Smith Lane Podcast

Welcome to this episode of Smith Lane, where we’re joined by the influential Vaike O’Grady—a strategist and place-maker who has transitioned from the corporate world to entrepreneurship. Vaike now leads Residential Marketing Resources, serving her clients through strategic planning, market research, and more. A key theme in our conversation is intentional place-making—creating environments that cr...

In this episode of Smith Lane, we sit down with Stephanie Darden Bennett, President and Chief Creative Officer of Prismatic. Stephanie describes Prismatic’s mission as "place whispering"— a unique approach to uncovering the hidden potential of spaces. Her team helps developers and owners craft strategic branding, marketing, and user experience concepts to transform ordinary land into pla...

In this episode, we sit down with Rhett Crocker, President and CEO of LandDesign, to explore his philosophy of placemaking. Rhett shares how his balanced approach—focusing equally on landscape architecture and civil engineering—brings projects to life. As a leader who remains passionate about staying hands-on in the work, he highlights the importance of collaboration, relationships, and client-cen...

In this episode of Smith Lane, Tom Woliver, founder and co-president of Oxland Group, dives into the importance of authentic placemaking.  He shares his journey from landscape architecture to leading Oxland Group, a full-service capital investment and real estate development firm. Tom offers career insights, including the value of working with a trusted network, and adhering to a strict “no asshol...

In this episode of Smith Lane, we’re joined by Jessica Tillyer, co-founder of Bike Bus World, a movement dedicated to "transforming communities and our planet through the simple act of riding bikes to school together." Jessica shares how the idea of the Bike Bus was born out of her own need for a community-driven way to bike her kids to school, and how it has grown into a powerful tool for buildin...

In this episode of Smith Lane, we welcome David Hoppes, Vice President, Senior Principal, Studio Leader, and Professional Landscape Architect at Dix. Hite + Partners. Join us as we explore David’s deep-rooted connection to nature, tracing his journey from growing up on a farm to a career in landscape architecture. David shares valuable insights into how landscape architecture goes beyond mere aest...

In this episode of Smith Lane, we sit down with Brad Compton, President of ICON Management Services, Inc. Brad shares his extensive experience with golf, which he began playing at only 3 years old, and offers insights into managing golf communities. Brad introduces the concept of bundled golf communities, where all residents enjoy membership benefits, making golf more accessible and affordable com...

In this episode of Smith Lane, we dive into all things residential land development with Mike Moser, CEO of Starwood Land — the longest-tenured joint venture partner with Starwood Capital . Mike shares his insights on builder choice, affordability challenges, the significance of welcome centers, and innovative acquisition strategies. We also explore the success of Starwood Land’s MPC project Sunte...

In this episode of Smith Lane, we explore the intersection of data-driven technology and placemaking with Deven Spear, Co-Founder and Managing Director of OA3 and Chief Innovation Officer at Overabove Marketing. Deven delves into how OA3 is transforming real estate marketing through data-driven strategies.  Deven explains how OA3 harnesses comprehensive data on every adult in the U.S. to bridge th...

In this episode of Smith Lane, we sit down with Lori Ann Dinkins, President & CEO of Mood Interior Designs. Mood Interior Designs specializes in design projects for multifamily properties, student housing, and homebuilders. Lori's approach is simple yet impactful: "How can we help you achieve your vision?" In our discussion with Lori, she emphasizes the importance of engaging des...

In this episode of Smith Lane, we sit down with A’Lisa Ozment to explore her inspiring journey and the evolution of her business, Architectural Plan Review (APR). A’Lisa started as an architectural control consultant while raising her children. Her early efforts laid the groundwork for the growth of her business, and the development of innovative systems and technologies that assist developers in...

Welcome back to Smith Lane! We are thrilled to welcome our first in-studio guest: Matt Koratich, the Director of Community Management for Lennar Homes in Southwest Florida. Lennar, one of the largest homebuilders in the United States, prides itself on delivering exceptional community experiences with top-notch amenities and engaging programming. In our conversation, Matt delves into Lennar's h...

Episode 5 of Smith Lane welcomes April LaMon, CEO and Co-Founder of Alosant, to discuss her company’s transformational mobile apps and the role they play in building community. Alosant specializes in developing community-branded apps for master planned community residents and home shoppers that streamline information and foster community building. Having witnessed firsthand the impact of Alosant&#...

Welcome to another episode of Smith Lane! We’re thrilled to present a conversation with Deana Vidal, the Director of Brand Strategy at John Burns Research & Consulting (JBREC) and a leader at the New Home Trends Institute (NHTI). In this episode, Deana shares her fascinating work, blending her background as an architect with design and data to identify, understand, and solve consumer pain poin...

Episode 3 of Smith Lane welcomes Chris McComas, the driving force behind MVP Sports & Social. Chris has turned his passion for bringing people together through athletic competitions and games into a thriving company. Having previously collaborated, Monaca and Chris dive into the mutually beneficial relationship they forged. Their discussion delves into Chris' strategies for fostering stron...

In Episode 2 of Smith Lane, we sit down with the dynamic Dan Slone, an author, lawyer, and self-described “vision wallah” who co-founded Vertical Vision PLC. Join Monaca, Callie, and Dan as they delve into some subtle nuances that shape a community's identity and sense of belonging. With over 40 years of legal practice under his belt, Dan has been instrumental in empowering local, national, an...

Welcome to Episode 1 of Smith Lane! In this episode, Monaca and Callie sit down with the remarkable Lesley Deutch, Managing Principal at John Burns Research & Consulting. With over 25 years of consulting experience within the real estate industry, Lesley brings a wealth of knowledge to the conversation. Monaca and Callie start the episode by reflecting on the role that Lesley has played in the...

Join your hosts of Smith Lane Podcast, Monaca Smith Onstad and Callie Friedman, for this introductory episode!   Tune in to learn the story behind our podcast name, get to know more about the hosts, and uncover the topics we'll be diving into each month.