Principals

Erik Justesen, ASLA, LEED AP

CEO/President

As CEO/President, Erik oversees the day-to-day functions of the firm. A licensed California landscape architect who has provided design consulting since 1984, Erik utilizes his excellent facilitation skills and genuine sense of humor in all his relationships, whether with partners, staff, or clients. Erik began his career at RRM in 1988 and has continually focused on making RRM—and the world around him—a better place to be. His professional career has centered on urban design, and he enthusiastically shares his passion of green building and sustainability by finding creative solutions for rebuilding urban neighborhoods and tackling a variety of complex urban challenges. Erik is a member of Urban Land Institute (ULI) and American Planning Association (APA), and chairs the San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce Sustainability and Resources Committee.

John Wilbanks, AICP, CNU-A

Principal - Community Planning and Design

A champion of strong relationships, mentorship, and leadership, John has pursued a career centered on making a positive contribution in people's lives as well as to the enhancement of the built environment. John joined RRM in 1985, transitioned to a Principal in 1990 and continues to be instrumental in building the firm’s growing planning and landscape architecture groups. With his education in City and Regional Planning, John is an established expert in the area of large-scale master planning and specific plans. His strong communication skills and sensitivity to local issues have made him keenly effective in public outreach and workshop facilitation. John is a full member of ULI and a Congress for New Urbanism accredited professional.

Victor Montgomery, AIA

Principal - Architecture Services

Victor Montgomery (the M in RRM) started at RRM in 1976 as a draftsman, and became President and CEO in 1981. To foster ownership transition, Vic stepped out of the roles of CEO (in 2006), President (in 2008) and Chairman of the Board (in 2009). Both inside and outside of RRM, Vic is known as “the guy who gets it done.” An architect and planner for diverse, award-winning projects, Vic is known for his leadership skills in directing multi-discipline teams of professionals on projects from individual structures to multi-building urban designs to community master plans—concept through construction.

Gregory Peters

CFO

A wiz at formulating strategies and at keeping a keen eye on the big picture, Greg is responsible for all of RRM’s financial functions. Ensuring RRM is successful today, tomorrow, and in the future, Greg focuses on accomplishing our Long-Range Goal: A generationally sustainable firm that grows and thrives through the current owners’ participation into future generations of ownership. At RRM, Greg “walks the walk” and his experience talks for him: over 30 successful years in finance and general management positions in both public and private industries (serving as division controller and Financial Accounting Manager for 3M, and as Manager of Financial Systems Planning for 3M’s Japanese subsidiary, Sumitomo/3M).

Jeff Ferber, ASLA

Principal - Parks, Trails and Open Space

With a passion for working with agencies, property owners, and citizens to create healthy communities, Jeff believes that RRM’s role is to find common ground and bring a community’s vision to reality, asserting, “We loan our experience and creative passion to our clients. It isn’t about our portfolio; it is about our professionals assisting communities.” Jeff’s life long love for sports (he has competed as a champion cross country runner and collegiate soccer player, and currently coaches and referees American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO), expertise in Coastal Development permits, and commitment to community consensus help him bring resolution to complex projects. Jeff joined RRM in 1989 and is a licensed California landscape architect with a BS from California State Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo.

T. Keith Gurnee

Principal - Urban Revitilization

With RRM since 1983, Keith has overseen and managed some of RRM’s most complex and highest profile projects, often in challenging political climates. His background as a former City Councilman, a Planning Director for a coastal community, and a Planning Commissioner, as well as his education in City and Regional Planning make him a versatile strategist who can find fresh ways to derive consensus where few thought it possible. A champion of urban design projects for waterfront areas, community visioning processes, adaptive reuse projects, and open space preservation strategies, Keith is a frequent speaker at planning, waterfront, and urban design conferences. Keith serves on the Board of Directors of The Waterfront Center.

Jerry Michael, PE, LS

Principal – Engineering Services

Jerry is a registered professional engineer (in California, Arizona, and Hawaii) and licensed land surveyor (in California and Arizona) who is multi-talented—both professionally and personally. Whether he is providing engineering in the office, reviewing progress of projects in the field, or flying in his spare time, Jerry’s sights are always set high. Since joining RRM in 1995, Jerry has used his business skills and cutting edge technology to ensure our engineering and survey clients (public and private) receive top quality service, continuously serving repeat clientele. From utility systems, street designs, trail design. and master-planned communities, to title research and parcel mapping, Jerry offers a breadth of capabilities.

Debbie Lagomarcino Rudd, AICP, LEED AP

Principal - Urban Revitalization

A thoughtful leader with a knack for visioning, Debbie joined RRM in 1990. Debbie is well-versed in using smart growth and new urbanism principles to work with communities and developers, creating vibrant mixed-use neighborhoods. She has a passion for creating great spaces that are inviting to pedestrians, and integrating “green” principles and concepts into projects, and she currently serves on the LEED® for Neighborhood Design Corresponding Committee. Debbie excels in public outreach, identifying public concerns and preferences and translating them into cutting-edge workable designs and documents that can be easily understood by the public and implemented by the client.

Mike Sherrod, ASLA, LEED AP

Principal – Parks, Trails and Open Space

Armed with experiential insights, Mike turns community-based visions into prized facilities that inspire imagination, relaxation, exercise, family connection, and alternative transportation. A licensed California landscape architect with a BS from California State Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo, Mike has delivered recreation projects to communities since he joined RRM in 1994. For Mike, “Understanding recreational program needs is key to design success.” To design park and trail facilities that truly meet the community’s and the client’s needs, he participates in a variety of sporting activities, from individual sports, to team play, to family events. He also spends time collaborating with recreation programming and maintenance professionals to fully understand the relationship of design to facility longevity.

Kirk Van Cleave, AIA, NCARB

Principal - Civic and Public Safety

Kirk began his architectural career in 1979 working for firms throughout the east and Midwest, and then owned his own firm for over a dozen years in Chicago. Kirk joined RRM in 1999 and first found his passion in planning and designing Civic and Public Safety projects across California. He has since extended his knowledge to projects across the country. Kirk has championed RRM’s Civic and Public Safety Studio through the use of consistent operations-based design, solid construction cost/benefit analysis, flexible project management, and successful community outreach. Known to liven up a room with his vibrant personality that compliments his vibrantly colored shirts, Kirk is an innovative leader who uses his solid communication skills, accurate documentation of decision making, and comprehensive project understanding to collaborate with clients and team members.

Tim Walters

Principal – Community Planning and Design

Detail-oriented and organized, Tim raises the bar for Community Planning and Design projects by embracing entitlement challenges and maintaining practical and economic considerations. With RRM since 1995, Tim is an expert in all facets of civil engineering, including project management, construction document creation, earthwork calculations, hydraulic calculations, government permit processing, and construction inspection. His experience in roadway design, grading, drainage, utility, site layout, and low impact development (LID) practices turns commercial, residential, and municipal visions into reality. Known for his excellent work ethic, Tim provides creative solutions, attention to detail, and personalized service.