Sherm is a design-oriented leader who has devoted his entire career to the programming and planning of award-winning, complex projects nationwide. In his more than 30 years of experience, Sherm has been responsible for the planning, design, and construction of more than 25 million SF of space. Clients benefit from his unique approach to strategy, planning, and understanding of the ever-changing trends that lead to best practice thinking and innovation. Sherm holds two undergraduate degrees in architecture from Kent State University and a master’s degree in Urban Design from the University of Colorado. He has published and presented nationally on issues related to design, sustainability, and corporate leadership. Sherm is committed to systems thinking and was recently quoted in the third edition of W. Edwards Deming’s book “The New Economics”. He firmly believes in having a bias for action and the value of teamwork and collaboration as the best approach for enduring project success and joy in work. 

As Managing Principal and Business Development Director, Jennifer focuses on work that supports or enhances the fabric of the city and furthers a fundamental belief that great design is the essential building block to vibrant, healthy communities. Jennifer has served as the President, along with many additional leadership positions, within the national organization Society of Marketing Professional Services. 

Leading DesignGroup’s Pittsburgh office, Tom brings over 30 years of experience working in a variety of healthcare environments from hospitals to medical office buildings and free-standing clinics. Managing both small and large projects, Tom is a strong project manager with skillful leadership in team coordination and client communication. He is dedicated to providing quality service though teamwork and communication with the owner, design and construction team. 
 

Alan has three decades of experience contributing to a wide variety of planning, new construction, renovation, and adaptive re-use assignments for colleges and universities. “Alan is an expert in design for higher education, student life, and campus auxiliary services,” said DesignGroup President Jennifer Horvath. “He brings a deep understanding of how facilities can meet market expectations and how the performance of these facilities enhance an institution’s mission and bottom line.

Alan has worked on more than 60 completed projects and studies across the country. His experience includes noteworthy institutions such as University of Pittsburgh, Bowling Green State University, University of North Carolina, Rutgers University, Carnegie Mellon University, Penn State University, and University of Arkansas.

Chris began his career at DesignGroup in 2007. With over 20 years of experience, he has earned a reputation for design excellence. He leads the Columbus Healthcare Practice Group and has worked extensively with key clients such as OhioHealth and Norton Healthcare. Chris is a leader within the AIA Columbus Healthcare Committee, has spoken nationally and is an Advisory Board member for Healthcare Facilities Symposium & Expo. In 2023, Chris received the AIA Young Architects Award, an honor bestowed to individuals who have demonstrated exceptional leadership and made significant contributions to the architecture profession early in their careers.

Joe has risen through the ranks at DesignGroup. During his 14-year career at the firm, he’s been involved in award-winning projects such as the Columbus Museum of Art, Columbus Metropolitan Library’s Hilliard Branch and Directions for Youth and Families’ Crittenton Center. He’s been instrumental on DesignGroup’s healthcare work for projects such as the OSU Inpatient Tower, Fairfield Medical Center’s River Valley Campus and Morris Hospital YMCA. Joe has spoken nationally at the Healthcare Design Conference, is a graduate the Leadership Columbus’ Signature Program and co-captain of DesignGroup’s Pelotonia team since 2019. In 2024, Joe was recognized by Columbus Business First as a 40 Under 40 honoree.

Mark has successfully managed several of the firm’s most complex healthcare projects. He seeks projects requiring strong leadership and organizational skills, as Mark is highly talented in these areas. As the Project Manager, Mark believes that architecture, planning, engineering, and landscape architecture are critically interconnected disciplines. His thorough understanding of program development ensures a process responsive to environment, function, phasing and cost requirements. Mark then excels at delivering these projects on time and on budget. Mark is the Healthcare Practice Group’s Operations Leader in connecting Health & Wellness to sustainability and green building design.

Lorne offers strong team leadership and client responsiveness to his role as Project Manager. His communication skills and passion for effective collaboration result in high performing project teams creating exemplary design solutions. The proactive planning and design process Lorne leads is goal-centered, schedule-driven, and results-oriented. He’s developed a broad range of experience in community-impacting projects for both private and public clients. Lorne not only applies his commitment to servicing others in his role as an architect, but also as an energetic community volunteer and leader.

Alana has led our Interiors Group for the last three years, working on healthcare, library, education, workplace, civic and cultural projects. This diverse body of work has resulted in incredible outcomes for each of Alana's clients. Over the past 21 years at DesignGroup, she is known for her long-lasting client relationships rooted in a sincere passion for elevating the experience of her clients. Her design skills are augmented by her empathy for teammates and clients alike, leading to innovative solutions for healthy and healing environments.

As the healthcare planning lead for DesignGroup, Angela has garnered strong client relationships with both new and key healthcare clients, focusing on work from community hospitals to large academic medical centers. She is a founding member and past board member for both Cogence Alliance Central Ohio and the Ohio Chapter of Women in Healthcare. She has spoken nationally at the Healthcare Design Conference, Healthcare Facilities Symposium & Expo and participated in an invitation-only healthcare thinktank called the Healthcare Design Forum. Angela is an ACHA board certified healthcare architect and currently serves on ACHA’s Communications and Outreach Committee. In 2020, she was named one of HCD’s Rising Stars.

Mike is a highly-skilled project manager focused on DesignGroup’s healthcare projects ranging from complex, phased hospital renovations to freestanding medical office and hospital facilities. With over 20 years of experience, he maintains strong relationships with clients such as OhioHealth, Southern Ohio Medical Center, University Hospitals, University of Kentucky and Morris Hospital. They, and others, appreciate his fair, balanced and consistent approach to project management — the direct result of Mike’s dedication to ensuring effective communication among all project stakeholders. Mike has been nationally published in Healthcare Design and spoken at the Healthcare Design Conference. He is also commissioner on the City of Columbus’ Historic Resource Commission.

John assisted in the launch and continued growth of DesignGroup’s Pittsburgh office which opened in 2017. He is an unwavering professional with a balanced and fair stance on many issues. He exemplifies “steady hand on the wheel” as he effectively manages dozens of projects, fosters collaboration, promotes great design and serves as a trusted advisor to his healthcare and higher education clients. John also serves on the AIA Pittsburgh Board of Directors.

With more than 26 years of healthcare design experience and an ACHA, Operations Manager of our Pittsburgh office, Tom is responsible for aligning the project needs with the right people. A true people person, he mentors, counsels, and challenges our team members to elevate our clients’ experience. Tom is known for cultivating deep and meaningful relationships with his healthcare clients.