Clark Nexsen Announces Promotions
We are excited to announce the promotion of Chris Brasier to Senior Principal; Matt Agnes, Aseem Deshpande, and Robert Thomas to Principal; Xander Ellenbogen, Derick Ritter, Dorothea Schulz, and Eve Szentesi to Associate Principal; and Angie Brose, Tracy Hargis, Tiffany Hicks, and Stephanie Jude to Senior Associate. Clark Nexsen proudly recognizes these individuals for their contributions, which have driven growth, inspired innovation, and furthered our success as a leader in the architecture and engineering industry.
Promoted to Senior Principal
Chris Brasier, FAIA, LEED AP
Chris is our Chief Practice and Culture Officer and our Design Director, shaping the direction of Clark Nexsen and ensuring the realization of the firm’s full creative potential. With over 40 years of experience, he is an established and trusted subject matter expert in higher education, serving clients by guiding the planning and design for a diverse cross section of campus building typologies.
Promoted to Principal
Matt Agnes, PE
Matt is a Senior Bridge Engineer and our Bridge Engineering and Inspection Practice Area Leader. Combining his comprehensive knowledge with extensive field experience, he has been an invaluable team member for 32 years and vital to our success in the infrastructure market sector.
Aseem Deshpande, AIA, LEED AP
Aseem is Clark Nexsen’s Director of Practice Technology. Utilizing his 25 years as an architect and technology leader, he leads the implementation of technology that advances the firm’s design quality and enables innovation to elevate our integrated, multidisciplinary practice.
Robert Thomas
Robert is a Senior Architect and Design Lead with 25 years of experience. He joined our team in 2025, bringing with him his empathy-led design process reinforced by an award-winning portfolio recognized for design excellence and technical execution.
Promoted to Associate Principal
Xander Ellenbogen, AIA, LEED AP
Xander is a Senior Architect and Senior BIM Manager based in our Asheville office. His 13 years of experience across architecture, construction, and technology has been invaluable as he oversees, contributes to, and manages projects for the firm.
Derick Ritter, LEED AP
Derick is a Senior Project Manager who has been a part of our firm for 36 years. Focused on large projects for educational, commercial, and industrial clients, he collaborates with team stakeholders to create innovative and cost-effective solutions, while leveraging his mechanical engineering background to provide strategic insight.
Dorothea Schulz, AIA, LEED AP BD+C
Dorothea is a Senior Architect designing projects for our community, educational, and commercial markets. Guided by her 20 years of experience, she views projects as opportunities to discover the potential for architecture to improve and transform lives.
Eve Szentesi, AIA, LEED AP BD+C
Eve is a Senior Architect with 28 years of experience. Balancing creative design with practical execution, she maintains the highest standards of architectural excellence, with her expertise spanning design innovation, technical documentation, and complex project management.
Promoted to Senior Associate
Angie Brose, AIA, LEED AP
Angie is a Senior Architect with experience in libraries, higher education, K-12, and childcare facilities. Throughout her 27 years in the industry, she has expressed her passion for community focused facilities, and she works with stakeholders to design buildings that reflect the unique creative expression of each community.
Tracy Hargis
Tracy is a Senior Marketing Coordinator based in our Asheville office. Her 33 years of experience informs her approach to developing winning proposals that shape the trajectory of our firm within our education and community and culture markets.
Tiffany Hicks
Tiffany is our Marketing Manager for the industrial and public safety market sectors and has been with the firm for 8 years. Utilizing her background in business and finance to drive market sector growth, she strategically collaborates with internal and external partners to position the firm for success.
Stephanie Jude
Stephanie Jude is Clark Nexsen’s Marketing Manager for the education and community and culture markets. A leader in the industry with over 25 years of AEC marketing experience, she combines her passion for education with a love of cultural arts to create winning strategies.
