Our Team

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.

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.

Kristen Ruberg is a versatile landscape designer with ten years of experience designing and managing projects throughout the Front Range of Colorado. With a diverse portfolio of projects including parks and open space, stream restoration, greenways and trails, she has gained valuable experience in both the private and public sectors. In addition, her eye for composition has led to the creation of numerous graphics for public engagement and developing content for several interpretative signage projects. Kristen’s other role within the Valerian team is to coordinate and compose proposals for prospective work, photograph and edit completed projects as well as develop and maintain content for the Valerian website.

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.

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.

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.

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.