Joseph Richardson, PLA, ASLA, Founding Principal
Joseph Richardson is the founder of Richardson & Associates Landscape Architecture, a boutique firm based in Washington, D.C. Passionate about design, planning, construction, and management Joe’s sensibility and ease attracts both dedicated clientele and a talented, experienced team. Originally from New Orleans, Joe was drawn to the unique setting and architecture of his hometown, which remains a touchtone inspiring links between nature, the built environment, and his clients. Today, Joe leads teams of experts who realize select commissions ranging in scale from intimate urban courtyards, idyllic suburban properties, to sprawling country estates. A graduate of Louisiana State University’s Robert Reich School of Landscape Architecture, Joe is a member of the American Society of Landscape Architects and is registered to practice in Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, D.C. He volunteers with the Make a Wish Foundation and the Georgetown House Tour and in his down time enjoys playing golf and tennis. Joe lives with his wife, Lindley, their daughter and beloved goldendoodle, Arabi.
Jordan Clough, Associate Principal
Jordan is a designer with over a decade in the field. His keen artistic bent, knowledge of native plant ecology, and life-long concern for the environment are evident in all his designs. A native of Loudoun County, Virginia, Jordan blends contemporary influences with the rich architectural heritage of the region he knows so well. After graduating from the Virginia Tech School of Architecture with a degree in Landscape Architecture, Jordan began his career with over a dozen US Embassies overseas projects. Since then, he has honed his craft for clientele in Washington, D.C., and New York City with projects ranging in scale from community and estate master planning to Manhattan garden terraces. At R&A, Jordan focuses on creating customized, functional outdoor experiences for his clients via detailed execution and a deep understanding of construction. Jordan, his wife, and three children reside in Western Loudoun.
Mark Finlayson, Associate Principal
Mark Finlayson brings over 25 years in the residential landscape design and construction industry to Richardson & Associates. Early in his career, after graduating from West Virginia University with a BSLA, he was advised to gain experience in the art of building landscapes, and his first-hand construction knowledge continues to inform his work today. At R&A, Mark manages projects from initial conversations and sketches through schematics and permitting. He enjoys guiding clients through the process, helps hone and sequence their vision, and utilizes his perspective to offer possibilities. He is often in the field, checking on sites to ensure projects are built to the firm’s specifications and standards. Originally from Columbia, MD, Mark lives in Leesburg, Virginia, where he and his wife raised their now adult children. Enjoying this phase of life, Mark plays golf, works in his yard, and looks forward to downhill skiing every year with friends.
Amanda Clerkin, Technical Design Director
Amanda brings extensive technical knowledge and a keen eye for detail to her role as the Technical Design Director at Richardson & Associates. Upholding the firm’s high standards across construction documentation, Amanda ensures that every design results in spaces that are both personal and functional. A licensed landscape architect, Amanda graduated from Pennsylvania State University with a BLA. Her diverse experience ranges from commercial properties and large multi-use projects to zoo and habitat design. Amanda is a member of the American Society of Landscape Architects and has served on the boards of both the Pennsylvania-Delaware Chapter and the Potomac Chapter. Originally from the Philadelphia area, Amanda and her husband now reside in Fairfax, Virginia, where they enjoy playing music together, frequenting local breweries and farmers’ markets, and exploring Northern Virginia.
Adam Sexton, Senior Associate
Adam is a landscape designer, creative thinker, and garden enthusiast. He joined R&A as an Associate in 2020. Passionate about residential landscapes and ecological restoration, Adam delights in engaging with clients and in the transformational process that ultimately connects them to their property. Adam earned his bachelor’s degree in Landscape Architecture from Virginia Tech in 2010 and has over a decade of design detailing and construction implementation for projects that range from public parks, campuses, international urban planning, and estate master planning, Regardless of scale, he strives to provide inviting spaces that bridge nature and practical use. Adam currently lives in Northern Virginia with his dog, Stevie.
Alia Horvath, Senior Associate
Alia works with the production team at Richardson & Associates to create construction documentation for the firm’s projects. Her creative problem-solving spirit is matched by her management acumen and experience with projects ranging in scale from intimate courtyards to neighborhood master planning. Originally from Pottsville, PA, Alia earned her Bachelor of Landscape Architecture from Pennsylvania State University and spent the following decade working in DC and surrounding areas. Inspired by beautiful plant material and elegant design details, Alia is refining her planting design skills to focus on native species and ecosystems. She now lives back in Pennsylvania with her dog Luigi. In addition to her work, Alia enjoys cooking, photography, and painting, and she has been learning a variety of new hobbies including coding and restoring vintage furniture.
Joanna Schwartz, Senior Associate
A Washington, D.C. native, Joanna is delighted to have returned to practice in her hometown after decades of living and working on the West Coast. She brings her diverse and well-honed experience in creating public and urban landscapes, along with a personal focus on designing for underserved communities. Joanna’s inclusive sensibility and broad knowledge make her a versatile member of the Richardson & Associates team, where she enjoys wearing many hats. A licensed landscape architect since 2018, Joanna received her Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Oregon and Master of Landscape Architecture from the University of Georgia. At the core of all her work is the importance of being in nature for physical and emotional well-being. Creating thriving, beautiful outdoor spaces for people to use and benefit from is her joy and goal. Foundational to her health, Joanna is an avid trail runner.
Amy Grigg, Associate Designer
Amy is a part-time contractor for Richardson & Associates. She has deep experience in designing and managing production for a variety of landscapes. Previous work in the U.S and abroad include high-end residential, commercial properties, public parks, and campus master plans. Amy’s versatility is put to good use on the R&A production team, where she participates in the preparation of construction documents. Amy also lends a hand with planting schemes, marketing, and has a keen eye for digital storytelling — she is pursuing her interest in photography and videography while helping the firm’s social media presence grow exponentially. Amy is a 2009 graduate of Virginia Tech with a degree in Landscape Architecture. She and her husband (an architect) live in Richmond, VA with their three young boys. When away from her desk, Amy is passionate about working in the garden. She is currently transforming her family’s property into a Food Forest so that they will experience the joys of growing, harvesting, and preparing food each season.
Marci Bonner, PLA, Senior Associate
Marci is a licensed landscape architect who earned her Bachelor of Landscape Architecture degree from the University of Maryland, College Park, in 2005. Over the first decade of her career, Marci enjoyed applying geographic, historic, and cultural contexts to her designs for large scale, commercial projects in the mid-Atlantic region. Subsequently, Marci, her husband, and their young children moved abroad to work in the foreign service, gaining a more worldly outlook. Upon returning to the States, Marci joined Richardson & Associates in 2021 where she has enjoyed designing high-end residential landscapes, assessing site conditions, and monitoring planting and hardscape installations. Until 2024, Marci and her family lived in Alexandria with their pug. Currently, they are in Bogota, Colombia while Marci’s husband is on a diplomatic assignment. Marci works remotely for R&A, focusing on design, permitting, and project management. She looks forward to coming back to Northern Virginia and reconnecting in-person to the R&A team, their clients, and the sites she has designed.
Madelyn Erb, Senior Associate
A native of Western Pennsylvania, Madelyn received her Bachelor of Landscape Architecture from Pennsylvania State University in 2000. For two decades, Madelyn honed her practice with a small firm that served high-end residential and commercial clients in the New York metro region. She is a licensed Landscape Architect in Colorado. At Richardson & Associates, Madelyn brings her talents and experience to the production team, preparing construction documents, focusing on detailing and specifications. Madelyn currently lives in Pittsburgh, PA where she spends as much time as possible outdoors, playing with her nieces and nephew or puttering in her small native and herb gardens. She loves exploring on foot, with Highland Park and Phipps Conservatory within walking distance.