Melissa Dea
Senior Associate, Director of Marketing + Communications

A clear and candid communicator, Melissa brings a strategic mindset and a strong commitment to WRT’s mission in everything she does. As Director of Marketing + Communications, she leads with vision and empathy, strengthening the firm’s voice, aligning marketing efforts with WRT’s broader strategic vision. While her straightforward style cuts through the noise, it’s her but it’s her humanity, humor, generosity of spirit that sets her apart. Melissa challenges others to think critically about how we communicate, collaborate, and contribute to our culture. She is fully invested in WRT’s success as a firm and as a community, which has earned her the trust and respect of so many across the firm and why her elevation to Senior Associate reflects both her leadership and the values we aim to uphold.

Wayne Yeager
Senior Associate | Director of IT

Wayne plays a crucial role in keeping WRT connected, secure, and moving forward. However, his impact extends beyond our infrastructure and systems. Wayne leads with calm, care, and a commitment to helping others do their best work, quietly shaping the way our teams collaborate and problem-solve each day. Over the years, Wayne has helped guide the transition of our IT team, mentored new staff, and navigated complex challenges with steady focus. Now in his expanded leadership role, he’s working across teams to strengthen internal communication strategies and explore forward-looking tools, including the responsible integration of AI. Wayne’s leadership is evident through his technical expertise, and equally by how he shows up for his colleagues, for the firm, and for the future we’re building together.

Kristen Zeiber AICP, RA
Senior Associate | Planner + Urban Designer

Kristen brings an interdisciplinary perspective to her work, leading with clarity, creativity, and integrity across all scales. From complex citywide plans like Newark360 and Norfolk’s NFK2050 Comprehensive Plan to neighborhood plans in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, her architectural background strengthens her planning practice by rooting design thinking within actionable implementation. She leads with tenacity and listens with care, striving to center community voices.

Beyond her project work, Kristen is a trusted mentor and steady presence across WRT. Through formal roles and everyday interactions, she helps shape our culture by offering perspective, sharing knowledge, and encouraging others to grow. Her promotion to Senior Associate reflects not only the strength of her work, but also the way she uplifts those around her.

Erin Callahan
Associate | Designer

Erin is grounded, approachable, and quietly confident. She brings a steady hand to complex housing projects and makes the work, and the people around her, stronger in the process. Her teams trust her because she listens, gives clear direction, and leads with intention. Erin is someone her colleagues turn to for mentorship, collaboration, and advice.

As a thoughtful and generous leader, Erin is elevating our housing practice and helping guide WRT’s growth maintaining our vision rooted in purpose, driven by impact.

Madison Merrill
Associate | Landscape Planner

Madison brings a calm clarity to everything she takes on. She leads with thoughtfulness, builds trust quickly, and has already become a trusted project manager in our parks and systems planning work. In less than a year, she’s brought structure to complex efforts while making space for others to contribute and thrive. Focusing on keeping teams grounded, aligned, and moving forward, she challenges each individual to give their best. Her approach is helping to define how our planning and landscape groups work together and evolve as a practice.

Krista Reimer RLA
Associate | Landscape Architect

Krista is precise, principled, and inspiring. She sets a high standard through her work ethic and technical excellence, but what truly distinguishes her is the generosity with which she shares her knowledge. She’s a trusted mentor to junior staff, a steady hand on project teams, and an unassuming yet influential leader within the landscape group.

Krista has elevated conversations around design, documentation, and resilience. Her work is impactful, shaping not only the project details, but also the broader direction of our landscape practice.

Theresa Starrs AIA, LEED AP BD+C
Associate | Architect

Theresa brings creativity, adaptability, and design strength to everything she takes on. Her energy is steady and focused. She listens closely, anticipates needs, and leads with confidence. Known by her team as a “Swiss Army knife,” Theresa excels across the board, consistently stepping up, taking ownership, and building trust along the way.

Theresa also brings an entrepreneurial spark to her work. She is comfortable in new and evolving territory, connecting authentically with clients, and continually pushes us to think differently and move the work forward. She’s expanding what’s possible for our architectural practice, leading with clarity, momentum, and intention.

Casey Vaughan CPA
Associate | Director of Finance

Casey has a sharp eye for systems and a thoughtful approach to problem-solving; he’s strengthened core processes and built trust across teams and with external partners. He has a clear view of how the firm operates and helps shape the frameworks that make us more effective, transparent, and aligned. He brings clarity, perspective, and just the right amount of pragmatism, helping us see the story behind the numbers and move forward with confidence.