Meet the Team

Our synergetic team represents our work: we’re diverse, multilingual, collaborative, experienced, driven, and rooted in our values—with a healthy dose of humor and flexibility.

ALICIA PONCE

Founder & Principal

NCARB, LEED AP, Living Future Accredited
Languages: English, Spanish

Architect, Author and Advocate, Alicia Ponce is the founder and principal of APMonarch. Since 2007, Alicia’s expertise and passion for sustainability have supported many clients in designing radically better projects. Her reputation for resilient and eco-conscious architecture secured APMonarch’s role as the Sustainability Architect and direct protégé to Santiago Calatrava and his firm’s design proposal for the 2019 O’Hare International Airport Global Terminal. The international competition drew 1,200 teams and five were selected for the final presentation.

Alicia Ponce’s collaborative process has led project teams and organizations in earning both LEED & Living Building Challenge certified projects. Her ability to identify the challenges and opportunities in green buildings has led her to receive a travel grant and co-lead a Sustainability Workshop in São Paulo, Brazil.

Alicia’s extensive body of work represents a diverse project portfolio including residential, commercial, civic, aviation and master planning projects. Notable clients include The Field Museum, Exelon and Midway International Airport.

Alicia is a contributing author of Today’s Inspired Latina Vol. VI. Learn more about her purposeful journey to architecture, entrepreneurship, and connection with nature.

Email Alicia
Buy her book

MILO AGUILAR

Sustainability Lead & Project Manager

WELL AP, LEED AP BD+C Accredited
Languages: English, Spanish

A native of Guanajuato, Mexico, Milo is an Architect, a LEED Accredited Professional and an MBA with a concentration in real estate. Milo’s experience also includes Interior Design and Construction Project Management. At APMonarch, he demonstrates strong leadership in projects he is charged with and is able to coordinate teams speaking in English and Spanish.

Milo’s business operations and development skills focus on customer satisfaction and sales growth while committing to social and environmentally conscious practices. Milo has completed LEED Certified projects throughout the Chicagoland area and Latin America.

ANTONIO J. SIERRA

Senior Architectural Associate

Languages: English, Spanish

As Project Manager at APMonarch, Antonio adds value with his experience in developing residential and commercial architecture from initial design through project implementation and construction management. Antonio brings a variety of project experience in single and multi-family residences, restaurant design, commercial office, and places of worship. Antonio holds a Bachelor’s degree in Architecture from the University of Miami School of Architecture.

During his undergraduate studies, he played a key role within a team of graduate students and faculty to improve the urban quality of the neighborhood of Allapattah, Florida and its “Little Santo Domingo” sector. He assisted in creating a historic patrimony by locating residential units that may qualify for a historical preservation certificate and thus rehabilitation tax credits.

ROSA Y. ORTIZ

Director of Planning and Community Engagement

AICP, LEED AP
Languages: English, Spanish

Rosa is a certified planner and a LEED accredited professional with two decades of government, corporate and not‐for-profit experience. She is committed to equitable community development, sustainable initiatives and affordable housing. Her work is based on local, national and global perspectives from experiences in England, Denmark, Mexico, China, France and the United States. Rosa serves as a purpose consultant specializing in Community Development and recently served the City of Chicago in the role of Managing Deputy Commissioner for the Department of Housing and at Enterprise Community Partners as Senior Program Director. She is an active member of national collaborations through Elevated Chicago with partnerships in Denver, San Francisco, Memphis, Atlanta and Los Angeles. Rosa is committed to building inclusive and resilient communities for all. She lives in Chicago in a multigenerational home with her husband, two daughters and mom. She enjoys swimming, dancing, painting, gardening and music.

FLOR RICO

Designer

Languages: English, Spanish

Florentina (Flor) Rico’s work history ranges from project management in the architecture field to program management in the nonprofit and economic development field. Her architectural experience is in designing of corporate, commercial, and medical projects. Project responsibilities have extended from the programming phase through contract closeout.

Flor Rico is an alumnus of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

LAURA NUÑEZ

Marketing & Business Manager

Languages: English, Spanish

Laura Nuñez is a graduate of the University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts. After several years performing various roles in front of and behind the camera, she became a Teaching Artist for Chicago Arts Partnership in Education (CAPE). It was there that she discovered her passion for community organizing and fostering emerging artists. Laura is a founding member of Villarte Chicago and organizer of the Little Village Arts Festival. With over 15 years of experience in marketing and administration, Laura Nuñez is a proven problem solver. Her knowledge base spans IT, graphic design and event planning.