineer of Record for projects completed by the firm. Dan manages the engineering and office staff. Dan has been managing Waldo Point Harbor which is a 12 million dollar project that includes the management of a team of Architects, Civil, Structural and Geotechnical Engineers, Biologist, Planners and Landscape Architects. 

Michael A. Cook
RLA, Vice-President, CFO

Mike created Firma Design Group with Marty and Michael in early 2011. Prior to forming the partnership, Mike was Principal of Michael A. Cook, Landscape Architect, a planning and landscape architecture firm based in Santa Rosa, California for over 3 years. For the eight years prior to his own firm, Mike worked for two different landscape architecture firms in the North Bay as a Project Manager and Senior Landscape Architect. Mike recently became a Certified Landscape Irrigation Auditor (CLIA) that enables him to not only design highly-efficient landscape and irrigations systems, but also allows Mike to audit the systems (his design or not – per California Building Code) to ensure that the installation has been installed correctly and that the equipment and layout is the most efficient (this certification is completed through the Irrigation Association). Mike was appointed to the City of Santa Rosa Design Review Board in January, 2011.

Mike attended California State Polytechnic University at San Luis Obispo, California for his Bachelor of Landscape Architecture degree (2001). While at Cal Poly, SLO, he was involved in the University community by starting the Cal Poly Golf Association and eventually the Division IAA Golf Team and belonged to the Student Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects. Following graduation and meeting the requirements for the State Licensure Exam, Mike became a licensed landscape architect in 2004 (RLA #5123). As a landscape architect, Mike has worked on most every type of project throughout California and takes pride in knowing that he is qualified to work with any owner in California, whether it be a private homeowner or a large municipality.

Mike enjoys playing golf when he’s not working, has two young daughters and lives in Santa Rosa with his family. He volunteers his time in many different ways and believes in making Santa Rosa/Petaluma and the North Bay an attractive place for doing business.

Kent Carothers
Project Manager

Kent Carothers joined Firma Design Group in 2006 as a project manager with a wealth of experience gleaned from years of successful engineering project management for residential, municipal, and commercial site development projects. Kent received his civil engineering degree in 1994, and is a Licensed Professional Engineer in both California and Texas. Before joining Firma Design Group, Kent worked for 12 years with other engineering firms in those states, specializing in Land Development and Public Works projects.  He served as department manager for all the residential design projects in Texas for Doucet and Associates.  His wide range of experience includes planning, civil engineering design and project management for single family residential developments, recreational facilities, retail and shopping centers, wineries, multifamily dwellings, office complexes, and municipal projects, including schools and airports.

Kent has extensive experience in grading and utility plan design, storm water detention, storm water quality design, ADA compliance, commercial retail site design, roadway design, erosion control, subdivision master planning, and processing permits through city, county, state, and federal agencies. Recent projects include tentative maps, construction plans for North Bay subdivisions, residential hillside grading plans, and site construction plans for senior housing developments.

Kent searches out cost-effective ways to comply with new regulations, and focuses on the details of construction documents.  As a commercial pilot, he enjoys aviation activities during his free time.  He also likes spending time with his family and participates in various forms of outdoor recreation.

Kristine Willis
Designer

Kristine Willis joined the Firma Design Group team in 2006 as a designer with many years of civil engineering and land surveying experience. Kristine supports the project managers in the design of residential subdivisions, commercial developments, multi-family projects, and public works projects.

Before joining Firma Design Group, Kristine worked for land surveying and engineering companies in California and Texas. Her wide range of talents includes a solid understanding of the plan production process, construction surveying requirements, and construction standards. She has extensive experience in utilizing the most current computer programs for grading, drainage, utility plans, roadway design, parking lot design, subdivision lot layout, and quantities estimation. Kristine selects and adapts current computer techniques for project plans, design documents, and specifications, and assists in the preparation of all necessary engineering analyses and submittals.

Kristine’s recent projects include design of construction plans for a condominium project in Petaluma, a low cost housing project in Novato, and a multi-family mixed-use development in Santa Rosa. In her spare time, she enjoys home improvements and spending time with her family in the wine country.

Steve Kovanis
Landscape Designer

Steve has been widely involved in the California landscape community for over ten years through employment and volunteer opportunities, and is experienced with a wide range of projects from initial concept through installation and maintenance. Years of hands-on gardening and landscaping experience have provided Steve with an intimate knowledge of plants, and understanding of how they can enhance the quality of any project.

Steve’s professional experience includes endangered species habitat restoration in Marin County, residential and commercial design/installation projects throughout the North Bay Area, design of a community garden in Santa Rosa, California, and many drought tolerant, low maintenance gardens in the Bay Area and Central Coast, California. Steve’s combination of education, work experience, and technical ability offer a unique perspective to the design profession. Land stewardship and sustainable principles are the foundation to Steve’s design philosophy, and he uses his plant expertise to create beautiful, sustainable landscapes that are beneficial to the environment.

Carolyn Kintzley
Office Manager

Carolyn joined Firma Design Group (FDG) in 2011 as the Office Manager when FDG acquired Ralph J. Alexander & Associates. She is responsible for daily office tasks and coordinating work, and communicating with their many clients. She worked for over 9 years for Ralph J. Alexander & Associates, as their Administrative Assistant. Prior to that, Carolyn worked as a Certified Massage Therapist for several years.

In her spare time, she can be found volunteering with her dog Bell at local senior care facilities, spending time with her family, and making jewelry.

Jerry Novak, P.E.
Senior Engineer

Jerry has been practicing civil engineering for over 31 years. Throughout his career, he has worked on a wide variety of public works projects covering all aspects of a Capital Improvement Program. Beginning as a plan check engineer, his outstanding skills lead him to project design, and eventually managing a $63 million five-year Capital Improvement Program covering transportation, parks and recreation, and municipal facilities. He is highly experienced in administering a project from creation to project close out, including budgeting, environmental constraints, right-of-way conflicts or acquisition, design and construction. He is well versed in federal, state and regional grant funded projects (TEA, ARRA, HBRR, STP, TLC, NMTPP, FEMA, TE, STIP, SR2S, TDA3,TFCA, TSM, STSM,P-TAP, CEC), having designed and administered many over his career with the City of Novato.

Through his experience, he has become proficient in Caltrans construction standards (plans, specifications, design manuals, traffic manuals and Local Assistance Procedure Manual). He is well versed in the procedures for managing Capital Improvement Projects including the procurement and administration of grant funding. He has extensive knowledgeable about California Public Contract Code, the Subdivision Map Act, and State and Federal laws.

Ric Hendricks
Senior Landscape Architect

Mr. Hendricks diversity in his landscape architectural career has been a key component in becoming a well-balanced and rounded professional. He has a hands-on approach to directing a project from its beginning through the process of conceptual design, design development, construction documents and field observation. His project and office management skills incorporate project coordination, quality control, mentoring, client interface, sub-consultant oversight, and governmental agency coordination. Ric’s wide range of design experiences includes the public and private sector with an in-depth understanding in the international design world. His work on award winning domestic and international projects encompasses sustainable designs, master planned communities, recreation facilities, streetscapes, commercial/retail, school/institutional, riparian ecosystem restoration, and storm water management.

Mr. Hendricks is a registered landscape architect and a member of the Northern California Chapter of ASLA. In addition, he has been actively involved with the California Park and Recreation Society, and Bay Area Building Industry Association for over 10 years.

In Ric’s spare time, he enjoys nature photography, golfing, hiking/snowshoeing and travel. He recent returned from a trip to France, Switzerland and Italy where he enjoyed the Swiss Alps and the food and wine in France and Italy.