GLA Team
Don has thirty years of practical experience and has built an extensive reputation New England. He possesses the unique ability to creatively unite the many aspects of a project. He especially enjoys large scale planning projects that entail the public opinion process. His ability to share his vision through clear graphic communication is truly inspiring, and he is a master of building public consensus for community projects. Don has been especially successful at working with state and local environmental agencies as well as developers to arrive at solutions that protect the interest of all. He also enjoys working with the intricate detailing of a design -- whether it be stonework, paving patterns, or garden structures and creating a sense of place that weaves both form and function together.
Don Leighton graduated from RISD in 1978 with a Bachelor's Degree in Fine Arts and a Bachelor's degree in Landscape Architecture. He is a member of the ASLA, former Co-Chairman of the Barrington Conservation Commission; he served on the town's County Road Improvement Committee, and was an active member of the Barrington Preservation Society. He is a member of the Veteranís Memorial Auditorium Board in Providence and has served as Chairman of its Facilities Committee since 1994.
Donald S. Leighton is a CLARB certified landscape architect, licensed in Rhode Island, Maine, New York, and Massachusetts.
Wilfrid L. Gates, Jr., ASLA, is Chairman Emeritus of GLA. Wil serves the firm as a consultant and advises the Board on policy matters. He continues his interest in solving unusual site problems. Wil is GLA's representative to the company's international clientele.
Wil has been a Landscape Architect for forty-five years. In that time, he has been lead designer for municipal parks and playground planning, scenic byway planning, visual analysis and landscape design for large scale transportation projects. He has designed land plans for resorts, hotels, business parks and cluster developments.
Wil is a graduate of Rhode Island School of Design and is Past-President of the Alumni Association. He was Founding President of the Rhode Island Chapter of the ASLA. He was a member of the Landscape and Environmental Design Committee of the Transportation Research Board and is also on the Board of Directors for the RI Chapter of GrowSmart.
Wilfrid L. Gates, Jr. is a CLARB registered landscape architect licensed in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Virginia, Missouri and New York.
Denise has held her current position as CFO of GLA for over 20 years and is responsible for the oversight of all operational, financial and business development activity. Key operational responsibility includes: staffing, employee development, overseeing payroll, benefit programs, accounts payable and receivables, insurance, leases and office equipment. As a member of the senior management team, she is a key contributor in assuring that all employee and office resources are optimal to maximize project quality in meeting the needs of the customer.
Denise Leighton also serves as GLA’s liaison with government and regulatory organizations involving employee, insurance, financial and business issues.
Denise received an Associate Degree in Business Administration from Bryant College.
Kelly has been a Landscape Architect for twenty-six years and brings a wide range of skills and experience to the office, particularly in; multi disciplinary teamwork, project management, public presentations, master planning, state agency permitting, design, bid documents and construction support services.
Kelly has in depth experience in public transportation projects. She has and currently plays a key role in all phases of the I-195 Relocation Project in Providence, RI. Her involvement has spanned from the initial planning stages and public process through design and construction and given her valuable experience working on complex long-term projects with a team of consultants.
Kelly Carr received her Master's Degree in Landscape Architecture from the University of Virginia in 1985 and attended the Architecture and Urban Design program in Venice, Italy. She received her Bachelor's Degree in Plant and Soil Science from University of Vermont in 1981.
Ms. Carr is a member of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA). She is also a member of the Women's Transportation Seminar (WTS) and the East Coast Greenway Alliance (ECGA).
Kelly R. Carr is a Licensed Landscape Architect in the state of Rhode Island.
Mr. Galle has fifteen years of practical experience in site improvements, master planning and landscape architecture. He is skilled in perceiving the specific context of a project and responding with creative design solutions that reflect an understanding of larger project themes while not losing sight of unifying details and nuance. Arek has proven success in translating a clientís need into attainable planning solutions that are functionally complete, aesthetically pleasing and environmentally responsible.
Arek has had particular success in solving project challenges through stakeholder consensus building and public participation. His work also reveals his ability to unify hardscape and landscape elements to benefit and enhance the pedestrian experience and create a strong sense of place. His ability to manage various large-scale project components into a cohesive and sound vision has resulted in the realization of many projects.
Arek graduated from University of Rhode Island in 1991 with a Bachelor's Degree in Landscape Architecture. He has been a Design Studio instructor at the University of Rhode Island and also is an instructor for the Rhode Island chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architectsí Landscape Architecture Registration Examination (LARE) Review class.
Arek is a member of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) and served as the president of the Rhode Island chapter of the ASLA from 1999 to 2001. He is also a member of the American Planning Association (APA). He served as Chairman of the Town of Jamestown Building and Facilities Committee from 1998 to 2005.
Arek W. Galle is a certified planner in addition to being a registered landscape architect in Maine, Rhode Island and Massachusetts.
Ms. Iannuccilli is a Landscape Architect at GLA with a strong understanding of Landscape Design, Grading, Plant Material, Photoshop, Microstation and CAD drafting. Notable projects include Baron City in New Cairo, Maine Street Station in Brunswick Maine and Bellevue Gardens in Newport Rhode Island. Ashley uses her ability to direct others efficiently and effectively to guide drafting and designing teams in the execution of various GLA projects.
Ashley has developed valuable design and management skills and provides leadership and experience to the expanding GLA international team. Her responsibilities include creating of schematic designs, design development and constructions sets. She has a strong technical aptitude and exhibits confidence and mastery in the production of grading plans, constructions detailing and planting layouts.
Ashley received her Bachelor of Landscape Architecture degree from The University of Rhode Island in 2006. As a classically trained flautist, she holds a Minor in Music Performance. She is a member of the Phi Sigma Omega National Honor Society.
Ms. Iannuccilli is a Licensed Landscape Architect in the State of Rhode Island. She is also a LEED Accredited Professional with the U.S. Green Building Council and Low Impact Design certified with the Coastal Resource Management Council and is a member of the American Society of Landscape Architects.
Ms. Amanda Sloan is has fifteen years experience as a landscape designer. Her work at GLA includes all aspects of residential design and extensive support on commercial and public projects. Her plant knowledge and artistic skill compliment her site planning and design work.
Amanda's formal training in environmental science and art has fueled her work as a landscape designer. She came to GLA with a strong portfolio of community-oriented projects including school and playground gardens, lakeside parks, municipal recreation sites, and residential gardens.
Amanda's design career includes 6 years with Julie Moir Messervy and Associates Landscape Design Consultants in Wellseley, MA where she assisted in the design effort for the "Weesie's Garden", the children's garden at the Massachusetts Horticultural Society, the Swan Point Cemetery in Providence, RI and other corporate and residential design projects.
Amanda holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the Science in Society program at Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut. She obtained a Masters Level certificate in Landscape Design from the Landscape Institute of the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University in 2000. Ms Sloan is certified through Rhode Island's Coastal Resource Invasive Plant Management program to design plans for areas affected by invasive plants. She is also on the founding board of the Community Design Resource Center of Boston. She serves on the Planning Board of Sharon, Massachusetts. Design Resource Center of Boston. She serves on the Planning Board in her home town of Sharon, Massachusetts. She is a past president of the Sharon Garden Club.
With over 20 years of experience at Gates, Leighton & Associates Deb has assisted with drafting and revisions of site plans, research, analysis, and the production of graphic presentations. Her responsibilities include preparation, co-ordinate and presentation of projects to town committee meetings, coordination with consultants and contractors, and provide organization to a project.
GLA works on a wide variety of projects that include Public, Commercial, and Residential. Some notable project work includes organizing and assisting in the management of the Savings Bank of Maine multiple branch expansion, improvements to the Gardiner Waterfront Park including graphic panels and kiosks in Gardiner, Maine, mixed-use transit oriented development in Brunswick, Maine, and development of a "safe routes" to school plan in Jamestown, RI. Additionally, Deb has worked on a variety of resort projects throughout Egypt by corresponding through the GLA Cairo, Egypt office.
Carlos has been with GLA for over 20 years and has provided exceptional skill in drafting spending the majority of his time working in CADD programs and has shown proficiency with computers and software. Under general supervision Carlos provides computer support, which includes hardware/software usage, applications programming, and data management. His expertise in the use of these programs has made him invaluable for meeting project deadlines.
Mr. D’Ambrosia started his career as an intern at Gates, Leighton & Associates while attending the University of Rhode Island. He graduated in 2008 with a Landscape Architecture Degree with a focus in Community Planning. Mr. D’Ambrosia was a member of the Sigma Lambda Alpha National Honor Society for Landscape Architecture was a recipient of an RIASLA student academic award, winner of the RINLA Plant Identification Scholarship, and is the winning designer of the RIASLA Landscape Architecture Month Banner.
Before joining GLA, Steven worked in the Garden Center at Central Nurseries for three years as a sales associate and landscape designer. As an employee at GLA, Steven has been involved in a wide variety of projects ranging from residential to public to international. Mr. D’Ambrosia has been involved in several school projects including high schools in Norwood, Natick, East Bridgewater, and Plymouth North and Central Middle School in Quincy, Massachusetts. Steven has also been involved in several streetscape projects and public housing projects. Steven is currently working on renovations and a playground at Cass Park in Woonsocket, RI.
Mr. D’Ambrosia has been able to utilize his knowledge in Auto-CAD, Adobe Create Suite, Sketch-Up along with his knowledge landscape design and plant identification to help become a valuable member of the GLA team.
Donna has been with GLA for over 12 years and provided excellent bookkeeping skills including all duties relating to accounts payable, receivable and billing. Donna has shown dedication to her job has given GLA confidence and security. Donna has managed all duties related to payroll, taxes and employee benefits.
