Cassie
Cassie Kaslon, PLA 
| Principal
Cassie Kaslon, PLA 
Principal
Bachelor of Science Landscape Architecture, Colorado State University
Cassie Kaslon is the owner and principal of Valerian with over 15 years of experience. Having grown up in the Colorado AEC industry, Cassie has a deep love and understanding of the complexities associated with designing in the arid west. Cassie has a varied and diverse background including both public and private projects which include water resource design, park redevelopment and design, urban design, land planning, regional trail master planning and natural play environments as well as extensive experience in the field. She uses her gained knowledge from past projects to lead the Valerian studio through successful project completion.
Stacey Stickler, PLA 
| Associate Principal
Stacey Stickler, PLA 
Associate Principal
Bachelor of Arts, University of Wisconsin - Madison
Master of Landscape Architecture, University of Arizona
Stacey Stickler has over 20 years of experience as a landscape architect in the Rocky Mountain region. Stacey’s extensive experience in collaborating with multiple agencies and disciplines informs and enriches her perspective on landscape architecture. Her understanding of complicated projects and her ability to work with complex and programmatically intense design conditions make her an invaluable member of the Valerian design team. She brings a background in park and trail design, open space design and planning, campus planning, and urban design.
Stacey
Brent
Brent Kaslon, CFM, AICP 
| Associate Principal
Brent Kaslon, CFM, AICP 
Associate Principal
Bachelor of Science Landscape Design, Colorado State University
Master of Urban and Regional Planning, University of Colorado Denver
Brent is a true jack-of-all-trades and is an integral part of the design and management team. As a certified floodplain manager, certified planner, and landscape designer, Brent is a versatile asset leading the Valerian team on stream corridor restoration, parks and open space, and community planning. While his expertise is vast, his passion lays in plant selection and ecological design. He has a love of Colorado native vegetation and strives to ensure the correct plant selection for each project’s specific micro-ecosystem.
Melanie Ames, PLA 
| Associate Landscape Architect
Melanie Ames, PLA 
Associate Landscape Architect
Bachelor of Science Landscape Architecture, Colorado State University
Melanie Ames is a licensed landscape architect and project manager with over 14 years experience in both public and private sector projects. Her past work encompasses a variety of scales, ranging from large scale master planning projects all the way down to intricately detailed courtyard design. She has extensive experience leading large sub consultant design teams throughout the entire project process and is the newest member at Valerian.
Melanie
Kristen
Kristen Ruberg 
| Landscape Designer
Kristen Ruberg 
Landscape Designer
Bachelor of Arts, University of Michigan
Master of Landscape Architecture, University of Colorado Denver
Kristen Ruberg is a versatile landscape designer with eight years of experience designing and managing projects throughout the Front Range of Colorado. With roots in residential design, Kristen has moved towards more public community spaces and stream corridor restoration work as she continues to progress projects through design development, construction documentation and construction administration. Her keen eye for composition has also allowed Kristen to become an essential part of the Valerian marketing team preparing proposals, creating graphics and managing website content.
Nathaniel Roney, PLA 
| Landscape Architect
Nathaniel Roney, PLA 
Landscape Architect
Bachelor of Science, Western Michigan University
Master of Urban Design & Master of Landscape Architecture, University of Colorado Denver
Nathaniel is a licensed Landscape Architect with 11 years of industry experience in Colorado. With a diverse professional background that includes commercial and residential design, design-build, and construction administration experience, Nathaniel brings a unique perspective to the Valerian team. He has been involved with a wide range of projects from large scale development and site planning, to the design of intimate pedestrian spaces. His knowledge of plants native to the mountain west region allows him to generate designs that are site specific and water conscientious.
Nate
Lindsay
Lindsay Rappa 
| Landscape Designer
Lindsay Rappa 
Landscape Designer
Bachelor of Science Landscape Architecture, Cornell University
Lindsay is a landscape designer with an interest in sustainability, parks and open space, and ecological restoration. With a professional background in high-end residential design in the northeast, Lindsay exhibits an eye for detail and a knowledge of dynamic and functional plant palettes. She strives to create spaces in which communities can appreciate Colorado’s native ecosystems through restoration and preservation efforts. Lindsay draws much of her inspiration from nature and through the diverse landscapes that she’s experienced in her travels.
Mack Fleming, PLA 
| Landscape Architect
Mack Fleming, PLA 
Landscape Architect
Bachelor of Landscape Architecture, SUNY College of Environmental Science & Forestry
Mack is a landscape architect with a dedication to sustainable design principles, often incorporating native plant palettes, and infusing a distinct sense of place into each of his projects. His expertise spans various realms of landscape design, starting his career in New York, working on high-end residential design. He moved to Colorado in 2017 and began to expand his skill set, designing rooftop spaces, eventually moving on to large-scale development and planning. He has had the privilege of designing a wide array of site, ranging from wetland restoration projects to pocket parks, streetscapes, and golf courses.
Mack
Becca
Becca Arehart 
| Landscape Designer
Becca Arehart 
Landscape Designer
Bachelor of Environmental Design, University of Colorado Boulder
Becca is a landscape designer with a passion for community, sustainability, and education. She is inspired by the mental and physical health benefits of green spaces and the way community revolves around these shared spaces. With a childhood grounded in southwestern Colorado’s mountains and open spaces and a professional experience working on community design, Becca aspires to expand access to the natural environment for all people. She strives to create beautiful landscape designs by pairing community needs with environmental needs.
Brent Jeffery, CID 
| Certified Landscape Irrigation Designer
Brent Jeffery, CID 
Certified Landscape Irrigation Designer
Bachelor of Science Landscape Architecture & Environmental Planning, Utah State University
Based out of Fort Collins, Brent has over twenty years of professional experience in the landscape and irrigation industry. He is a certified irrigation designer and has managed a wide range of landscape irrigation and water conservation projects in Colorado, throughout the US, and internationally. Brent Jeffery works for Valerian on a part time basis assisting primarily in the review and oversight of complex irrigation systems.
Brent Jeffery of Valerian LLC, profile headshot.
Allison Mendes Johnson of Valerian LLC, profile headshot.
Allison Mendes Johnson 
| LEED Marketing Director
Allison Mendes Johnson 
LEED Marketing Director
Bachelor of Arts, Montana State University
Master of Landscape Architecture, University of Colorado Denver
Allison is a landscape designer with experience in landscape architecture, community outreach, project coordination and presentation graphics. Allison currently serves as Valerian's Marketing Director on a part time basis and keeps our social media up to date. Her undergraduate and professional experience in fine arts provides her with a solid foundation for project visualization, an area where she continues to assist the Valerian team.
Susan Brown, PLA 
| Founding Principal (Retired)
Susan Brown, PLA 
Founding Principal (Retired)
Bachelor of Science, Colorado State University
Master of Landscape Architecture, University of Colorado Denver
Susan Brown was the founding principal of Valerian. She retired in the spring of 2021 after transitioning ownership to Cassie in 2017. She is continuing her work with the Five Point Youth Ambassadors to expand the ambassador program.
Susan Brown of Valerian LLC, profile headshot.