In honor of Black History Month, we sat down with some of our Black employees to discuss their backgrounds, how they pursued their current career paths, and what Black History Month means to them:
- Derrek Yates is a Senior Technology Specialist at Atwell
- Deshon Fox is a Director of Engineering at Atwell
- Maya Puller is a Senior Design Associate at RVi
- Kiara Warburton is a Civil Engineer at Atwell
- Merissa Martin is a Marketing Manager at RVi
What inspired you to pursue this career path?
Derrek: I have always been passionate about technology and seeing things being built. Even from a young age, I enjoyed playing with Legos and game systems, and I think those interests have led me down this path.
Deshon: I enjoyed Physics in high school, and I loved the idea of designing things. This led me to pursue a career in Engineering. My second choice in college was architecture.
Maya: I have always had a passion for plants and thoughtfully designed outdoor spaces. I earned a degree in Plant Science with a focus on Horticulture and Design, which provided me with a solid foundation in plant science and landscape design fundamentals. Throughout college, I explored various career paths, but it wasn’t until my senior year—when I took a Landscape Design course—that everything clicked. This experience taught me how to merge my love for plants, creativity, and design into a meaningful career, ultimately inspiring me to pursue landscape architecture.
Kiara: From as early as fourth grade, I knew I wanted to be a civil engineer. In elementary school, I was selected for a special program for fourth and fifth graders that allowed us to attend classes at Northwestern University every Saturday for about two months. We explored various career paths through art, music, writing, and science classes. While I enjoyed several of these subjects, the computer and civil engineering classes stood out to me. As I continued to grow, my interest deepened by joining the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) and taking civil engineering classes in high school. This confirmed that civil engineering was the career I truly wanted to pursue.
Merissa: My favorite cousin, whom I have always admired, played a significant role in my decision to switch from civil engineering to marketing within the AEC industry. Through her, I realized that the marketing and business fields offer limitless career paths, allowing me to create the future I’ve always dreamed of.
What challenges have you faced along the way, and how did you overcome them?
Derrek: One of the most difficult challenges I have faced in my career involved repeated encounters with racial profiling while commuting to work in Southern Maryland. A particular police officer regularly stopped me while I was riding my motorcycle or driving my car, often in the mornings on my way to the office. These stops became so frequent that I began leaving earlier than necessary, anticipating being pulled over and delayed. Each time, the explanation was simply, “Just checking to make sure everything is clean.”
Eventually, local police temporarily moved into our building, and the officer came to understand my role and why I was there each day. After that, the stops stopped entirely. Years later, the officer was promoted to a senior position within Maryland law enforcement and sent me a letter apologizing for his behavior. He acknowledged that the way I handled myself throughout those encounters helped him recognize and correct his own racial profiling.
Deshon: As a father of four, there were times when my children were younger that it was a challenge to balance work with parental obligations. Thanks to my wife, who has been an extraordinary mother, I was able to pursue new ventures while remaining grounded and connected to my household.
Maya: Coming into landscape architecture without a formal education in the field was initially challenging, as I often felt the need to work harder to bridge knowledge gaps. I overcame this by actively seeking opportunities to learn. I asked questions, welcomed feedback, and learned directly from highly experienced coworkers who were generous with their time and knowledge. Through collaboration, mentorship, and hands-on experience, I’ve slowly gained confidence in my abilities and developed a stronger sense of belonging within the profession.
Kiara: School was one of the most challenging parts of my journey to where I am today. To truly learn, you need teachers who are invested in your success, and for me, that support was not always there. Attending college during the COVID pandemic made things even more challenging, as many of my professors were not accustomed to teaching online. This set me back academically and required me to add two extra years to my college experience. Despite these challenges, I pushed through and got all the help I could get from outside resources, friends, and teaching assistants. I am proud of how far I have come and am deeply grateful to be where I am today.
Merissa: Unlike many of my colleagues and other young professionals, I did not have a formal mentor. As a result, I had to navigate challenges independently and make decisions with limited guidance. To overcome this, I became highly self-directed, seeking out available resources, asking questions, and learning by observing other leaders.
What has been one of the proudest moments in your career so far?
Derrek: I’m proud of the work I do to improve myself and grow; this allows me to support and uplift my coworkers. I see our team as one big family that reaches almost every part of the globe. Witnessing the relief that comes from resolving issues is the greatest reward I could ask for.
Deshon: One of my proudest moments was opening my own firm in the Bahamas in 2010. The experience was deeply rewarding, and I valued every part of the journey, including the challenges that helped shape me as a professional.
Maya: One of my proudest moments was being recruited by Hitchcock Design Group prior to the RVi merger. While it may seem like a small milestone, being recognized by a respected firm was incredibly meaningful to me. It affirmed that my skills, background, and dedication were valued, and it gave me renewed confidence in my ability to grow and succeed in the landscape architecture industry.
Kiara: I am still at the beginning of my career, so I do not have many professional accomplishments yet. However, graduating from college is something I am extremely proud of, as it represents the hard work and perseverance it took to get me to this point.
Merissa: One of my proudest moments was in a previous role, when a long-standing client asked us to conduct staff surveys, followed by team workshops and a retreat informed by the findings. This type of engagement was a first for both the firm and me. As the marketing lead, I developed and compiled the proposal, and due to my background in HR, the Director of Learning and Organizational Development invited me to join the project team. Winning the project was especially meaningful, as it validated both my strategic leadership in securing the work and my ability to contribute beyond my core marketing role.
What does Black History Month mean to you personally or professionally?
Derrek: For me, it is about awareness and creating space for others to see themselves reflected in these stories. When people hear these experiences from someone who looks like them, it can be a powerful reminder that they are not alone. Even if they are struggling in silence, our presence, resilience, and success show that we are here and thriving, regardless of our backgrounds or the narratives we carry.
Deshon: I see real value in taking time to reflect on the accomplishments, contributions, and progress of Black Americans. While I do not personally define myself by my skin color, I believe learning from this history is meaningful and important.
Maya: Black History Month reminds me of both the challenges and responsibilities that come with being a Black professional in landscape architecture, a field where representation remains limited. With only 2–3% of licensed landscape architects identifying as Black, I am motivated to take up space, contribute meaningfully, and help shape a profession that is more inclusive and reflective of diverse voices. This month is an opportunity to honor the progress made while actively working toward greater equity and representation in the future.
Kiara: Black History Month is both personal and professional for me. It is a time to reflect on the strength and resilience of those who came before me and created the opportunities that allow me to be where I am today. I have a fond memory of attending a conference and walking into an NSBE event. It was the first time I had seen so many members of the Black community represented within the industry. In that moment, I felt truly seen, represented, and welcomed, with an immediate and powerful sense of belonging. As a Black civil engineer early in my career, it reinforces that my journey matters and that representation truly makes a difference. It encouraged me to take pride in how far I have come and to be intentional in how I show up, contribute, and lead each day at work.
Merissa: It’s a time to reflect and honor Black pioneers who played a critical role in shaping the foundation of the world we live in today. Personally, it is important to me to acknowledge Black contributors and forefathers who laid the groundwork, ensuring their stories, sacrifices, and achievements are recognized and carried forward! My connection to Black History Month goes beyond reflection. It lives in my family. My aunt, Leah Sears Ward, is the first Black Supreme Court Justice in Georgia, and my great-uncle, Dabney Montgomery, served as a bodyguard for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and was a Tuskegee Airman. I am incredibly proud to carry their legacy, to have their blood running through my veins, and to be connected to the history they helped shape.
