Gabriel has been drawn to public spaces since he started his first job as a landscaping crew laborer when he was 15 years old. That experience introduced him to the powerful connection between landscape and public perception of place. He learned that even small changes in the landscape could transform a little used space into a place people love and in which they have pride. He feels lucky to work alongside amazing people from many disciplines on a variety of projects at different scales. Otak places a high value on employee satisfaction, and he feels like he is not just a worker bee. He feels most fulfilled when he is able to visit a public park he designed and sees people of all ages enjoying themselves there.