We are excited to welcome all of our New Year New Hires to join our Lionakis team! Here are some getting to know you questions we asked Ank, Michael, Damon, Rezvan, Tina, Erin, and Annalise:
>Ank Niyar is a Project Designer in our Education studio in our Sacramento office.
Would you rather live in the mountains or near the ocean? Why? While I enjoy staring out into the ocean, contemplating life and all its mysteries, especially on a warm, sunny day, I love the mountains. I realize I am lucky to be so close to both, however, it made me wonder if I had to choose because both were not nearby, which would I choose? And I know my answer would be the mountains (overlooking the ocean)
If you were stranded on a desert island for one year and could only take one thing with you, what would it be? Water in a cooler.
>Michael Echavarria is a Project Designer in our Education studio in our San Francisco office.
What is your favorite vacation destination and activity? In the summer of 2011 I biked across the United States. My favorite activity was speaking with hundreds of people from all over the country. Cabinet makers in Maine, farmers in Ohio, ski bums in Colorado, and hippies in Oregon were equally amazing people to get to know.
What’s your favorite movie? Koyaanisqatsi
>Damon Barda is a Project Director in our Healthcare studio in our Newport office.
What is your favorite vacation destination and activity? Arches National Park in Utah, just enjoying the absolute solitude of the desert with my family.
Who would you invite to a dinner party? (Former Daily Show host) John Stewart
What is your favorite band or musician? Mountain Goats, Mogwai, New Order.
What is the first thing you would do if you won the lottery? New motorcycle! Then, build the dream house. And give the rest to charity.
What is the best book you’ve ever read? Harold and the Purple Crayon, (Great children’s book about using your pen to create and explore), and A Beautiful Mind, a biography about American mathematician John Nash
What are your favorite hobbies? Motorcycle Trials. (Obscure sport using an off-road motorcycle designed to ride over pretty much anything)
What’s your favorite movie? Tree of Life (best cinematography ever)
What’s your favorite food? Home-made pesto. Anything from the garden, really. Oh, and seared ahi of course.
What’s your favorite TV show?
Top Chef and the Daily Show, because the whole family watches together.
If you were stranded on a desert island for one year and could only take one thing with you, what would it be? A bicycle. You ever see how many things they made with a bike on Gilligan’s Island?
>Rezvan Parsa is a Project Designer in our Healthcare studio in our Newport office.
What is your favorite vacation destination and activity? There are many places to visit but so far I loved the Saona Island In Dominican Republic. The weather, nature, and ocean is absolutely gorgeous. My husband and I have been there couple years ago in summer and we loved it.
What is the first thing you would do if you won the lottery? Well, if I win a lottery I will donate portion of it to a children hospital. Next I would set up a plan to travel around the world and learn about different countries and their cultures. Also I would share portion of it with my family and friends.
What are your favorite hobbies? I enjoy cooking and making desserts. I am also very passionate about creating art works and hand crafts.
What’s your favorite food? I like Italian food and my favorite dish is Lasagna.
>Tina Chen is a Designer in our Healthcare studio in our Sacramento office.
Tell us about your pets. I have a six year-old cat named Rosie that highly enjoys chasing my empty contact lens case when she thinks I’m not looking. Aside from loving to cuddle, she also often pretends to be a hat, scarf, or shoes in my times of need – which is much appreciated. Rosie has the most darling eyes that she uses to beg for food, and quite enjoys chin scratches and melted ice cream.
What fictional place would you like to visit? I am a huge Harry Potter fan and would love to experience the magical world myself. I dreamt of having a letter from Hogwarts sent to me at the age of 11, but alas, no such luck…so here I am now!
>Erin Graham is a Designer in our Interiors studio in our Sacramento office.
What is your favorite vacation destination and activity? Probably somewhere with a beach or a lake, because I love to go swimming!
Who would you invite to a dinner party? My closest friends and family. I always have the best times when I am with them!
What is your favorite band or musician? Coldplay, all day every day!
What is the first thing you would do if you won the lottery? Start a charity for abused women and children.
What is the best book you’ve ever read? Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson.
Tell us about your pets. My dogs are my world. I have 3 of them, but only 1 that stays with me now. Maggie is a 12 yr. old Black Lab, Bailey is a 11 yr. old Black Lab Brittany spaniel cross, and then Molly is a 10 month old Brittany Spaniel.
What are your favorite hobbies? I love playing competitive soccer.
What’s your favorite movie? Right now, Godzilla.
What’s your favorite food? Mac ‘n Cheese
What’s your favorite TV show? Law & Order SVU
Would you rather live in the mountains or near the ocean? Why? Probably in the mountains, because there is always a lake nearby and I could get the best of both worlds; Snowboarding in the winter and Swimming in the summer.
If you were stranded on a desert island for one year and could only take one thing with you, what would it be? Definitely my dogs.
What is the best or worst gift you’ve ever received? The worst gift I ever got was an egg holder that goes in your fridge.
What fictional place would you like to visit? Hogwarts would be amazing to witness in person.
>Annalise Baird is a Senior Designer in our Healthcare studio in our Sacramento office.
Would you rather live in the mountains or near the ocean? Why? Both! I love to go skiing in the snow in the mountains and I love the warm beaches of Cancun, Mexico. I most likely see myself someday living in Lake Tahoe on the lake with a beach and a boat dock, close to Kirkwood Mountain Resort.
What fictional place would you like to visit? Hmm, I think it would be a close tie between the fantasy land of Narnia and the many planets of Star Wars. I’ve always loved the Narnia books and have always been a big fan of Star Wars. I actually just saw the new Star Wars movie opening weekend and really enjoyed it!
What are your favorite hobbies? During my free time I enjoy (in no particular order) watching movies, going skiing in Lake Tahoe or Colorado, most any water sport or activity (i.e. wakeboarding, swimming, boating, scuba diving…), playing tennis, traveling, shopping, and painting my nails.
