Bill Willis is a landscape architect at Rink Reynolds Diamond Fisher Architects.
WHAT DOES HE DO?
“Landscape architecture is a very broad field. My job entails anything exterior to the building: the parking lot, water features, planting plans, curbs, sidewalks, grading, drainage, arbors, gazebos, irrigation plans and detailed drawings of how everything connects.”
THE BIG PICTURE
New to the firm as of October, Willis is charged with building up a landscape architecture department, pursuing different clients than that of their regular architects. Currently, he services larger commercial developments.
BORN WITH A GREEN THUMB
After four years in the Marines, Willis returned to the United States as a combat veteran of Vietnam and resumed the education in landscape architecture that he had left behind. With degree in hand, he went to Hartwig and Associates, his first employer in the field. His tenure with them evolved into a partnership but Willis eventually set out on his own. From these roots sprouted off his last venture, Environmental Design and Planning Associates.
WHY GIVE UP BEING YOUR OWN BOSS?
“Because of all of the headaches of running a small business. This firm was a client of mine and I did work for them as a consultant.”
HOMETOWN
The Dalles, Ore.
WHAT’S THE BEST PART OF YOUR JOB?
“Being able to fit the needs of the the project and the site. Bringing those together is called program-site fit: it looks good, the client is happy and nature is preserved. The site is an entity you need to respect and work with instead of plow under.”
WHAT’S MOST CHALLENGING?
“The same thing. Some sites have difficult issues to overcome.”
PROFESSIONAL AND CIVIC AFFILIATIONS
Orange Park Sunshine Rotary Club and the American Society of Landscape Architects are the two groups he rubs elbows with most.
NOT QUITE THE FBI
Willis is CLARB (Counsel of Landscape Architects Registration Board) certified, which is proof to any state board that he is professionally certified.
“It’s like the landscape architect’s FBI. It’s important if you’re doing regional work outside of the state. It’s proof positive that you’re qualified.”
FAMILY
Wife Janet and daughter Stacy reside with him in Middleburg.
HOBBIES
Model railroad trains, golfing, reading Tom Clancy novels and snowskiing wherever the weather’s right. For at-home entertainment, Willis enjoys watching the film “The Natural” or catching a college football game, especially if the Oregon Ducks are playing.
BRUSH WITH FAME
Willis once met the Queen of England when he was doing a project in Liverpool.
— by Monica Chamness