Our Team

Ray Fontaine is an artist, communications specialist and industrial designer with a practice that focuses on supporting mission-driven organizations through design and community projects. Ray received her Masters of Industrial Design from Pratt Institute in 2016, specializing in Design Thinking through her studies in the Global Innovation Design exchange program.

Brandon Surtain is an artist and architectural designer. Brandon’s work is currently featured at the Arthur Roger Gallery in New Orleans. Brandon received his Masters of Architecture and Masters of Sustainable Real Estate Development from Tulane University. Brandon’s work with the Albert and Tina Small Center for Collaborative Design informs his design practice.

 John Coyle believes in the power of architecture and public interest design to advance positive change in the community. After receiving his Masters of Architecture from Tulane, he served as an AmeriCorps VISTA at the Albert and Tina Small Center for Collaborative Design. John now serves as the Construction Manger at Youth Rebuilding New Orleans where he trains local youth to renovate blighted homes.

Luisa Abballe and Arien Hall are the founders of MASTODONTE, specializing in construction and stormwater management.

Luisa Abballe is a graduate of Fordham University where she studied sociology and visual arts with a concentration in painting and drawing. While at Fordham she got involved in service work and diversity peer education and continued to do both when she came to New Orleans in 2011 serving in AmeriCorps and then as a carpentry manager at SBP. Permaculture techniques and stormwater managment became a focus as flooding posed a constant problem for homeowners in the field. Luisa joined on the Evans + Lighter team as a project manager where she gained much knowledge and expertise installing stormwater management systems and landscapes. Luisa is a licensed horticulturist and has a passion for teaching the skills of the trade in stormwater and ecological systems.

Arien Hall is a Baton Rouge native who attended Loyola University New Orleans with a focus in Arts in Music. After leaving school she taught music with several orchestra programs around the city, including Ellis Marsalis Center for Music and the Make Music NOLA program. During her work with various non-profits, Arien learned of the Americorps program and the great benefit assisting in rebuilding New Orleans could provide. While working with SBP, she gained hard skills in carpentry and building. After leaving the non-profit sector, Arien retained a job with Evans + Lighter Landscape Architecture where she received training in permaculture practices and sustainability as well as construction of stormwater management systems.

Eric Lynn founded the metal-oriented digital fabrication studio Workhaus in the summer of 2016 after graduating with a Masters of Architecture from Tulane. From a very young age, he has enjoyed working with his hands, honing his craft through a variety of materials from cardboard to steel.  Eric seeks to create functional and thoughtful objects that exhibit the true expression of a material. 

José Cotto is the founder of josecottoCREATIVE, a photography and design practice he utilizes to learn more about the world and himself. Jose is the Collaborative Design Project Manager at the Small Center, with experience in the design + build, arts + culture, and education + community engagement worlds in New Orleans. He also leads a seminar course on public space in New Orleans, working with students to explore critical connections between our built environment and social fabrics. José enjoys learning from people, baking sourdough, and shooting pool with friends.

Kayleigh Bruentrup is a licensed interior designer and received her Masters of Architecture from Tulane. Kayleigh specializes in human-scale design, ADA accessibility, and material selection. She is an expert in house plants and house pets.

Emilie Taylor-Welty is a licensed Architect, Assistant Director for the Small Center for Collaborative Design, and Principal of Colectivo . Emilie has led the Design+Build program at the Tulane School of Architecture for the past 15 years.