Jamie Farmer
Principal, AIA, LEED AP
[email protected]A Jackson native, Jamie is grateful to have found his niche in architecture in his hometown. His father worked for several years in the area as a general contractor and also spent some time at the drafting table designing and building homes. As a result, Jamie was introduced to the world of design and construction at a very young age and throughout his years in the field discovered an artistic and creative outlet in architecture.
Jamie is analytical in manner while creative in his approach to producing unique design. Inspired by the human connection with nature, he focuses on simplicity, proportion, rhythm, harmony, and natural light. His 20 years of experience working in architecture, coupled with his extensive construction background inform his designs and ensure they are both beautiful and buildable.
Exploring different possibilities and strategic in testing conventional forms, Jamie challenges those with whom he works to push the envelope. The results are multi-dimensional forms and spaces that also address building fundamentals.
He graduated from Montana State University in 2007 with a Master’s Degree in Architecture while discovering a passion for modern design, which led him to return to Jackson and a job at Carney Logan Burke Architects. The firm offered a chance to work with a great team on high-end modern and contemporary homes and live somewhere with a great quality of life.
He started his own firm, Caliber Architecture, in Jackson in 2014 before merging businesses with his former colleague, Scott Payne, to create Farmer Payne Architects in 2017.
As an advocate for the Jackson community, Jamie supports the endeavors of the Jackson Hole Ski & Snowboard Club, as well as local chefs and artists. He served on the Town of Jackson’s Planning Commission and has been awarded the title of Jackson’s top architect multiple years in the “Best of Jackson Hole” and once held consecutive “King of Jackson” titles in the Jackson Hole Ski & snowboard Club’s Triple Crown race series. His work has also been featured in Architectural Digest, Luxe, The Scout Guide- Jackson Hole & Baton Rouge, Mountain Living, Build and Homestead magazines.
He enjoys kicking back with an Old Fashion to celebrate the week’s end.
Scott Payne
Principal, AIA, LEED AP
[email protected]Husband to his beautiful wife, Shannon, father of two, an avid hunter and straight shooter, Scott values the relationships that make life interesting. Working with him is no exception as he believes the home is an extension of a person. This belief drives him to collaborate with clients throughout the design process to create something special and unique.
Deliberate in his approach, Scott creates elegant and timeless designs that strive to enhance the quality of life. By creating timeless architecture and always emphasizing the importance of using quality materials, his compositions are built to make both homes and relationships last.
A ninth-generation Creole from Louisiana, he knows about endurance in design. His love of architecture was influenced by his family’s historic homestead, classic Louisiana style of exposed brick and heavy timber, and home-state famous architect A. Hays Town.
Scott earned a bachelor’s degree in architecture from Louisiana State University with a minor in construction management. During college, he attended the Washington-Alexandria Architecture Center at Virginia Tech and studied in Spain as part of Louisiana State University’s architecture abroad program.
He moved to Jackson, WY, in 2007 to work at CLB Architects, known for designing luxury contemporary homes.
Scott started his own firm in 2013, Scott Payne Architect, before joining forces with his former CLB colleague, Jamie Farmer, to create Farmer Payne Architects in 2017.
His love for the outdoors and dream of raising his family in the Mountain West led him to Sun Valley, ID.
His work has been featured in several publications, including
Scott finds the best company in LSU Tiger fans, his family, and a cold beer.
Aaron Belzer
Associate, Director of Design, AIA
[email protected]Aaron is the unassuming architect, his designs are anything but. His modest approach and obsession with detail tasks him to find the most beautiful ways to shape a space.
He yields an expansive knowledge of the creative process; considering unique landscape attributes, materiality, natural light, and the specific needs of our clients. Aaron creates all-encompassing designs that perfect the human experience in both function and aesthetics. Aaron’s design work also encourages the use of natural materials while focusing on simplicity.
He studied architecture at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo (CalPoly-SLO) and spent a year in Washington D.C. at the Washington-Alexandria Architecture Center (WAAC). Originally from Colorado, Aaron loves the lifestyle the Mountain West offers. Working in our Sun Valley Studio allows him to enjoy the snow, spending the winters snowboarding and the summers hiking and backpacking with his wife, Allie.
Casey Burke
Project Manager
[email protected]Starting at a young age, Casey has always admired his surrounding environment, whether it be built, contextual, design or kinetic. He chose to pursue architecture to work within different media to connect people and their environments.
Casey enjoys developing designs that provide an array of architecture to different walks of life considering all demographics. His interests focus on a modernist approach that provides flexible spaces with continuous learning and understanding of detailing.
He is passionate about the holistic design process and works in collaboration with our Client’s and Team to create spirited spaces.
Casey received his Master of Architecture and Bachelors Degree in Environmental Design from Montana State University and is currently pursuing his Architectural License. In his free time he is continuously searching for and appreciating mid-century modern Case Study houses and low slung gables – fine tuning his thesis after the fact! Lastly, he enjoys spending time exploring the Pioneer and Sawtooth Mountains with friends, family and his dog.
Casey Fair
Project Manager, Director of Graphics
[email protected]Tailored, intuitive, and considerate are all words to describe Casey, as well as his approach to design. He is dedicated in the world of architecture to finding unique solutions that enhance the human experience. Using the surrounding context and region as driving forces he strives to achieve schemes that are balanced in complexity and proportion.
The opportunity to work with an innovative design team drew Casey to Farmer Payne Architects. He explores the opportunities created with 3D modeling and visual renderings as a way of communicating with clients and bringing their vision to life.
He loves the mountains and is excited about the chance to work on homes in the Mountain West, as well as in his home state of Louisiana.
Casey graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Architectural Studies from Louisiana Tech University, where he focused on creating dynamic and innovative architecture with cultural and sustainable impacts. He spent his summers working in Honduras on several different nonprofit projects including a new water system for a mountain village and a third roof extension for an existing church.
He spends time in the mountains riding dirt bikes, hiking, climbing, and traveling with his wife, Nina.
Nate Hecker
Project Manager
[email protected]The three aspects of design Nate likes to focus on the most are form, light, and structure. He looks for more innovative ways to blend architectural ideas and design with structural concepts and contemporary building technology.
He found the work Farmer Payne Architects does to be high-quality residential work with fresh ideas like collaboration, the OA design process, and looking toward other contemporary work in the field for design inspiration. Nate enjoys working with great teams and having fun throughout the process.
Those who work with Nate find him to be ethical and efficient, and he describes himself as diligent, cerebral, and loyal. His work style is cool, calm, and collected, and has the ability to pull through when the pressure is highest.
Nate studied Architecture at Virginia Tech for 5 years and plans on getting his LEED certification upon completion of his license. He’s drawn to always finding something new and interesting to learn every day in the field of architecture and construction and finds the profession to be a fusion of art and science.
When Nate is not putting his heart and soul into work, he enjoys taking to the slopes or the water for snowboarding and wakeboarding. He likes to end the day with a glass of whiskey on ice.
Tory Hinson
Director of Operations & Interiors
[email protected]Hailing from the High Point, N.C., the Home Furnishings Capital of the World; Tory has always been drawn to a career centered around design. She received a Bachelor of Arts in International Global Relations from Sewanee, the University of the South in Tennessee.
Inspired by her mom who practiced architecture, Tory has cultivated a vast knowledge of the industry and sourcing quality materials. She has worked in several industries and is the backbone of our Sun Valley and Louisiana Studios.
Her passion for travel and fly-fishing, especially a combination of the two, encourages her to find serenity in her otherwise busy life.
Barry Holton
Project Manager
[email protected]Barry’s family roots in Shreveport, LA, date back to the 1820s. As a result, Barry has reverence for traditional architecture and the value of preserving quality design.
He enjoys the element of surprise and working with our clients to design a home they never imagined while encompassing all of the qualities of their dream home. Barry aims to create one-of-a-kind homes that reflect the personality and style of the owners. He finds it a privilege to collaborate with clients to bring a vision to life. Barry is drawn to traditional colonial-style homes, custom created to fit the landscape. He has a contemporary and progressive sense of style that he balances while remaining true to the historic aesthetics of a building. He also loves preserving history in his designs by using reclaimed materials.
Scott Payne’s architectural style and commitment to quality drew Barry to Farmer Payne Architects. He enjoys pushing boundaries and working with a team of builders and designers to build homes that are truly inspired.
The Shreveport-native earned a bachelor’s degree in Psychology at Louisiana Tech in 2013 and a master’s degree in Architecture at Louisiana State University in 2017. He designed the renovation plans for his family home while he was still in school. He also won an honorable mention in Designing Resilience in Asia, a global competition.
Barry is continuing to grow deeper roots in Shreveport. He enjoys hunting, spending time with his family, and promoting tradition while savoring an Old Fashion after the workweek is over.
Jesse Knori
Project Manager
[email protected]Jesse was drawn to architecture as a way of enhancing the human experience through sequence, function, and connection to the outdoors. She believes that spaces should be designed to bring people together, creating conversations and encouraging growth.
She finds joy working with clients to understand their goals for their projects and explores different possibilities to find the best solution. She loves to create multiple options that expand the opportunities for each space; beginning with an expanded view and then tuning the design to consider both the architecture and details of daily life.
Sustainability and environmental impacts challenge Jesse to design with the basics in mind; quality construction and quality design.
Jesse is a Jackson native and was drawn to architecture after touring projects with her dad, a local contractor. She enjoyed experiencing spaces and learning firsthand what worked and what didn’t. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Environmental Design from the University of Colorado, where she was also a leading member of the Nordic Ski Team. As an accomplished athlete, she loves living in Jackson where she can run, ski, bike, and enjoy the outdoors.
Meredith Leonard
Director of Operations & Interiors
[email protected]Meredith brings a wealth of experience to Farmer Payne Architects, from the places she’s lived before and since she settled permanently in Jackson in 2014. The three aspects of design she focuses on the most are functionality – how design impacts families and how people live, material textures, and material colors.
Meredith is originally from Denver, CO. She previously worked in the restaurant and hospitality industry and has a Business Management Degree from the University of Kansas. She spent her springs managing a 32-person Heli-Ski lodge in Valdez, AK. Meredith also worked for Jackson’s Fine Dining Restaurant Group as the director of Bistro Catering and Special Events, a job that took her into many of the area’s beautiful homes and inspired an interest, enthusiasm, and understanding of luxury design.
Meredith strives to create spaces that allow busy families to take on more; whether it be more activities, more downtime, more entertaining, or more relaxation. She has come to learn what a difference it can mean to have everything in the right place for the development and execution of the day-to-day or a big event. Meredith believes homes should help in life, not hinder, as it all centers around design and design is a way to distinguish one experience from another. She understands that enhancing these differences and bringing good design to each special place allows for life to be experienced at an elevated level.
She’s excited to help home and business owners see their visions come to life, and also promote the innovative work that happens at Farmer Payne. Meredith wants to understand who clients are at the core and what they what to achieve in their homes. Her goal is that clients’ homes will reflect them and how they want to live.
When she is not in the office or running Farmer Payne’s Instagram page, Meredith loves to cook, design celebrations, and organize her home. She also loves the outdoors and indulging in the many activities Jackson has to offer, including sipping on a glass of wine or light wheat beer while enjoying the mountain life.
Leslie Leppert
Project Coordinator & Studio Manager
[email protected]Leslie appreciates the connection between interior and exterior spaces. She knows how to view the context of the surrounding – how the design sits on the landscape. Leslie also likes to focus on the functionality of space and how those spaces work together.
She was drawn to Farmer Payne Architects because she wants to expand on the quality of our work and the originality of our designs, and she appreciates our design process and transparency with clients. Leslie wants our clients to know that she will prioritize each and every detail associated with their project and has their best intentions at heart.
Though she wasn’t always sure what her main passion in life would be, Leslie always had some creative connection and fondness for beautiful homes and how spaces could make people feel. She received her Bachelor of Science in Architectural Studies and her Master of Architecture Degree from Louisiana Tech University, and she would like to someday become licensed and accredited.
When Leslie is not working, she enjoys unwinding with a glass of wine and spending time with her family, friends, and her fur babies.
Ryan Walters
Senior Project Manager, AIA
[email protected]Known for his ski excursions and love for travel, Ryan’s drive to explore doesn’t stop with the outdoors. He approaches architecture in the same exploratory fashion, by putting all of the options on the table and determining the best route to achieve a design that is both inventive and sustainable.
Pushing the bounds creatively and allowing the surrounding communities to energize designs Ryan aims to make architecture approachable. His designs consider all of the components and he prides himself on bringing design concepts into reality.
He earned a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Design and a master’s degree in Architecture from Montana State University in Bozeman.
Before turning to architecture, he co-founded Caravan Skis where he designed handmade skis. He also built custom steel-fabricated furniture. His background in furniture and ski design trained his eye for detail. He understands small-scale design and bringing together all of the design elements.
After 10 years in Bozeman, Ryan knew he wanted to return to Jackson and joined Farmer Payne Architects in early 2017. He was drawn to the creative leadership that encourages a work-life balance.
Ryan’s most recent excursion took him to a remote village in Nepal where he and several of his fellow MSU’s architecture graduate students designed and built a climbing school for the world’s most ambitious mountain guides. The project is slated to be completed in June 2019, an achievement Ryan will celebrate with his close friends and favorite craft beer.
Join Our Team
New Member
[email protected]We are always looking for creative and energetic individuals to join our team. Current openings include Studio Administrative Assistant and Project Architect. Email your resume and cover letter to [email protected]
