DJC Top 250 List Includes Six Otak Experts in Highlighting Industry Professionals

Kristen Ballou – Senior Civil Engineer

Kristen Ballou, who is also a past recipient of the Women of Vision honor, has been designing increased connectivity for communities at Otak for more than two decades. Her efforts to improve transportation infrastructure have placed a priority on enhancing accessibility, multi-modal features, and an overarching increase in livability.

Boones Ferry Corridor

In leading work across projects stemming from the Tualatin Moving Forward bond program, Kristen Ballou was instrumental in finding the efficient multi-modal enhancements that now span the Boones Ferry Corridor. Learn more about the complete approach that overcame challenging site constraints to create a safer environment for the community.

Casey McKenna – Business Unit Leader of Architecture

With 28 years of experience, Casey McKenna specializes in mixed used, housing, and hospitality projects contributing to Otak’s multidisciplinary work by delivering complex architectural solutions. In developing the growing architecture team, he emphasizes the importance of trust and communication as an essential component to encouraging creative and innovative approaches. Casey’s commitment to his community extends beyond the office, where he is an active member of a local youth football organization.

The Byway at Wood Village

A common thread among Casey McKenna’s work is an approach to design that aims to incorporate themes from the surrounding area. Learn more about The Byway at Wood Village, a mixed-use development that seamlessly integrates with its place near the base of Mount Hood.

Sarah Oaks – Director of Project Management and Construction Management

Bridging the gap between project development and public trust, Sarah Oaks has been leading complex capital improvement projects at Otak for nearly a decade. Her wide range of work has been particularly impactful for communities in guiding public safety infrastructure projects and school bonds programs to maximize their value. Sarah is also a past recipient of the Women of Vision Honor and is an active supporter of the Architecture Construction Engineering (ACE) Mentor Program, invested in advancing the future of the industry.

Tigard-Tualatin School District Bond Program

With a combination of technology, safety, and seismic improvements, Sarah Oaks guided a $350 Million bond for the Tigard-Tualatin School District to maximize the community’s investment in its future. Learn more about the project and how it added and expanded its facilities while also supporting net-zero energy goals.

Amanda Owings – Business Unit Leader of Transportation and Infrastructure

Dedicated to enhancing community mobility through impactful infrastructure projects, Amanda Owings stands out as a leader within Otak’s multidisciplinary team. Her expertise in transportation is matched by her ability to foster collaboration among the various disciplines to find the best possible solutions. Amanda is a Women of Vision honoree and an active member of the APWA Oregon chapter.

McGilchrist Street Arterial Improvements
A vital connection for the community of Salem, Oregon, Amanda Owings led efforts to not only improve the major arterial of McGilchrist Street but also the infrastructure and natural habitat it intersects. Learn more about the design of this roadway and its variety of impacts from traffic and flooding to fish passage.

Margaret Steinhilber – Senior Project Architect

Margaret Steinhilber is a leader not only within the Otak architecture group, but also in the firm’s broader efforts to support more sustainable development. She is a WELL Accredited Professional and member of the Green Otak (GO) Committee, bringing together experts across disciplines to collaborate on best practices and internal processes that add resilience in communities. Aside from her design work, Margaret is also a Women of Vision honoree and an active participant in mentoring students as well as volunteering with Lift UP to deliver food to those in need.

Cascade Administrative Building
The adaptive reuse of 70,000 square-feet within an existing two-story concrete tilt panel building became the new headquarters for Community Transit. Margaret Steinhilber’s design work emphasized employee amenities and an expanded space for a modern work environment. Learn more about the project and  upgrades to several other Community Transit facilities.

Saretta Tillmaand – Project Architect

Saretta Tillmaand is a leader on both architecture projects and the development of future architecture professionals, as a primary stakeholder in the Otak internship program. Saretta’s extensive career in design is matched by her involvement with community service, volunteering for a variety of organizations and connecting colleagues with opportunities to do the same. A previous Women of Vison honoree, her team-focused approach aims to expand opportunities for hands-on experience, maximizing potential for professional growth.

South Cooper Mountain

Contributing to collective goals around addressing affordable housing within the architecture group, Saretta Tillmaand was vital to the development of South Cooper Mountain. The project included Amity Orchards, three multi-family buildings that add 164 affordable housing units. Learn more about the project and how it is integrated with the surrounding community.