Catherine Weaver

Catherine is founder, chief vision officer and artistic director of Tupelo Design Studio (TDS). Her passion for aligning people with place and vision for a regenerative future combine in her work at TDS. She holds degrees in landscape architecture and anthropology and is past president and current board member of the Rhode Island Nursery and Landscape Association. Catherine is one of the first in North America among a global cohort of change makers, recently certified as a practitioner of Gross National Happiness from the GNH Center in Bhutan and Schumacher College in England. Exploring happiness and wellbeing as design outcomes for communities, individuals, and the environment is Catherine’s evolving philosophy for her design practice. She has been a frequent guest speaker for many organizations, as well as a guest critic and adjunct professor in the Landscape Architecture department at the University of Rhode Island. She holds many professional certificates and her bucket list is long. When not working, Catherine can be found indulging in her love of family and friends, photography, travel, and all things creative.

University of Rhode Island - Bachelor of Landscape Architecture (B.L.A.) with honors 1996
University of Rhode Island - B.A. Anthropology 1981

Certifications/Accreditations
Schumacher College, Dartington, England – Gross National Happiness Practitioners Program Certificate Course
Schumacher College, Dartington, England and GNH Center Bhutan – Right Livelihood Program
Northeast Organic Farming Association - Organic Land Care Program certification
Rhode Island CRMC RI Certified Coastal Invasive Manager
Center for Ecoliteracy Certification Training – Becoming Ecoliterate
Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) - Section 106 Certification Training
Center for Ecoliteracy –The Systems View of Life Short Course with Fritjof Capra
Schumacher College, Dartington, England – The Confluence of Cultures with Satish Kumar and Vandanya Shiva

Christopher Manchester

Christopher is a senior project manager and registered landscape architect. His attention to detail and many years of experience in all phases of landscape architecture working with developers and engineering firms for public, commercial, and private projects make him an invaluable asset to our team. His long history of studying and resolving water issues and complex permitting challenges are a welcome and much needed addition to our many vulnerable coastal projects. When Chris is not working he can be found on the high seas enjoying his passion for sport fishing and marine conservation.

University of Rhode Island - B.L.A.1992
University of Maine at Orono - A.S. 1988
Registered Landscape Architect - Rhode Island #467, Connecticut #1332, Massachusetts #4046
U.S. Coast Guard Licensed Captain

Professional Development
RCT ASLA – Residential Design Expo
CACIWI – Environmental Conference
RI Coastal Erosion Control Workshop
UMass Extension Symposium: Sustainable Landscape Design & Management
Cornell University Workshop: Grading, Drainage & Stormwater Management
University of New Mexico / ASLA: Grading, Drainage & Stormwater Management Workshop

Michael Conn

Mike is an innovative landscape designer, senior project manager and problem solver extraordinaire. His out of the box thinking and eagerness to resolve complex issues make him indispensable to our team. His passion and experience with architecture and construction contribute to his renaissance approach making him a great resource for challenging projects. When not working, Mike is superhero to daughter Madelyn and wife Katie and a passionate collector of comics and comic art.  

University of Rhode Island - B.L.A. 2007

Professional Development
Residential Rain Garden Training Program
RI Stormwater Design and Installation Standards Manual Workshops

Sallie Sirhal

Sallie is our office manager and an accomplished landscape designer. She understands the complexity of landscape architecture as a business and knows how to keep our internal workings up and running smoothly. She brings with her many years of experience in the newspaper and editing industry as well. She is a huge asset to our team and we are grateful for her experience and expertise. When she is not running our universe, Sallie enjoys spending time with her growing family as well as being a talented mixed media and craft artist.

University of Rhode Island - B.L.A. with highest honors1991
Manhattanville College - B.A. English 1969

Awards
RI Chapter American Society of Landscape Architects: Merit Award for St. Peter’s Church Courtyard, Narragansett, RI  
Rhode Island Nursery & Landscape Association: Mario Pagliarini Award
Kingston Hill Gardeners: Merit Award