Augusta, GA. – Johnson, Laschober & Associates, P.C. (JLA) proudly announces the retirement of Mark Lorah, Partner and Senior Structural Engineer, after more than two decades of dedicated service.

Mark joined JLA in 2003 and quickly distinguished himself as a leader, ultimately rising to the role of Partner, Project Manager, and Senior Structural Engineer, where he became a deeply valued member of our team. Over the years, he has made remarkable contributions to our projects and culture alike.

Among his many achievements, Mark served as Project Manager and Senior Structural Engineer for the design of a new 115,000 SF industrial manufacturing facility, led the structural design for renovations to the historic Miller Theater, and managed and engineered more than 1,300 projects throughout his career at JLA. In addition to his technical excellence, he generously shared his knowledge by mentoring interns and new employees.

A passionate advocate for the structural engineering profession, Mark has served as a mentor to Structural Engineering students at the University of South Carolina. His leadership extends beyond our company, having served as President of both the South Carolina Section and the Central Savannah River Valley Branch of American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), and as Co-Chair of the GA/SC Founding Fathers Convention.  Since 2005, he has also served on the Community Relations Committee of Historic Augusta and held advisory and leadership roles in several other organizations.

His commitment to his profession has been recognized with numerous honors, including the 2022 Letellier Lifetime Achievement of Services to Engineers & Professional Engineers Award, the 2018 ASCE President’s Award for work on Historic Engineering Landmark Designations, and his 2014 elevation to Fellow of ASCE.

Mark’s last day at JLA was October 17, 2025. Following his retirement, he plans to continue to share his passion for design and historic architecture as a featured artist with BrickUniverse, where he looks forward to inspiring the next generation of engineers.

We are grateful for Mark’s contributions over the years.  While his presence in our daily operations will be missed, we celebrate his remarkable career and wish him all the best in his well-earned retirement.

Please join us in celebrating Mark Lorah and wishing him all the best as he embarks on this exciting new chapter.

Augusta, GA. – Johnson, Laschober & Associates, P.C. (JLA) is pleased to announce the appointment of Kris Phillips, NCARB, PMP, LEED AP BD+C, as JLA’s new Director of Architecture. In this role, Mr. Phillips will lead the firm’s architectural strategy, design innovation, and execution across all projects.

With over 30 years of experience in the architecture and design industry, Mr. Phillips brings a wealth of expertise in designing for the federal government (DOD), as well as commercial, educational, and industrial facility design. Prior to joining JLA, he served as Principal Architect at Savannah River Nuclear Solutions, and before that, as a Senior Architect, Manager, and Vice President at Arcadis U.S., Inc. Kris also spent time as a student mentor and university instructor.

“We are thrilled to welcome Kris to our leadership team,” said Darren Prickett, President/CEO of JLA. “His vision and experience will be instrumental as we continue to expand our architectural capabilities and deliver valued projects to our clients throughout the Southeast. With his specialized background in defining solutions for the Department of Defense, Kris brings invaluable insight into working with the Federal sector-further strengthening our ability to serve both public and private sector clients. The addition of Phillips marks a continued investment in design excellence and innovation.”

In his new role, Mr. Phillips will oversee all aspects of architectural design from conception through the completion of projects. He will manage multi-discipline projects, collaborate with clients, engineers, planners, and other industry professionals, and mentor the next generation of architects within JLA.

Mr. Phillips is a registered architect and holds a certificate with the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB), is a Certified Project Manager (PMP) and is a LEED AP BD+C (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Accredited Professional in Building Design and Construction). He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Design/Architecture from Clemson University and Master of Architecture with a concentration in sustainability from Lawrence Technological University.