PRESS RELEASE

CHARLOTTE, NC – (April 18, 2023) – Pond today announced that Emily Blackwell Hsiao, ASLA, PLA, CLARB, has joined the firm as the PLACE Practice Lead for the company’s new Charlotte office. As an Associate, Hsiao will build and manage business, operations, and project development activities for Pond’s North Carolina location slated to open later this year. PLACE is an integration of Pond’s planning, landscape architecture, and civil engineering expertise into a team that works cohesively to add value to communities through thoughtful and skillful design, visionary placemaking, and meaningful public engagement.

With over 12 years of experience in landscape architecture, Hsiao is an established business leader with expertise in client development, project management, partnership engagement, and team development. Her passion for public spaces, parks, greenways, and civic landscapes has guided her involvement in projects for recreation, commercial, municipal, K-12, higher education, and multi-family development in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia.

“Like a breath of fresh Carolina air, Emily Blackwell Hsiao brings a burst of enthusiasm and a wealth of talent to our team as we expand our PLACE services into Charlotte with a new Pond office.”

Hsiao holds Professional Landscape Architect (PLA) credentials in North and South Carolina, is certified by the Council of Landscape Architecture Registration Boards (CLARB), and is a Certified Permaculture Designer. She is Past President for the North Carolina Chapter of American Society of Landscape Architects (NCASLA) and currently serves on the Federal Government Affairs Advisory Committee for ASLA. She earned a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture with minors in Horticulture and Design Studies from North Carolina State University.

“Like a breath of fresh Carolina air, Emily Blackwell Hsiao brings a burst of enthusiasm and a wealth of talent to our team as we expand our PLACE services into Charlotte with a new Pond office,” said Vice President and PLACE Program Manager Matt Wilder, PLA, ASLA. ” We can’t wait to see what this city and Emily have in store for Pond’s future in North Carolina.”

Hsiao is the recipient of numerous awards, including the 2023 American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) South Carolina Engineering Excellence Award for Molly Creek Access Area, the 2022 N.C. Chapter of American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) Merit Award in Research for Wilmington Tree Root & Sidewalk Study, and the 2020 N.C. Chapter of American Society of Landscape Architects Merit Award in General Design for Chimney Rock State Park Trail Structures. She is a sought-after thought leader with extensive experience speaking at numerous conferences, webinars, and podcasts.

About Pond

Pond is a full-service consulting firm providing integrated engineering, architecture, planning, and construction management solutions to public and private clients since 1965. Our staff, located throughout the U.S. and globally, is committed to delivering tailored solutions. Recognizing that clients benefit the most when multi-disciplined expertise is leveraged, Pond builds teams based on client and project requirements, regardless of location, reinforcing our “One Pond” culture.