Meet the Team
Zach Smith
CBO, CFM
Founder
Zach is passionate about service and the sustainable growth of the Greater New Orleans Area. Zach has 15 years of experience with city government in the City of New Orleans’ Department of Safety and Permits. Through this experience, Zach came away with two, significant lessons. One: People deserve help navigating complex processes related to land use, development, and government relations. Two: Services that help people make their visions reality should be as efficient and accessible as humanly possible.
Zach founded Zach Smith Consulting & Design in 2021 to be the most accessible and effective resource for land use, development, and government & community relations services in Southeast Louisiana. In just over two-years he has assembled a team that can meet almost every imaginable need related to building and creating a stronger and more sustainable Southeast Louisiana. This highly skilled and diverse team share one important trait. Every team member is passionate about making our services accessible and efficient. Zach is committed to serving everyone from the family building their first home to the developer creating affordable housing, from the entrepreneur with a vision to the public entity trying to foster good relationships with the community.
Zach is a licensed architect and is certified by both the Association of State Floodplain Managers (ASFPM) and the International Code Council (ICC) as a Building Code Official. His unique background and strong sense of integrity inform his leadership each day. His depth of experience in government provides a strategic, competitive advantage for our clients.
Michael Greer
Drafter & Designer
A graduate from the School of Design, Architecture, Art and planning at the University of Cincinnati with a Bachelor's of Science in Architecture. Michael has 4+ years of architectural experience working on a variety of projects with a primary focus of residential and commercial construction and renovation.
Since joining ZSCD Michael has been able to use his architectural design experience to bring projects from schematic idea to final design and permitting and has used his knowledge of 3D drafting software to propel the process in an efficient and effective manner for clients based on their individual needs.
Owen Sketchler
Drafter & Designer
Owen received his undergraduate degree at Louisiana State University in 2009. After three years of work experience in Baton Rouge with POST Architects, working on Civic, Ecclesiastical, and Educational, and Multi Family projects, in 2011, Owen relocated to Denver and worked in engineering solar systems. In 2012 Owen returned to Louisiana and worked in Baton Rouge and New Orleans with Coleman Partners Architects, focusing on educational, institutional, and hospitality work, with projects such as The Ritz Carlton Turks and Caicos, The Ritz Carlton New Orleans, The Hilton New Orleans, Hostel International New Orleans and more. After years working in commercial design, he decided to pursue his passion in residential work and historic work in New Orleans as a project manager at Adamick Architecture. After nearly two years of project management, Owen decided to join the team at Zach Smith Consulting. He has a passion for modern architecture and for challenging the design aesthetics in the hyper-local microcosm of New Orleans. He currently resides in Metairie with his son and their dog and cat. His hobbies include playing/recording music, cooking, traveling, bike riding, basketball and volleyball.
Michelle Alcina
Drafter & Designer
Michelle Alcina is an architectural drafter/designer born in Slidell, La. After graduating from the University of New Orleans with master’s degrees in Counseling Education and Sociology, she was the 2019 National Association of Home Builders Student Chapter Award recipient while serving as President of the Delgado Architecture Student Organization. She specializes in 3D modeling, efficient design, and environmentally sustainable solutions to building standards. Her interests include landscape design, ceramics, baking, historic farming techniques, and her three life-affirming dogs.
Fresia Galvez
Permit Liaison
¡Se habla español!
As a New Orleans Native, Fresia has a deep appreciation for the culture of the city. She takes pride in being born and raised in a city so great. Fresia, who is a West Jeferson Graduate, has also dedicated part of her life to serving the country. She is currently enlisted in the Army National Guard & drills at the Jackson Barracks in the 9th Ward. With one deployment under her belt, she can say that helping others & being part of a team fuels her energy to do more of it.
It isn’t all work and no play though, Fresia enjoys her free time by reading books, sewing clothing, writing songs (she has even recorded a few!) & Gaming. All these hobbies require a certain drive for completion & that’s exactly what Fresia has; a “get it done” attitude that she takes pride in. She is a creative & determined individual ready to take on any task!
Jonnie Beth Bryan
Permit Liaison
Jonnie Beth was born and raised in Illinois, but has called New Orleans home for the last 11 years. She graduated from Illinois State University with a BS in Marketing, and uses those skills as a licensed Realtor in the Greater New Orleans area. She loves working with people and helping guide them in whatever capacity she can.
When not playing chauffer to her two kids, Jonnie enjoys working out, gardening, and home design. With her husband, she is working towards expanding their family farm in Lower Coast Algiers. They currently have 30 chickens and a small garden, but have plans to expand with more chickens, goats, greenhouses, and barns.
Laura Barth
Permit Liaison
Laura was born and raised in Chalmette, LA. She has a Bachelor of Arts from The University of New Orleans (2010), Master of Science in Applied Sociology from Southeastern Louisiana University (2012), and a Master of Science in Urban Studies from the University of New Orleans (2016). She is currently working on her dissertation for a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Urban Studies at The University of New Orleans focusing on Urban Affairs, Crime, and Gender. Laura worked as a Permit Analyst for New Orleans Safety & Permits and Project Analyst for the Department of Public Works focusing on the JIRR (Joint Infrastructure Recovery Request) program for the City of New Orleans for over 4 years from 2016 to 2021. Hobbies include working out, running, and just being outside in general.
Ron Loesel
Governmental Affairs
Ron has over 30 years of experience in serving residents and businesses throughout the Greater New Orleans area. Ron first came to New Orleans as the pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Algiers Point. Later, he served as the Executive Director of Algiers Economic Development Foundation (AEDF) and Westbank Redevelopment Corporation (WRC). At AEDF and WRC he worked diligently to create business opportunities for Westbank businesses. Ron worked at New Orleans City Hall as Director of Special Projects for District “C” and later as the Deputy Chief of Staff. Ron comes to us from a New Orleans consulting company where he had worked for the past 5 years. Ron serves on the Board of Directors for Young Audiences Charter School and led the $30 million dollar expansion of the Middle/High School campus. Ron resides in Algiers Point with his two sons, Freddy and Camryn.
Kathleen Stadler
Administrative Assistant
Originally hailing from Oregon, Kathleen spent 25 years in the Northeast. She earned a Bachelors of Science degree from Johnson & Wales University in Providence, RI. She has over two decades of office administration experience, and has honed her skills across various industries.
Frequent visits to New Orleans captivated Kathleen and her husband, prompting them to make a bold move and call this vibrant city home. Kathleen finds joy in exploring the rich culture, music, and cuisine that New Orleans has to offer, embracing the city's unique charm at every opportunity.
André Courville
Operations Manager
André is originally from Lafayette, Louisiana. He has a BA in Political Science from the University of Louisiana and a MA in American Politics from Northeastern University. He discovered a passion for photography while living in Boston, MA and took his talents back down to the south when he moved to New Orleans in 2015.
When André isn’t taking photos or worrying about the state of politics, he can be found in his greenhouse taking care of orchids with the assistance of his two cats and sulcata tortoise.