The Speakers

Brad McCauley is a passionate advocate for landscape architecture, who has spent the last 17 years putting people first and making a difference in the profession. A dedicated member of ASLA, Brad has tirelessly served the profession on local, regional, and national stages. This service has resulted in increased membership, advocacy for STEM designation, and a broader awareness of the profession.

As a practitioner, Brad has led the team at site design group for the past decade as the Managing Principal. The recognition of awards throughout the Midwest and on a National level has been a testimony to Brad’s leadership.  More important has been the steady and managed growth of the firm from ten professionals in 2012 to over sixty professionals today, including full-time employees in Tokyo, Brazil, and an entire team based in Kyiv, Ukraine. Brad’s commitment to inclusive recruiting, hiring, and retention has transformed the culture of the firm to meet today’s market demands and leadership expectations. Under his guidance, the firm’s $2 billion portfolio reflects his commitment to design excellence improving the quality of life for all. For him, good design is not a luxury; it's a right that should be accessible to everyone. 

Brad extends his leadership to various organizations, including The Cultural Landscape Foundation’s Stewardship Council and his Alma Mater’s Department of Landscape Architecture Resource Committee at the University of Illinois. His involvement in local and regional consortiums, panels, and publications showcases his dedication to the broader profession.

Melissa Petersen is a landscape architect working for the City of Rapid City Parks and Recreation Department. After earning her BLA from University of Nebraska-Lincoln, she was pleased to return to her hometown and join the public sector. Over the last seven years, her role has largely involved project management, working as an owner’s representative and collaborating with other landscape architects, engineers, and planners. Having the opportunity to guide numerous reconstruction and improvement projects in Rapid City’s park system has been an honor. 

Eirik Heikes, ASLA, is the Group Leader for Landscape Architecture for Interstate Engineering, Inc., Rapid City, SD.   He was previously President of TerraSite Design, established in 2018 and acquired by Interstate in 2025. Previously, he was Principal Landscape Architect at FourFront Design of Rapid City, SD for seven years and Senior Landscape Architect for CTA (now Cushing Terrell) Landworks  of Billings, Montana for five years. He has been designing a diverse mix of landscapes and sites for his 26 years of landscape architecture. He has had a regional focus in the Mountain West since graduating from Montana State University in Bozeman and has completed projects in the across the country. Sustainability is a huge part of Heikes’ life and is shown in all work he has completed. Efficient water use and conservation is also one of Eirik’s passions. As a Landscape Architect, Eirik has designed and provided project coordination for projects ranging from single-family residences to multi-million dollar municipal projects as well as National Park work in the region and State, Tribal, National Cemetery Projects nationally.

Over his 18-year career working from the upper Midwest to the Rocky Mountain West, Gordon has built a broad portfolio of transformational projects that generates social, environmental, health, and quality of life benefits for communities and his clients. Gordon fuses creativity with function translating needs and aspirations into the built environment. This is underscored by his work in the private, public and non-profit sectors that allows him to approach design from all perspectives.

Victoria Babb is a strong advocate for the planning and creation of inclusive play and fitness environments, as well as the preservation and equitable use of green space. She has extensive experience in community engagement, partnership development, fund development, and corporate social responsibility, with a focus on helping communities create outdoor environments that are socially connected, accessible, and responsive to local needs. 

 As Community Resource Director for Cunningham Recreation, Victoria leads the Play 4 ALL division, which provides resources, guidance, and data-informed support to help communities expand access to play and fitness. She also oversees the Healing Communities Through Play ™ program, which brings diverse community sectors together through playground build projects that strengthen connection and shared ownership of public space.

 A PlayCore certified instructor, Victoria travels nationally to deliver workshops and keynotes on inclusive play, community impact, and the role of evidence-based strategies in outdoor environments. She has published numerous articles and works closely with PlayCore’s Data Services team to support projects that use research and data analysis to inform planning, strengthen decision-making, and demonstrate measurable community outcomes. Her work is especially relevant to landscape architects seeking to design parks, playgrounds, and public spaces that advance health, equity, and long-term community value.