Cultivating Creativity: The Essential Roles of Schaefer’s Architectural Associates

Schaefer Associates represent the next tier of leadership within our firm, extending into our architectural and interior design divisions. Our associates are crucial to our success as a design firm. With their assistance, we can stay on top of project schedules and deadlines, navigate challenges, and establish seamless collaborative communication with our design teams, owners, and consultants. Among our diverse team of associates, our architectural division stands out for its dedicated focus on delivering innovative design solutions.

Carmen Moravec, AIA, LEED AP

Associate | Architect

Carmen Moravec is a licensed project architect specializing in community engagement for pre-bond work and K-12 educational facilities. Her workdays can vary widely, encompassing traveling to client meetings, discussing new projects with community members, and collaborating on project details with engineering consultants and team members. However, her primary role is coordinating all aspects of a project among the involved parties. “No matter the project, the goal is always to bring our team together to create a cohesive, functional, and aesthetically pleasing design.”

With 16 years of experience at Schaefer, Carmen has worked on numerous projects, noting that the most rewarding of them have been for clients with the greatest needs. “Our clients drive me to be an innovative architect and to think outside the box to create facilities that meet their needs.” Carmen’s recognition by the Wichita Business Journal (WBJ) as part of the class of 2020 “Women Who Lead” and the class of 2023 “40 Under 40”, along with her status as an alumna of the Wichita Leadership class of 2016, demonstrates her substantial career achievements and exceptional leadership skills.

Michael Meyer, AIA, LEED AP BD+C

Associate | Architect

Michael Meyer is a project architect at our firm, licensed in both Kansas and Missouri. In addition to his expertise in elementary school design and storm shelter criteria, he is also Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified and represents Schaefer Architecture on behalf of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). Throughout a project, Michael transitions from meeting with clients to develop design ideas, to coordinating with our consultants on building systems, and finally to visiting the construction site to see our design intent come to life. When asked what drives his work, he said, “I have always enjoyed the transformation and evolution that occurs when our ideas go from the page to constructed spaces and, ultimately, to experience.” A native of Andover, Kansas, Michael takes pride in his contributions to our USD 385 Andover School projects, particularly the CAPS building. He is excited by the prospect of his children learning within the walls he designed as they grow.

Ashley Markley, AIA

Associate | Architect

Ashley Markley is a project architect at Schaefer, licensed in both Kansas and Oklahoma, who currently specializes in civic and government builds. A true problem solver, she develops and manages multiple projects across all phases simultaneously, tackling challenges, answering questions, executing construction documents, and coordinating with engineers, contractors, and owners on a daily basis.  Ashley’s architectural journey has not been completely linear, beginning her work with a master’s in interior architecture, specializing in healthcare first, then later in furniture and millwork, notably crafting her own furniture while still in school. However, after realizing she was more drawn to the architectural side of the field, through hard work and disciplined determination she worked an additional four years to gain the necessary experience to become a licensed architect.

Over the past decade and a half, she has built an incredibly successful career, working on a range of projects including numerous projects for the Sedgwick County courthouse and Fort Riley military base. Her recognition from the WBJ as part of the class of 2022 “Women Who Lead in Real Estate, Construction, and Design,” as well as her inclusion in the class of 2023 for Mission Wichita, further highlight her accomplished career. When asked about her motivation, Ashley said, “I want to do work that has an impact on my community, not only for my daughter and me but for the community as a whole. When those around us thrive, the entire community is a better place.”

Sean Brungardt, AIA

Associate | Architect

Sean Brungardt is a licensed architect who specializes in fast-paced, multi-faceted, and non-traditional projects, as well as recreational and community work. Notably, he has contributed to almost every stadium designed by our firm since joining in March 2018. Sean coordinates with contractors, community members, city officials, and our in-house staff to reach important milestones and transform projects from ideas to reality. By his own account, it takes near constant communication with and between all groups to ensure that the project and owners’ vision is designed well and executed properly. In addition to his day-to-day responsibilities, Sean also manages the office’s 3D fabricating and building information modeling (BIM) services. Driven by a desire to create beautiful and functional buildings for communities, Sean takes pride in his work at Schaefer, particularly on the Maize Performing Arts and Aquatics Center and the Riverfront Stadium. “Nothing is more rewarding than to experience something you’ve spent years imagining, drawing, communicating, and sometimes defending, becoming a reality for others to enjoy.”

Each of these talented architectural associates plays a vital role in establishing strong connections not only between our design teams and clients but also between our firm’s partners and production staff. From demonstrating initiative when faced with project challenges to promoting our firm through active involvement in professional, social, and civic activities, we know that we can count on our associates to rise to the occasion. The future leaders of Schaefer Architecture are already here, and our firm takes great pride in nurturing that potential from the ground up.