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About
Tricia Esser is the Chief Executive Officer of KTGY, one of the nation’s leading full-service architecture, branding, interior design and planning firms. KTGY currently has more than 400 professional team members working in six offices: Chicago, Denver, Irvine, Los Angeles, Oakland and Tysons.
Tricia assumed her role of CEO in 2006 at the start of the financial crisis that saw the demise of more than an estimated ten percent of architectural firms across the country. In spite of the economic downturn, under Ms. Esser’s leadership, the firm took on no debt and never reported a loss. Her strategic insight, direction and supportive leadership contribute significantly to the firm’s ongoing growth, stability and profitability; as a result KTGY’s growing performance figures have helped attract and retain the industry’s best architects and planners.
Tricia joined the firm as Controller in 1991, just one month after it opened its doors. In 1995 she was invited to become a Partner, and three years later was promoted to Chief Financial Officer where her responsibilities included all of the firm’s real estate acquisitions and leases and shareholder stock transactions. In this role she designed a series of innovative contractual changes which led to simplified and more efficient negotiating terms that opened the doors to previously restricted areas of opportunity.
As CEO, Tricia is responsible for setting the vision and direction of KTGY, managing day-to-day operations and playing a significant role in new business development both domestically and overseas. Tricia is a member of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB); NAHB Professional Women in Building and the Building Industry Association of Orange County. She also serves on the Board of 211OC, an organization that helps those in need to identify and access social services in Orange County. She is a member of Vistage-CEO leadership development.
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Education
Bachelor of Arts in Communications
California State University, Fullerton
Fullerton, CA -
Affiliations
American Institute of Architects, AIA
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In The News
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KTGY Names Seager Principal, Adds Simeone to Board
IN THE NEWS - Mann Report - March 11, 2022
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Leading Design Firms Merge to Become a One-Stop Shop for Builders
IN THE NEWS - ProBuilder - May 14, 2021
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Why this architecture giant decided to bring interior design in-house
IN THE NEWS - Business of Home - March 26, 2021
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Design firms KTGY, Simeone Deary Design Group unite to shape future of architectural design through experiential environments
NEWS - Building Design + Construction - March 23, 2021
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KTGY Architecture + Planning Announces New 2021 Appointments
IN THE NEWS - The Registry SF - February 26, 2021
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KTGY Wishes Summer Interns Best of Luck as the Firm’s Inaugural Virtual Summer Internship Program Wraps-Up
IN THE NEWS - Archinect - September 16, 2020
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KTGY’s Virtual Summer Internship Cohort Sets Sail
IN THE NEWS - Archinect - July 20, 2020
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Ben Seager, AIA, Named KTGY’s New 75+ Service-Enriched National Practice Area Leader
IN THE NEWS - Building Design + Construction - October 22, 2019
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KTGY LA – Spring Street’s revival spreads to a downtown landmark: the Trust Building
IN THE NEWS - Los Angeles Times - September 20, 2019
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Multifamily visionaries: KTGY’s extraordinary expectations
IN THE NEWS - Building Design + Construction - June 13, 2018
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International Award-Winning KTGY Architecture + Planning Celebrates 25th Anniversary with 25 Acts of Gratitude
IN THE NEWS - The Registry San Francisco - November 22, 2016
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Tricia Esser – Bisnow Honors Los Angeles Power Women
IN THE NEWS - Bisnow - July 18, 2016
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KTGY Irvine – Architects say their new office space design pays off
IN THE NEWS - The Orange County Register - April 17, 2016
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Jill Williams – How A Diversity Of Voices Helps Architecture And CRE
IN THE NEWS - GlobeSt.com - March 14, 2016
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KTGY Group Taps Williams as Board Chair
IN THE NEWS - CoStar - February 25, 2016
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KTGY Names Jill D. Williams to the Position of Chairman of the Board
NEWS - The Registry - February 24, 2016
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Trends That Could Spook The Economy: Will Ghosts Of The Great Recession Scare Consumers And CEOs Alike?
IN THE NEWS - The Orange County Register - October 25, 2015
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KTGY Group Expands National Architecture Reach, Opens First Chicago Office
NEWS - Chicago Tribune - September 20, 2015
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KTGY Group Merges With PPK Architects, Expanding National Reach with Chicago Office
IN THE NEWS - Chicago Construction - September 3, 2015
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KTGY Architecture Opens New Chicago Office
IN THE NEWS - GlobeSt.com - August 27, 2015
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KTGY Group Expands National Presence
IN THE NEWS - Multi-Housing News - August 26, 2015
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Tricia Esser – Senior Housing Can’t Keep Up
IN THE NEWS - The Orange County Register - January 18, 2015
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Tricia Esser – Lansner: Be Thankful For These Trends
IN THE NEWS - The Orange County Register - November 26, 2014
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Building Industry Association of Southern California (BIASC) Honors KTGY Executive Director Nick Lehnert with Lifetime Achievement Award
IN THE NEWS - Real Estate Rama - November 14, 2014
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From the desk of … Tricia Esser, CEO of KTGY Group Inc.
NEWS - The Orange County Register - August 18, 2013
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Real Estate 2013 Requires Stepped-Up Skills
NEWS - The Orange County Register - January 6, 2013
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What Top Execs Vow For New Year
NEWS - The Orange County Register - January 2, 2013
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Tricia Esser, CEO
NEWS - OC Metro - November 1, 2011
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KTGY Celebrates 20th Anniversary By Volunteering
NEWS - MultifamilyBiz.com - October 10, 2011
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Tricia Esser – Economic Recovery Built to Last?
NEWS - The Orange County Register - February 7, 2011
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Tricia Esser – Hear Why Architects Feel Real Estate Rebound
NEWS - The Orange County Register - November 30, 2010
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CAX Joins KTGY Group
NEWS - Professional Builder - October 29, 2010
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East Coast Firm CAX Merges with California-Based KTGY
NEWS - Residential Architect - October 27, 2010
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CAX Architects joins KTGY Group
NEWS - Chain Store Age - October 24, 2010
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KTGY Designs Honored By Habitat For Humanity Orange County
NEWS - Design Taxi - May 13, 2009
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Press Releases
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KTGY Appoints New Principal + Shareholder and Welcomes New Member to Board of Directors
PRESS RELEASES - March 11, 2022
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Design Firms KTGY, Simeone Deary Design Group Unite to Shape Future Of Architectural Design Through Experiential Environments
PRESS RELEASES - March 22, 2021
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KTGY Architecture + Planning Announces New Appointments
PRESS RELEASES - February 25, 2021
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KTGY Wishes Summer Interns Best of Luck as the Firm’s Inaugural Virtual Summer Internship Program Wraps-Up
PRESS RELEASES - September 16, 2020
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KTGY 55+ National Practice Area Leader, Manny Gonzalez, Announces Firm’s New 75+ Service-Enriched National Practice Area Leader, Ben Seager
PRESS RELEASES - October 21, 2019
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KTGY Congratulates its Inaugural Class of ELEVATE leadership Graduates
PRESS RELEASES - June 1, 2017
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Speaking Engagements
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Tricia Esser – Mini MBA: Mastering the Business of Architecture
SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS - AIA Conference on Architecture 2022 - June 23, 2022
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Tricia Esser – Women in Multifamily: Design and Development
SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS - NMHC - March 17, 2021
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Tricia Esser – Housing CEO Panel: Rental, Resale, and Design Insights from the Biggest Companies in the Business
SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS - 2020 Housing Market Outlook - November 21, 2019
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Tricia Esser – Don’t Fear, They Won’t Remember You Anyway
SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS - Women in Residential Construction - Building Together - September 14, 2017
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Tricia Esser – Top Women Leaders: Investing in Career and Community
SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS - ULI Orange County/Inland Empire - December 6, 2016
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2016 PCBC: KTGY Speakers
SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS - PCBC - June 22, 2016
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Tricia Esser – Cage-Free Talent: How to make your Company a destination for Multiple Generations
SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS - 2016 PCBC - June 23, 2016
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About
Tricia Esser is the Chief Executive Officer of KTGY, one of the nation’s leading full-service architecture, branding, interior design and planning firms. KTGY currently has more than 400 professional team members working in six offices: Chicago, Denver, Irvine, Los Angeles, Oakland and Tysons.
Tricia assumed her role of CEO in 2006 at the start of the financial crisis that saw the demise of more than an estimated ten percent of architectural firms across the country. In spite of the economic downturn, under Ms. Esser’s leadership, the firm took on no debt and never reported a loss. Her strategic insight, direction and supportive leadership contribute significantly to the firm’s ongoing growth, stability and profitability; as a result KTGY’s growing performance figures have helped attract and retain the industry’s best architects and planners.
Tricia joined the firm as Controller in 1991, just one month after it opened its doors. In 1995 she was invited to become a Partner, and three years later was promoted to Chief Financial Officer where her responsibilities included all of the firm’s real estate acquisitions and leases and shareholder stock transactions. In this role she designed a series of innovative contractual changes which led to simplified and more efficient negotiating terms that opened the doors to previously restricted areas of opportunity.
As CEO, Tricia is responsible for setting the vision and direction of KTGY, managing day-to-day operations and playing a significant role in new business development both domestically and overseas. Tricia is a member of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB); NAHB Professional Women in Building and the Building Industry Association of Orange County. She also serves on the Board of 211OC, an organization that helps those in need to identify and access social services in Orange County. She is a member of Vistage-CEO leadership development.
Education
Bachelor of Arts in Communications
California State University, Fullerton
Fullerton, CA
Affiliations
American Institute of Architects, AIA