Congratulations to our 2016 distinguished alumni!
Architecture
Michelle Amt
B.Des 1993
Serves as Chief of Staff for William McDonough, coordinating and prioritizing activities across his three businesses and two non-profits. Prior to assuming her current role in 2011, Michelle was a Director at William McDonough + Partners, the award-winning architecture firm specializing in sustainable design. Her experience there was international in scope and covered a wide range of project scales and types, from building designs to conceptual frameworks. In addition, Michelle made considerable contributions to the development of WM+P’s Community Design studio, where she was instrumental in translating the firm’s eco-effective architectural strategies into the language of planning and urban design. Her key projects included NASA’s Sustainability Base; Fuller Theological Seminary’s David Allan Hubbard Library and the Fuller Worship Center; the Almere Principles; and Workplace Design Guidelines for Google. She holds a Bachelor of Design in Architecture from the University of Florida, and a Master of Architecture from Princeton University.
Construction Management
Daniel E. Whiteman
BBC 1969, MBC 1992, Ph.D. 2002
Daniel E. Whiteman is Vice Chairman of Coastal Construction Company with offices in Miami and West Palm Beach. Coastal Construction is one of Florida’s largest privately held Construction Management organizations. Having operated in Florida for over 25 years, Coastal employees more than 450 employees and has over $2.5 billion in current construction projects. Coastal employees over 25 University of Florida graduates as well as several summer interns each year. In 2014, Coastal was named “Contractor of the Year” for the Southeastern United States by Engineering News-Record. In both 2015 and 2016, Coastal was also recognized by the Gator 100 as one of the nation’s fastest growing University of Florida managed organizations, ranking seventh in the country this year.
Dan is a 1969 graduate of the University of Florida’s M. E. Rinker, Sr. School of Construction. In 1991 Dan returned to the School and received his Master of Building Construction Degree in 1992 while also serving as a Graduate Teaching & Research Assistant. After returning full-time to the construction industry, Dan continued his studies and earned his Doctorate from the University’s College of Design, Construction and Planning in 2002. His dissertation topic and career passion is “The Application of Total Quality Management on the Construction Jobsite.” In addition to the University of Florida, Dan has taught construction management as an Adjunct Professor at Florida International University and the University of Miami. Dan continues to regularly lecture at the University of Florida in its Professor for a Day program on the subject “Ethics in Construction”. In 1984, he was named a Distinguished Builder by the M. E. Rinker, Sr. School of Building Construction and added to the school’s Construction Hall of Fame. Dan has been a member of the School’s EXCOM committee since its inception.
Dan has been a long-time member & supporter of the Associated General Contractors, having served as President of AGC of Mid-Florida as well as Legislative Chairman of the AGC State Council for four years. He has been appointed by the Governor’s office to serve on several key construction related committees in the State of Florida, including the Workers Compensation Oversight Board, the Radon Commission, and the Building Construction Industry Advisory Council. Dan is currently a member of the South Florida AGC Board of Directors and Treasurer. Dan is active in his local church, Hollywood Community Church, where he serves on the Missions Committee and is the Missions Coordinator with their sister Church in Corail, Haiti, where he leads a Missions Team to Haiti on an annual basis.
Dan has been married to his wife, Diana, for 46 years. He considers among his proudest accomplishments in the industry that both his children have followed him in construction. His son Donald is a Superintendent on the $240 million Porsche Design Tower, and his daughter Debra is Coastal’s Insurance Manager.
Landscape Architecture
Scott B. LaMont
BLA 1996
Since graduating from the University of Florida, Scott LaMont has formulated a comprehensive approach to design, client interaction and real estate development over his 19-year career. Hailing from Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, Scott was inspired by golf course design, and the opportunity to create meaningful places for people to make memories. Scott’s passionate drive, combined with his decision to become a Florida Gator, opened the door to a wide array of professional experiences including sports venues, world-class resorts, urban waterfronts and golf communities. He currently resides in Ft. Lauderdale with his wife and three daughters, and is a Principal at EDSA, overseeing studios in the U.S. and in Shanghai, China. Scott and his team are committed to innovation, and are continuously searching for pioneering techniques to further the profession of landscape planning and design.
Urban and Regional Planning
Paula Reeves
MAURP 1995
Paula Reeves, AICP CTP, has been planning and developing community transportation projects for the state, cities, counties and transit agencies for over 20 years. She recently became Planning Manager for the Northwest Seaport Alliance after nearly 20 years at Washington State Department of Transportation, providing a range of transportation planning and engineering services to help develop more livable communities. Paula also serves on the American Institute of Certified Planners’ Community Planning Task Force, is President of the American Planning Association Washington Chapter, served on the Board of Directors for Puget Sound Bike Share and is a practicing mediator in Thurston County.