John Poelker

John’s personal code of ‘Leadership through Service’ was instilled at an early age. His grandfathers were the Mayor and the Assistant Chief of Police in St. Louis, and his father served in Ecuador with the Peace Corps.

John began his career in small architecture studios in New York, working on various projects and building types. His specific experiences with educational projects led to his passion for being a champion of the value of design in learning environments. John has carried that passion forward throughout his career and continues with his role in the Atlanta studio’s “Learning and Innovation” group. John also serves as the Firmwide Operations Director where he supports studios and teams across the firm regarding resources, processes, and project delivery.

In his spare time, John loves to spend time outdoors with his family and working in his shop, using a collection of meticulously organized woodworking tools inherited from his grandfather.