About Verdant Studio

Who We Are

Jessica Hester founded Verdant Studio for two reasons: to create places people love; and to make sure every person feels valued where they work.

During her senior year of college, Jessica was thrilled to be accepted into a top graduate program. At the firm where she was interning, the owner publicly questioned her decision, remarking dismissively that her place was “in the kitchen.” Jessica’s resolve only grew, turning this painful moment into a source of strength and determination—one that would shape the culture of Verdant and inspire other women in the industry.

Today, Verdant Studio continues to grow and aims to be the largest solely women-owned firm in Arkansas. We are a collective of designers, consultants, project managers, administrators, and creatives who work together every day to realize the vision of creating places people love in Northwest Arkansas and beyond.

Our Team

Verdant Studio is fond of Arthur Gensler’s “constellation of stars” approach to team-building. Our successes are collective, and our projects reflect the diverse expertise of our team. We value strong client relationships, we enjoy creating together, and we live deliberately. Meet our team of brilliant stars!

Jessica Hester
CEO + Principal Architect
AIA | NCARB | LEED AP

  • A native of Northwest Arkansas, Jessica loves shaping the built environment in ways that elevate the quality of life for the many communities Verdant Studio serves. A native of the region, she leads the firm's strategic direction, client partnerships, and design vision across a range of residential, commercial, and community-driven projects. A Placemaker at heart, Jessica operates at the intersection of design, development, and feasibility—helping clients translate ideas into built outcomes that are both financially and socially impactful. With a background in real estate, she brings a developer-minded perspective to design and decision-making, particularly in early-stage site evaluation and housing strategy.

    In addition to Verdant Studio, Jessica is Co-Founder of Lever Communities, a design-forward modular housing platform focused on delivering high-quality, attainable housing with greater speed, cost certainty, and scalability. Jessica holds a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Oklahoma and a Master of Science in Design Research from the University of Michigan’s Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning.

    Jessica’s creative entrepreneurial vision is driven by her love of critical thinking, organizational management, and the communication strategies necessary to deliver superb, on-budget solutions for Verdant Studio’s clients. Jessica is a registered architect and an active leader in the Urban Land Institute (ULI), where she serves in a district leadership role, and is a member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA). 

    When she’s not at the office you can find her on the back porch with her dog Lucy, drinking wine and listening to folk music, or spending time with her husband Chris and daughter Evie.

Kevin L. Cooper
Senior Architect
AIA | NCARB

  • Kevin holds a Bachelor of Science and Architectural Studies from Oklahoma State University, and a Master of Architecture from the University of Texas.

    Working as a licensed architect across the USA for over 35 years, he has a wide array of experience on thousands of projects. This time in the field has allowed him to gain an excellent working knowledge of the IBC and ADAAG. He is highly skilled in the design process, from residential alterations to moderately sized commercial and institutional ground-up buildings. 

    Initially licensed in California in 1991, and at one time licensed in every state except Alaska, Kevin currently holds licensure in AR, AZ, FL, IL, MO, NY, & TN. His professional affiliations include the American Institute of Architects (AIA), and The National Council of Architectural Review Board (NCARB).

    His love of architecture was born helping his father design and build an addition on their Ozark passive solar/earthen cabin that would later become the family home. Kevin still loves looking and listening carefully in order to apply thoughtful solutions to project design challenges. Overall, he is a skilled problem solver.  He is a gardener, an amateur landscaper, enjoys bicycle riding, hiking, looking at maps of all kinds, sports, and doodling, among many other pursuits. 

Christy Hall
Senior Project Designer

  • Christy is multi-disciplined designer with nearly 30 years’ experience. Her passion is architecture, graphic design, branding and product design.

    Her career started at Rabun Architects and she spent the next 15+ years working her way to Senior Project Designer. Highlights include: Westin Birmingham, Marriott Buckhead, Emory Conference Center Hotel and St. Regis Atlanta. In addition, she worked on schematic design of 100’s of hospitality projects thru course of her career. She has also been hands on design build for several residential renovations.

    In 2017 Christy was encouraged to knit to calm her overacting brain. Her ego kicked in and she thought “but I’m an architect!” Turns out people liked what she was knitting, and she turned it into a knitted accessory brand. From concept to her first sale, she created everything from the designs, the packaging, promotional material and social media presence. Thru the journey, Christy spent time sourcing raw materials, working with factories and learning inventive ways to communicate despite language barriers.

    Her passion will always be Architecture and she finds that there are creative threads of inspiration from her vast design experience.

Laura Wehrung
Architectural Designer

  • Laura grew up with an independent and curious mindset, always focused on exploring and creating in the lively chaos of four siblings. Her drive eventually took her to the Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences, and the Arts in Hot Springs, where she channeled her creativity into developing an art portfolio. Drawn to the intersection of logic and creativity, she pursued architecture combining analytical problem-solving with visual thinking. She earned her Bachelor of Architecture and a minor in Interior Design from the University of Arkansas, cultivating an ongoing interest in enhancing the way people live and interact.

    At Verdant Studio, Laura contributes to residential and commercial projects, supporting both design and documentation while learning from the team. She enjoys working with others, seeing projects take shape, and having a tangible impact on the environments and people around her. Outside of work, she spends time caring for her four cats, reimagining her home layout, or enjoying local events with friends.

Seagan Morrow
Executive Assistant

  • Seagan Morrow grew up in Northwest Arkansas, where a balance of natural beauty, growing communities, and local creativity shaped her appreciation for both organization and innovation. With a natural inclination toward communication and problem-solving, she developed a strong foundation in supporting teams, managing operations, and creating structure behind the scenes.

    Her professional background has been rooted in administrative support, client relations, and project coordination, where she has built a reputation for being detail-oriented, adaptable, and proactive. She thrives in fast-paced, creative environments and enjoys bringing clarity and efficiency to complex processes, allowing teams to focus on their best work.

    Seagan’s interests extend beyond administration into creative expression and storytelling, with a passion for content creation, branding, and connecting with audiences in meaningful ways. She brings this creative perspective into her work, contributing to both internal organization and the overall client experience.

Carey Lingenfelter
Director of Business Development

  • Carey pursued a Bachelor of Science in Engineering Technology from Westark College and later continued his studies at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. He grew up between Oklahoma and Texas, where his years as a youth athlete and musician instilled an early appreciation for teamwork, timing, and knowing when to lead and when to follow — qualities that have shaped his approach to business ever since.

    Carey's career has spanned a remarkably diverse set of industries. He began in the business-to-business sales and marketing for product distribution. Then focused on the telecommunications industry, with development categories including customer service fulfillment and corporate strategy. From there, he moved into healthcare, managing multiple franchise locations across Arkansas and contributing to the global organization's mission of compassionate care. Co-founder of Hope Medical Academy providing curriculum and stem education at the high-school level across multiple school systems in Arkansas.  Even contracted for strategic development of International Talent and Workforce programs for a nurse staffing agency and helped integrate advanced SaaS solutions into healthcare delivery systems.

    Carey and his family serve the community with their non-profit organization, Ozark Juniors Volleyball Club in Northwest Arkansas. He and his wife have two children that compete in multiple sports including gymnastics, volleyball, football, basketball, track and field. They love camping, kayaking, and bicycling.

    Here, his strength will be the same: serving clients with dedication and attention to detail, building collaborative environments, developing strategy with an eye toward long-term growth, and leading with the same competitiveness and coachability he learned on the field and in the boardrooms.

Vera McCray
Finance Administrator

  • Vera McCray is a finance administrator.  She is originally from Brooklyn, New York, Vera has built a life and career shaped by both her organizational expertise and her passion for the arts.  Vera is a graduate of Cornell University.  Her professional experience includes working as an Operations Manager for retail shops, where she gained extensive experience in administration, organization, customer service, and the day-to-day coordination of business operations. She now brings those skills to her work in finance administration.

    Over the years, Vera and her husband have lived in several places, including the Chicago area, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and the Houston area. Their experiences also took them overseas to La Rochelle, France.  Today, Vera and her husband are happily settled in Simpsonville, South Carolina.

    While finance and business have been important parts of Vera’s career, she also enjoys her creative passion for theater. She has worked as a costume designer for local theater productions including The Music Man, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, and Grease, along with other theatrical productions.

Dayton Castleman
Director of Creative Placemaking + Artist Lead

  • Dayton Castleman is an artist, educator, curator, and creative collaborator who’s always been fascinated by how art can shape the way people experience the world around them. Originally from New Orleans, his path has led him from the studio and gallery into the broader landscapes of placemaking, urban design, and community development. Over the last two decades, he’s slowly “backed into” the worlds of architecture, landscape, and construction, pursuing a creative vision centered on art that lives in public spaces rather than behind museum walls.

    Dayton’s curiosity lies in how our surroundings influence the way we feel, think, and act. He describes himself, with a wink, as an “Unlicensed Artist, MFA.” He blends the imaginative and the practical, tuning in to the unseen rhythms of a place and uncovering patterns that connect people to it. His process, he says, is a marriage of poetry and science.

    His artwork has been exhibited nationally and internationally, and he’s founded and led creative spaces, taught sculpture and design, and helped shape innovative art institutions. Now based in Rogers, Arkansas, Dayton serves as Director of Creative Placemaking at Verdant Studio, where he provides art and creative services for public and private spaces.