OUR STORY
WHY GREEN RIVER?
We’d like to think we chose this location, but really this place chose us. Epicenter’s founders were invited to work in Green River as AmeriCorps volunteers. They stayed because they fell in love with the place, the people, and the opportunities. Epicenter's work and ethic reaches far beyond Green River, Utah, but it remains our home and headquarters.
Why do we do this work?
We’re here to celebrate this place, and alongside our community, work incrementally and intentionally to build on our town’s assets. We’re continually refining what we do and how we do it. We work on multiple scales to achieve our goals—from nation-wide knowledge building all the way down to the construction details on a single-family house.
OUR WORK
Rural & Proud Since 2009
Since Epicenter’s humble beginnings, we’ve maintained a holistic approach to our work which we believe to be critical to our success. Our process combines art, design, and unconventional thinking to achieve with our community things many thought impossible.
OUR GOALS
Build local leadership
within town.
Increase local
housing options.
Increase town vibrancy and beautify the built environment.
Ensure organizational
resiliency.
Develop Epicenter as a model for other rural communities.
OUR TEAM
MARIA
SYKES
Co-Founder
& Executive Director
After graduating with two degrees from Auburn University’s School of Architecture, Maria (she/her) moved to Green River to co-found Epicenter in 2009. Maria has been working in rural investment for over a decade and a half, and her work has been honored many times, including by the Utah Governor. She is also Co-Founder of Building Common Ground. As director, Maria leads with a contagious passion for rural places and people.
Email Maria here.
KENNY
FALLON JR
Specialist & Canal Commons Project Manager
Kenny (he/him) is a designer and writer exploring place-based living in rural and urban hinterlands. He serves on the boards of the Carbon-Emery Housing Authority and the Natural Building Alliance, and publishes The Last Straw magazine and The Green River Observer newspaper. Kenny is a Southerner currently living among the sagebrush who likes reading by the Book Cliffs and building the world we want to live in.
Email Kenny here.
ZOE
GARDNER
Specialist & Pearl Baker Park Project Manager
Zoe (she/her) graduated from Auburn University with a Bachelors of Architecture and a Bachelors of Interior Architecture. After spending several years working in interior architecture in Atlanta, Zoe moved to Green River to focus on community-focused design. She loves exploring new landscapes, learning about the natural world, and swimming in the Green River. Zoe also designs and edits The Last Straw Magazine and is a Master Gardener.
Email Zoe here.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Bryan Brooks
Board Chair
Portland, OR
Todd Erlandson, AIA
Vice Chair
Los Angeles, CA
Lindsey Briceno, AIA
Treasurer
Denver, CO
Elpitha Tsoutsounakis
Secretary
Salt Lake City, UT
Tina Grange
Board Member
Castle Dale, UT
Erika Lynne Hanson
Board Member
Phoenix, AZ
Antonio Herrera
Board Member
Green River, UT
Emily Larsen
Board Member
Springville, UT
Allison Martínez-Arocho
Board Member
Salt Lake City, UT
Kayce May-Riches
Board Member
Green River, UT
ADVISORS
Brent Bateman, Esq.
Land Use & Property Rights Attorney
Salt Lake City, UT
Ren Hatt, JD
Mayor of Green River
Green River, UT
Jamie Horter
Rural Artist & Advocate
Lyons, NE
Chris Lezama
Design Strategist & Researcher
San Francisco, CA
Jason Wheeler, AIA
Architect & NPO Administrator
Salt Lake City, UT
2024-25 FRONTIER FELLOWS
Rosie Gochnour Serago
Design Strategist
Salt Lake City, UT
Ashmae Hoiland
Visual Artist
Provo, UT
Sandra Salvas
Photographer
Park City, UT
Jarod Wilson Hamm
Graphic Designer
Nashville, TN
Carolina Aranibar-Fernandez
Artist
San Francisco, CA
Russel Albert Daniels
Multidisciplinary Photographer
Salt Lake City, UT
Lares Feliciano
Artist & Cultural Worker
Alamosa, CO
Teal Gardner
Artist
Boise, ID
Horacio Rodriguez
Artist, Educator & Curator
Salt Lake City, UT