Our Team
Our team of skilled and experienced professionals can plan long term for the continued success of this property, beyond ‘open again’, it can thrive. And with it, Belleville.
… during a site walk, a very well experienced, partially retired carpenter (the best kind) said, “If we do this right, we will give this building another 100 - 150 years….”
Catherine brings 15 years of civic, historic rehab, and institutional design and construction experience to the project, with a passion for downtown revitalization projects. Before returning to the midwest in 2021, Catherine was project lead on a large medical campus renovation (San Mateo County Hospital) with Taylor Design, coordinating design with contractors and complicated existing conditions throughout many phases. Prior to that, she worked in construction administration on several full renovations of early 1900s former army buildings in The Presidio of San Francisco (National Parks Service), and a full accessible upgrade and extensive stakeholder coordination with the historic Bayview Opera House (City of San Francisco).
While this is her first time in the owners seat, the role is proving a good fit. Catherine is passionate about collaborating with all stakeholders in a project, and forming a strong team who is loyal to the project.
Catherine Howley
Building Owner and Project Lead of The Yards.
Derek Morrison
Madison Hospitality Consultants and Project Lead of The Yards
A 25 year veteran of the hospitality industry, Derek Morrison has a track record of success and leadership. Derek’s last held position as General Manager of the Hilton Madison Monona Terrace highlights his ability to multitask in a fast-paced, high service environment. Derek has worked all over the country in a variety of leadership roles guiding successful restaurant and hotel teams in Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Atlanta, Las Vegas, and Madison.
Whether it was hosting 83 weddings in one year in Las Vegas achieving #2 on Tripadvisor in the world’s most competitive hotel market, or the numerous $1Million+ year over year growth achievements in multiple properties, Derek’s project management experiences and network make him an ideal developer for sustained success. His past assistance with renovating historical properties combined with his extensive Madison network, and recent plunge into real estate presents Derek as the best fit for this community and history driven project.
Dawn’s portfolio of 30 years of civic, cultural and public design projects displays her dedication to providing quality design services to clients. Keeping the design at the forefront of all phases of a project, Dawn’s thrives in new construction, historic preservation, additions and renovations. Her work is celebrated spaces that transform the built environment to bring a sense of time and history to place.
Dawn has been a registered architect since 2003 and is a. Historic Architect, meeting the National Park Service Secretary of the Interiors Professional Qualification Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties to serve agencies responsible for protecting historic properties. Dawn holds a Master of Architecture with Certificate in Historic Preservation from the UW-Milwaukee and a Bachelor of Architecture. Dawn served as an architect on the City of Madison Urban Design Commission for 10 years and as chair of the City of Madison Historic Preservation Plan Advisory Committee focused on protecting and celebrating the history of underrepresented communities.
Dawn O’Kroley
Architect, O’Kroley 646 Design, LLC
Jen Davel
Heritage Consulting Group
Prior to joining Heritage, Jen worked in the Wisconsin State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) as Deputy SHPO and Tax Credit Review. Prior to holding that office, Jen was with Strag Architects where she oversaw the Mineral Point Opera House Resotration. An important part of Jen’s training in preservation architecture came from her tenure with both Miller Dunwiddie Architects in Minneapolis and Uilein Wilson Architects in Milwaukee.
Jen takes pride in forming relationships with architects and developers to create last value for everyone involved. Jen has a B. of Arts in Architecture from the Univ. of Minnesota in Minneapolis, and Master of Architecture with a certification in Preservation studies from UW - Milwaukee.
(Fun Fact: Jen and Dawn went to college together! )
Chris Sina, Saiki Design
Landscape Architect
As many landscape architects do, Chris discovered the profession almost by accident. But accidents can have a way of working out, and in landscape architecture Chris finds a perfect balance of his passion for design, his curiosity of engineering, and his love of the natural world. To him, the bonds that he forges with clients are the most rewarding part of his process.Chris has a penchant for travel, evidenced by the impressive tally of places he’s visited. Though he’s able tick a few off his long list of to-be-explored destinations each year, it nevertheless continues to grow. Seeking unique outdoor spaces, designed and natural, is something Chris enjoys in his excursions.
With each trip, Chris brings back a newfound, catalogued experience to pull from in his work.
That work reflects his love of studying people, nature, and the experiences that bring them together.