Welcome to the first installment of Meet MSA! This is where we will be featuring one staff member each month and sharing a bit about their contributions to our team. Check out the whole team here and be sure to follow us on social media to see who we feature next!
ron raiche, project manager
Ron's passion for architecture started to take shape as a kid growing up in Newport, RI. He would sketch buildings rooted in fantasy and science fiction and would later explore more realistic forms as dense urban landscapes. He studied architecture in college and pulled inspiration from working as a tour guide of the gilded mansions he grew up around and studying art and architecture in Florence, Italy.
Before joining the MSA team, Ron was an in-house store designer with Starbucks Coffee, where he had the opportunity to work in Seattle, San Francisco, and London - supporting their new store growth in the UK and Ireland. Because of Ron's Starbucks background and previous retail experience, he has taken the lead on MSA's Starbucks projects and is currently working on locations in Novato, Sacramento, and San Francisco along with One Market Plaza. These projects have allowed Ron to connect with city agencies, which stimulates thinking about information in a different way, something he values greatly.
When Ron isn't preparing a coffee tasting for our weekly staff meeting, he can be found attending any number of live performances in the city. he subscribes to the full seasons of the SF Symphony, SF Playhouse, New Conservatory Theatre Center, American Conservatory Theater, and Magic Theater. For live bands he frequents The Independent, The Fillmore, The Fox, The Chapel, Slims, and Great American Music Hall.
jonathan arban, designer
Jonathan stumbled across his passion for design in a very familiar place - Lego's. After building his ideas as a kid, he found himself sketching interiors during high school algebra and would later help build stage props for theater productions. It was at this point that he realized his excitement for taking ideas from sketch to reality.
Jonathan earned his Bachelor of Science in Interior Design from The Art Institute and after a few positions with independent architects and furniture companies, was brought into MSA as a consultant. His skill and technique in 3D rendering (among other things) elevated MSA's design presentations and after a few short months, Jonathan was offered a full-time position. He is currently working on new offices for Universal Music Group at 201 Spear, a new Philz Coffee location in Hollywood, and Macy's retail in both Guam and Downtown Los Angeles.
As a Sunday school teacher, Jonathan is heavily involved with his church and can usually be found bowling, playing basketball, or connecting with his inner Bobby Fisher through a game of chess.