Build Magnetic Destinations

We care about people and places prospering.

Many places, businesses, and communities stagnate, decline, or become distressed without a place innovation strategy.  Not having a place innovation strategy cultivates the conditions for underperforming land, buildings, and amenities.

Place Foundry works with property owners, municipalities, and economic development organizations to implement place development strategies that create places where people want to live, visit, and invest.

With thoughtful guidance, places transform under performing land and buildings into magnetic destinations for commerce, housing, learning, and healthy living.

Our Team

We believe and the power of strategy and design together. Everyone plays a critical role in helping our clients achieve their vision.

  • Co-Founder | CEO

    As CEO of Place Foundry, David oversees our place development advisory and consulting portfolio of projects. He launched Place Foundry LLC in June 2021 to help individuals, organizations, and communities build magnetic destinations for commerce, housing, earning, and healthy living. David has over 17 years of experience designing and managing projects as a private sector urban planner, Comprehensive Planning and Design Manager for the City of Rockford, Illinois, and Executive Director for a non-profit community transformation organization. He is a proud graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (B.A.U.P, 2005, M.U.P, 2006) and Northern Seminary (2016) in Lisle, Illinois.

  • Co-Founder | Visual Brand Director

    Michelle serves as the Visual Brand Director for Place Foundry. In her role, Michelle leads the development of branding assets, graphic design, and social media for the company and our Place Strategists and Designers.

    Her work portfolio includes graphic design assets for industry expo booths, annual reports, and quarterly magazines, and social media marketing. 

    Michelle served as Senior Graphic Designer at Kerry North America, Graphic Designer at Street Level Studio (Chicago), and Graphic Designer for an interdenominational nonprofit organization based in Indianapolis, Indiana.

  • NCARB, AIA

    Managing Principal | Place Foundry Design Joe joined Place Foundry in 2022 as the Managing Principal for Place Foundry Design LLC.  He has over 23 years of experience in architecture and is certified in Illinois, Wisconsin, and Alabama. 

    He is proficient in all AutoCAD, REVIT, and Adobe Suite versions.  Joe’s project portfolio includes adaptive reuse, education, historic preservation, industrial, professional office, residential, and retail/commercial. 

    Place Foundry benefits from Joe’s broad perspective and experience to deliver a design and project management experience that leads to groundbreaking and turn-key operations.

  • Place Strategist

    Eugen is a Place Strategist-Designer for Place Foundry LLC. He recently received his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Chicago in Public Policy & Environmental and Urban Studies, focusing on enhancing community engagement in urban planning. He has used his experience in community-based development in Chicago and academic research in urban studies to develop critical insights into urban planning practice. Eugen is committed to combining community assets and knowledge, evidence-based best practices in urban design, and in-depth research to produce meaningful and effective placemaking strategies.

Janani Ganesan

  • ARCHITECTURAL DESIGNER

    Janani joined Place Foundry in 2023 as an Architectural Designer for Place Foundry Design LLC. She has around 2 years of experience in architecture and is working towards her licensure. She is proficient in AutoCAD, Rhino, Revit, Lumion, Enscape, and all Adobe Suite versions. Janani has worked on institutional, education, industrial, hospitality, residential, and retail/commercial projects in India and Dubai. Janani adds a fresh perspective, and her creative design skills enhance Place Foundry’s capacity for innovation and forward-thinking architectural solutions.

Lesley Rivera

  • ARCHITECTURAL DESIGNER

    Lesley is passionate about integrating urban planning and architecture to create thriving communities and buildings people enjoy and experience. Prior to joining Place Foundry in 2023, Lesley worked as a planning intern for a community in Illinois, where she gained experience in downtown revitalization and ordinance compliance. Lesley also worked for an architecture firm focused on the adaptive reuse of buildings and utilized her talent and skills with 3D models, renderings, and interior space design.

Our Core Values

  • There is possibility everywhere and within everyone.

  • Honest with ourselves, our partners, our clients, and the markets we serve, no matter who is watching.

  • Embrace different perspectives, experiences, skills, and attributes because everyone matters and is valuable.

Lets connect.

  • Monday through Thursday from 7:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. CST
    Friday from 7:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. CST.

    Call: 779-901-0244

    Email: info@theplacefoundry.com

  • info@theplacefoundry.com