WGI Unleashed Podcast: David Gerber, Project Manager
WGI Unleashed
In this episode of the WGI Unleashed Podcast, hosts Dan and Katie are back in our office to sit back down with David Gerber, Project Manager on our ! David is a two-time guest, a “two-peat” he happily likens to Steve Martin’s SNL record. Last time around, he got a little feedback for being too tight-lipped about his coworkers, so this time he came prepared to fix that, handing out shout-outs across thirteen years and five offices… From Miami to Lakeland David was born in Miami and lived there until he was about five, when Hurricane Andrew came through and cost his parents their jobs....
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Rachel Starck, Environmental Scientist
WGI Unleashed
In this episode of the WGI Unleashed Podcast, hosts Dan and Katie head down to our corporate headquarters to sit down with Rachel Starck, Environmental Scientist! Rachel is a Florida native who grew up in Orlando with a childhood reputation for attracting wildlife, and a mother who gave her exactly the right career advice at exactly the right time. Two and a half years into her first job out of college, she's doing the work she set out to do... and loving every second of it. From Orlando to the Atlantic Coast Rachel grew up in Orlando, where both of her parents built long careers at Walt...
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Susanna Coleman, Administrative Assistant
WGI Unleashed
In the latest episode of the , hosts Dan and Katie head back to South Florida to sit down with Susanna Coleman, an Administrative Assistant in WGI’s ! Susanna’s story is one of curiosity, reinvention, and an unshakable love of learning. From the south side of Chicago to the shipyards of Scandinavia, Susanna has lived what she jokingly calls “several lives” — and each one has shaped the curious, people-loving teammate she is today. This is one conversation you won’t want to miss. From the South Side of Chicago to South Florida Born and raised in a tight-knit, blue-collar suburb...
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Kristen Nowicki, Senior Project Manager
WGI Unleashed
In this episode of the , we head to Fort Lauderdale to catch up with Kristen Nowicki, Senior Project Manager on WGI’s team. From her early days climbing trees in Pennsylvania to helping shape communities across South Florida, Kristen’s story is equal parts thoughtful, driven, and refreshingly down to earth. We also learned one very important thing right away: she could eat pineapple pizza every day for the rest of her life. That might be the boldest take we’ve had on the podcast yet. From Tree Hugger to Planner Kristen’s path into planning was anything but linear, and it makes...
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Scott Jones, Technical Geospatial Solutions Manager
WGI Unleashed
At WGI, every associate brings a unique story to the table, but few start on a remote fishing island in Alaska and end up leading cutting-edge geospatial solutions across the country. In this episode of the , Dan and Katie sit down with Scott Jones, Technical Solutions Manager on our team, to talk about a career path shaped by adventure, curiosity, and a willingness to solve problems in some of the most challenging environments imaginable. A Childhood Built for Adventure Scott’s story begins in Petersburg, Alaska, a small fishing community where getting anywhere requires a boat or a plane...
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Jason Alvarez, Senior Operations Manager
WGI Unleashed
On the latest episode of the , we travel to WGI’s to sit down with Jason Alvarez, Senior Operations Manager for our group. In this episode, hosts Dan and Katie explore Jason’s 23-year journey at WGI, from starting in the field as a rod person to leading operations in one of the firm’s growing offices. His story highlights persistence, curiosity, and the impact of saying yes to opportunity. From Florida Roots to Geospatial Leadership Jason grew up in Central and South Florida, including time in Lake Wales, where he balanced football and marching band. Yes, marching band. And yes, there...
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Maria Acosta, Video Multimedia Editor
WGI Unleashed
On the latest episode of the , we head back to WGI's corporate headquarters in to sit down with Maria Acosta, Video Multimedia Editor! In this episode, hosts Dan and Katie take listeners behind the camera to spotlight Maria’s creative journey, the role she plays in shaping WGI’s multimedia content, and the passion she brings to telling stories through video. From her early artistic roots to her role producing podcasts, training videos, and campaign visuals, Maria’s story shows how curiosity, resilience, and creativity can lead to an exciting and impactful career at WGI. Early Creativity...
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Jill Mathison, Geospatial Administrator
WGI Unleashed
In the final episode of 2025, the heads to as hosts Dan and Katie sit down with Jill Mathison, a long-time member of WGI’s ! Jill’s story is one of persistence, adaptability, and wholehearted commitment. From her early days growing up on Long Island to helping shape WGI through years of growth and transformation, Jill’s journey reflects what it truly means to build a career with intention. From Long Island to South Florida Born in New York and raised on Long Island, Jill grew up surrounded by creativity and culture. Thanks to a mother who loved the arts, childhood trips into...
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Amanda Wojtasiak, Graduate Architect
WGI Unleashed
In this episode of the , hosts Dan and Katie sit down with Amanda Wojtasiak, a Graduate Architect in our , whose path into the profession is anything but ordinary. Amanda brings a spark of creativity, a global childhood, and a love of learning to everything she touches, and this episode shines a light on the personality behind her growing design career at WGI. From living overseas to mastering artistic crafts to racing sailboats under the moonlight, Amanda’s story is filled with movement, energy, and curiosity. This episode offers a fun, vibrant look at one of the many talented young...
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Coleen Johnson, Director of Geospatial
WGI Unleashed
The October edition of the is officially here! Join us as we travel to , to chat with Coleen Johnson, RPLS, WGI’s Director of . Coleen’s story is one of resilience, curiosity, and a lifelong passion for learning. From hand-drafting machine parts in Houston to leading cutting-edge geospatial teams at WGI, her journey proves that sometimes the best career paths are the ones you create yourself. From Small-Town Roots to the Lone Star State Coleen grew up in the rural town of Hannibal, New York, surrounded by rolling hills, dairy farms, and open skies. With four siblings, a farm-loving...
info_outlineIn the 95th episode of the WGI Unleashed podcast, we’re thrilled to introduce you to Darcy Nuffer, PLA, a Studio Manager on our Landscape Architecture team in Austin, Texas!
Join us as hosts Dan and Katie sit down with Darcy for a lively and thoughtful conversation that spans continents, career pivots, and sustainable design. From her roots in Michigan to her leadership in one of WGI’s most creative practices, Darcy’s story is anything but ordinary…. and it’s packed with surprises you won’t want to miss.
Early Days of Development
Growing up near Lake Michigan, Darcy spent her youth immersed in nature. Volleyball games, water skiing, campfires, and long summer days at her family’s cabin instilled in her a deep appreciation for the great outdoors. This early connection with nature became a foundation for what would soon become her future career, despite landscape architecture not being her initial calling.
Darcy’s first academic pursuit came in the form of writing. She dreamed of becoming a novelist, even moving to London after college on a student work visa to soak in new experiences that would fuel her creative ambitions. But it was there, while exploring Europe’s rich urban landscapes, that Darcy’s fascination with urban communities and the built environment began to take root.
Path Through Design and Sustainability
After relocating to Austin, Darcy worked for the City of Austin’s Watershed Protection Department, where she met a landscape architect who inspired her career shift. Intrigued by the blend of ecology, design, and community, Darcy pursued a graduate degree in landscape architecture, becoming part of the inaugural class of the University of Texas at Austin’s newly established program.
From there, her journey took her to San Francisco, back to Austin, through the 2008 financial crisis, and even into work on the Sustainable Sites Initiative at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. Eventually, she returned to the City of Austin, stepping into the very role once held by the mentor who first introduced her to the industry that she had grown to love.
Leading with Purpose at WGI
Today, Darcy brings all of that experience and passion to WGI. As a Studio Manager, she plays a critical role in growing the firm’s public landscape architecture practice, particularly through projects with the City of San Antonio. From park master planning to sustainable green infrastructure, Darcy leads with a strong commitment to environmental stewardship and design excellence.
She also plays a key role as a frequent collaborator within WGI’s multidisciplinary efforts, adding landscape architecture insights to a wide range of public and private projects that enhance Civil Engineering, Buildings, and Land Development service offerings…. to name a few.
But she doesn’t stop there – Darcy is also expanding WGI’s sustainability offerings, including LEED and Sites certifications, and routinely consults with clients on how to integrate conservation and resilience into the built environment.
A Love for Sketching, Gardening, and Storytelling
When she’s not managing major projects or mentoring fellow designers, Darcy can be found tending to her garden, working on her hand-built accessory dwelling unit in Austin, or sketching the urban landscape during WGI’s lunchtime “sketch crawls.”
A self-proclaimed poetry lover and former published poet in a local Austin publication, Darcy still dreams of writing a book one day, and she even has a few ideas tucked away…. And did we mention she’s a trained blacksmith? That’s right – Darcy took classes at Austin Community College and still has a collection of hammers she forged herself.
Why WGI?
Darcy highlights the diversity of work, supportive team culture, and the opportunity to wear many hats as her favorite parts of being at WGI.
“No two projects are the same,” she shares, “and I love collaborating across disciplines to solve new challenges every day.”
Tune In
This episode is packed with thoughtful reflections, unexpected talents, and creative inspiration – from London pubs to leading sustainable park development across Texas and a whole lot more.
So, tune in, and as always, stay curious, stay driven, and keep unleashing your full potential!
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