Meet our team

John Olson
Founding Partner + Advisor
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John was born in central Minnesota somewhere west of Lake Woebegon. His parents put him on a train to college in 1960 where he discovered Boston weather was incredibly mild, so he stayed. He now lives in Manchester by the Sea in a 1900 vintage carriage house with his wife Jane and a ragdoll cat. They are currently proudly following their daughter Alex’s career as an artist. As a Sputnick era high school grad, he planned on going into Physics. John’s physics career ended after the first day of calculus, so he pursued his lifelong interest in architecture. He graduated from Harvard with a Bachelor’s Degree in Visual Studies, a Master of Architecture and a Master of Architecture in Urban Design. After graduating, he joined Stull Associates for 12 years working on multifamily and elderly housing and public schools. In 1980, John founded the firm which soon became Olson Lewis. Beginning with hospitality projects for Sonesta Hotels, the firm expanded into residential, educational and life sciences areas of expertise. He has been an avid golfer since the age of 10. Collecting is also a hobby. Collections over the years have included robots especially Gobots, an antique rose collection, a Swedish glass collection, golf and tennis sportscards from the 1920’s and 1930’s and contemporary art that fills the carriage house. John is still actively working on OL+ projects.
Art Dioli
Partner
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Originally from the Berkshires in Western Massachusetts, Art and his wife, Betsy, are longtime residents of Ipswich MA. Arts first interest was in construction, and he gained his Bachelor of Science in Building Construction Management at Utica College of Syracuse University, Utica, NY, and he then went on to complete his Master of Architecture in Ohio. The combination of design and construction skills have given Art a deep understanding of the construction process and designing within its parameters. Art and Chris first met when they both attended Miami University in Ohio. Some years later they coincidently ended up living in the same small town on the Northshore of Boston. After re-connecting, Chris also got a job at OL+ where Art had been working since 1984, and the rest is history! Art and Betsy sold their family home of 30 years - an antique from 1740, located in this historic district of Ipswich - and downsized, buying a ‘summer cottage’ a few miles away, on Little Neck in Ipswich. One of Arts favorite projects has been the design of their brand new home on the existing footprint of the cottage. This beautiful shingle style house is packed with modern amenities, including heat! As well as playing soccer, Art also coached his kid's soccer and lacrosse teams for many years. He continues to ‘walk the sidelines’ supporting his daughter, who now coaches teams at a university level. He now plays in the ‘over-the-hill’ soccer league! He has grandchildren who live locally and bring the Dioli’s much joy whether they visit the beachside cottage or the summer lake home in Maine. Close
Chris Doktor
Partner
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Chris graduated with a Master of Architecture from Miami University in Ohio, and he moved to Boston in 1984 to start his career. In 1988 he became a licensed architect. He & his wife moved to Ipswich – where they still live – and he joined OL+ the following year (1993), becoming a partner in 2003. His architectural design and management experience ranges from renovations and additions to new construction projects for civic restorations, historic town building re-use, public libraries, for public agencies and private clients. Many of his projects include facilities for the Academics, Arts, Athletics, Science, and more recently for Innovation and Collaboration. He uses a process of inquiry, reflection, and framing called Immersion. It is a successful model for using Design Thinking to engage stakeholders and constituents throughout the planning and design process. Chris has a passion for community service and is a member of the Rotary Club of Ipswich, MA (and is involved in several capacities at both the local and District levels). He also serves on the boards of the North Shore Chamber of Commerce and the Ipswich Partnership. Chris does have interests that lie outside work, service, and family, including cycling, skiing, travel, and photography. Close
John Harden
Partner
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John grew up in New Jersey. While attending Bowdoin College in Maine, he met his wife, Alison, and developed a fondness for New England. After they married, John and Alison moved to Baltimore, where John worked on educational projects and learned the value of master planning. The couple felt the pull of New England and ultimately decided to return to the area to raise their family. John is a licensed architect with over 18 years of project experience. He joined OL + in January 2020. Before this, he directed the commercial and institutional work at another local architecture firm, managing corporate, educational, and multi-family projects, among others. What John enjoys most about his job is the impact that each project has on the communities in which he works. He enjoys strong relationships with his clients and strives to provide them with well-designed projects that exceed their expectations. John graduated with a BA from Bowdoin College and went on to get his Masters of Architecture at Syracuse University. He is a member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and a LEED Accredited Professional (LEED AP). John and his wife Alison, live in Manchester-by-the-Sea and are active members of the community. They enjoy many activities with their two boys and can often be found on the soccer field, hiking, biking, or otherwise spending time outside.
Seth Morrissey
Principal and Lab Planner
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Seth grew up and currently resides in Gloucester, MA. His love for architecture was instilled at a young age while taking art classes and of course, playing with Legos. He completed his undergraduate degree in architecture at Wentworth Institute of Technology. During his five year stint, Seth was able to partake in the study abroad program in which he traveled to eight different countries, creating lifelong friends along the way. After completing his degree, he spent a year in construction, which has proven to be valuable in his career. Seth recently finished up his Master's Degree in Architecture at the Boston Architectural College while continuing to work at OL+. His award-winning thesis project focused on his Gloucester roots, re-imagining the waterfront with a new development that would draw new economies to revitalize the area while staying true to the maritime heritage. Seth has been with OL+ for seven years now and has grown to become an integral member of the team. With his knowledge of new technologies, he has helped to implement BIM software into the office workflow. Seth has gained experience on projects from life science, education and residential. From start to finish, Seth works closely with clients and the team to ensure a successful outcome. With his art and construction background, Seth stays busy designing and building custom furniture pieces. He has most recently been experimenting with concrete benches and tables. Happily he has had some success, but unfortunately, no one will help him move his ‘fails.’ In Seth’s spare time he enjoys being active outdoors. He rows dories & seine boats in the Gloucester Harbor with his family and friends. A long-standing tradition for generations, he competes with his family annually in the seine boat races held during the Gloucester St Peters festival.
Michele Brooks
Principal and Director of Life Sciences
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Michele is originally from NY but has been living on the Northshore, specifically in the Gloucester area for the last 30 years. She graduated with a BS in Textile Design and then went on to get her Interior Design certification at the Boston Architectural College (BAC), and has a wealth of experience, practicing Interior Design for over thirty years. Michele has been an essential OL+ team member since 2000. She is one of OL+’s LEED-Accredited Professionals (LEED AP). As Principal and Director of Life Sciences, she leads commercial clients through the intricate process of laboratory and office design involving space planning and tenant fit out, guiding the countless decisions they will be called upon to make during the lifespan of a project. Michele is an Interior Design Professional Advisor for Endicott College, Beverly, MA. She established an internship program at OL+, and she takes pride in mentoring Endicott students, many of whom have gone on the develop successful careers of their own. When not working, Michele and her husband have a home that bustles with the comings and goings of her two adult children, family and friends. She is the ‘Martha Stewart of the Northshore” (except for the part where Martha spent an extended stay at a West Virginia House of Corrections!). Whether it be gardening, projects for the home, or creating gifts for others, Michele always has something interesting going on!
Steve Scapicchio
Associate Architect
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Steve was born in Salem, MA and now lives in Melrose. He fondly remembers his first lesson in construction materials, when as a child, he filled a pedal truck with wet concrete. Apparently, it was tough to get around after it cured! He gained his Bachelor of Fine Arts and his Bachelor of Architecture from the Rhode Island School of Design, spending a year studying in Rome, Italy. He later attended the Graduate School of Design at Harvard University and received his Master of Architecture in Urban Design in 1999. Steve is a project architect at OLSON LEWIS + Architects, with over 30 years of experience and architectural expertise in residential, educational, and institutional design. His architectural design experience ranges from renovations and additions to new construction projects, historic building re-use, residential, academic, and athletics facilities for primary and secondary schools, and universities. He has experience with both public and private clients and is a LEED Accredited Professional (LEED AP BD+C). In project design and planning, he balances design aesthetics with environmental awareness and practical problem-solving skills. In his design work, he is attentive to the need for fiscal responsibility and adherence to schedule. In his spare time, Steve likes —as he puts it— the lower forms of comedy, comic strips, and cartoons!
Marcia Lassar
Designer
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Marcia grew up in Massachusetts and has a background in both design and in visual “fine” arts. She graduated with a BFA in interior design and worked for several architectural firms in and around Boston. Since joining OL+ Marcia has worked primarily on the firm’s residential projects. She enjoys the attention to detail and the particular challenges that a residential project presents. Marcia enjoys participating in community events and projects. Over the years her volunteer activities have included: grant writing, reviewing and organizing enrichment programs for her children’s elementary school; researching, cataloging artifacts and writing for the Beverly Historical Society; and organizing craft fairs to raise money for charity. Currently, she coordinates monthly dinners at Lifebridge in Salem and is a member of Essex County Community Organization (ECCO). Her interests include drawing, painting, sewing, gardening and looking at challenging artwork. Occasionally she uses her sewing skills to create “fine couture garments” with a little bling for Mr. Olson to wear on special occasions. Close
Graham Salzberg
Designer
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Graham is originally from Boulder, Colorado and has been living in Marblehead, MA for the last 12 years. He graduated from the University of Colorado with a Bachelor of Environmental Design degree from CU Boulder and a Masters degree in Architecture from the University of Colorado at Denver. While working towards his undergraduate degree, Graham was employed as a carpenter/framer on custom homes in the Boulder County area. He began working for an Architecture firm in Denver CO during graduate school. Over the years, Graham has had a vast net of experience working on a diversity of building types and projects with a special affinity for single-family residential architecture. Graham is a team player and can be counted on with his diverse architectural experience, treating each project with a creative and holistic approach. He has been very interested in the Building Sciences, keeping current on the best practices and approaches to sustainable, energy efficient architecture; such as Passive House design, Biomimicry (designing by studying the ways in which nature designs). Graham has begun his architectural licensing exams, is LEED accredited and has taken the Passive House training course. Growing up in Colorado, he developed a great love for the outdoors. He met his wife (from NY) and a building contractor from Marblehead on a trip to Teotiuachan, Mexico. This ultimately lead to a job position working for an Architect based Marblehead MA. Go figure! When not working he enjoys family time with his wife and son, whether it is traveling to new designations, coaching soccer to his son's soccer team or simply walking through the woods, family time is where it's at. Cooking has also been a strong passion for Graham. He enjoys the process and chemistry of creating good food, at times playing off of inspiring recipes and trying them out on brave family and friends.
Juli MacDonald
Senior Project Manager | Architect
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Juli was born in Iowa and grew up in Northern Illinois. After graduating from the University of Illinois, she began her career in Chicago, where she was licensed and gained experience at some of the city’s most prestigious architectural firms. Her most valuable formative experience was at a small practice in Chicago’s near North Shore, where she was responsible for all roles in the design process, gained her passion for historic residential architecture, and learned the significance of working with clients on their most important and personal investments, their homes. It was during this time that she met Steven, her carpenter-husband, at a job site, where they discussed a bathroom. Neither one of them remember the conversation. After relocating with their growing family to New England, Juli’s work as Project Manager and later Studio Manager at an architectural firm in Portsmouth, NH office included the design of several local commercial projects, multiple new waterfront homes, and renovation/additions throughout the Seacoast and Lakes region of New Hampshire, and southern Maine. She values relationships with her colleagues and her clients, and in her projects, she manages team efforts to bring the best solutions to the client, in a process that is efficient and enjoyable. Juli joined OL + in 2021. She is thrilled to be at OL +, being part of the team making beautiful places. A licensed architect with over 25 years of experience, Juli graduated with a BS from the University of Illinois at Champaign, is a member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA), and is a LEED Accredited Professional (LEED AP). Her specialties include waterfront design, historic architecture, and the processes required for zoning and historic approvals. Her work demonstrates a focus on design excellence, service to the client, the environment, and the community. Juli, her husband Steven, and their two sons live in Amesbury, MA. Juli is an active member of the community, where she is on the YWCA’s Roof Over Head Board and Affordable Housing Committee, and also enjoys her work at Our Neighbor’s Table food pantry. Her family is crazy about kayaking and hiking, and also loves movies, especially the classics from the 70’s. They enjoy traveling together and are always planning the next big trip!
Tom Hartman
Designer
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Adimir Toska
Designer
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Rick Kasten
Architect
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Nick Collins
Designer
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Kaitlin Desbiens
Designer
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Kaitlin brings a unique perspective to the OLSON LEWIS + Architects (OL+) team. The young designer comes from a Facilities Planning & Design background and has worked as a Project Manager, specifically in Higher Education. Her experience includes much time on construction sites, gaining critical knowledge of construction standards, building codes, and building systems, giving her the skills essential to active problem-solving. Kaitlin has obtained her Unrestricted Construction Supervisors License (CSL), leading to her role as the site supervisor on many projects. Thanks to her past experience in design and construction, Kaitlin is qualified to support OL+ projects from the Conceptual Design phase to Construction Administration. Kaitlin develops conceptual sketches, technical drawings, 3D modeling and renderings, furniture and finish selection, and signage implementation that brings each client’s vision to reality. As a student, Kaitlin studied Sustainable practices in Interior Architecture, and she carries those practices forward in her professional career. She opts for the most efficient options and healthiest materials wherever possible for both the building occupants and the environment. Throughout the design process, Kaitlin’s guiding principle is finding the balance between form and function in order to create a truly beautiful place to be enjoyed for years to come.
Richard Spencer
Architect
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Cassie Vanderzee
Designer
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Ashley Baker
Designer
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Chrisly Biqiku
Designer
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Chris Belmonte
Designer
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Keith Bradley
Director of Marketing & Business Development
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Keith Bradley is the Director of Marketing and Business Development at OLSON LEWIS + Architects. He brings his experience and passion for architecture and technology to the early conversations with each client. Keith holds a Bachelor of Architecture from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. He has spoken nationally on Designing for Low Vision and Memory Care, Technology Integration in Design, Collaborative Design Thinking, and the use of 3D Virtual Design/BIM in the design, client communication, and marketing process. He holds a Charrette System Certificate from the National Charrette Institute, is Living Future Accredited, is a Fitwel Ambassador, and is a Certified Circadian Wellness Auditor by the BIOS Biological Lighting Institute. He grew up in Petaluma, California, and now lives on the north shore in Peabody with his wife and two daughters. Keith runs every morning before work (all year round, burr). He loves to cook dinner for his wife and daughters. On weekends he likes to get outdoors for a walk, hike, or kayak. He never says no to a beer flight, wine tasting, or bartender’s choice cocktail.
Teri Maber
Marketing Manager | Environmental and Graphic Design
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Originally from London England, Teri has made the USA, in particular, New England her home! She has a background in Graphic Design which includes extensive experience designing environmental and way-finding signs and graphics for trade shows, special events, and large music festivals. She also spent time working for a fashion company as a graphic designer in their marketing department and worked on the visual layout of educational magazines for the Detroit School System. She eventually integrated her graphic skills with those of marketer when working for a start-up loyalty marketing company, and moved on to OL+ in 2012. She has been an essential part of the team, spreading the good word about OL+ ever since! She takes care of all aspects of the OL+ marketing & communications, including strategizing to develop the OL+ marketing plan, implementing the online and web strategy & social media approach, developing each OL+ newsletter plus other targeted campaigns which include such elements as blog posts, email blasts, social marketing, print collateral, and planning and organizing photo shoots. Raising her daughter in the small town of Ipswich, surrounded by extended family who has lived there for generations, Teri now considers herself an “honorary townie,” appreciating the beautiful area where we are lucky enough to live, and enjoying the outdoors - although in truth, only really on warm days! Should you have reason to call the main OL+ office number, it is often Teri who answers the phone. You will know it is her by the ‘Masterpiece Theatre’ accent!
Judy Ashley
Business Manager | Human Resources
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Having grown up in Wenham as one of 13 children, Judy now resides in Ipswich MA. Judy worked as the IT Director at Gateway.com, and NECX.com. She was instrumental in launching Gateway into the online e-commerce world in the early 90’s, which was a very demanding, but exciting role. After working for many years in the fast paced world of high tech, she took some time off before joining OL+ in 2006. Her role as Business Manager also includes H.R. responsibilities. Included in her large immediate family (upwards of 60+ members) are her two adult children and two preschool grandchildren who live locally. As a proud grandma she gets to spend lots of her free time with them, introducing them to her love of the outdoors. She and her husband own a home on an island in Maine where she hopes to someday retire to enjoy her healthy hobbies of golfing, kayaking, skiing, gardening and birdwatching. The family gathers regularly, and as Judy puts it “Life is good!”
Mae Rothschild
Administrative Assistant
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Melli Dioli
Office Pooch
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Melli is a southern belle who arrived as a puppy from an Arkansas shelter in 2019. She comes to the office everyday with Art and can be quite enthusiastic, even boisterous at times! Being young, she tends to lose focus, forgetting to follow commands as she bounces around thoroughly enjoying her life! She attends doggie day care a few mornings a week, playing non-stop with her friends. When she gets back to the office she barely has the energy to say hello to anyone, and just sleeps for the rest of the day! Melli is delightful to be around. She brings a a cheeriness to the office, greeting everyone as though they are the most special person ever!

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