Our Team

FOUNDER/PRINCIPAL ARCHITECT

Ethan Andersen, AIA

In 2010 Ethan began Drafting Cafe out of a desire to define a new type of architecture firm with more commitment to client service and transparency. A well-rounded designer with experience working on projects ranging from wineries and restaurants to single-family homes and remodels, Ethan grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area and attended Philadelphia University where he received his Bachelor of Architecture degree. His collaborative approach and ability to transform ideas into beautiful spaces has earned him the opportunity to design for HGTV’s “Curb Appeal” alongside show host John Gidding. In 2018, Ethan launched Planchx.com, an online service that instantly provides building codes for residential building projects.
These days, he can be found working on anything from the fine details of a project to refining how Drafting Cafe’s process works in order to meet and exceed client expectations. He enjoys hiking with his family, mountain biking, and snow. He lives in Alameda with his wife Janel, children Margot and Cohen, and their dog, Tess.

Most Loved City Berlin
Favorite Buildings La Sagrada Familia, Fallingwater, IIT Student Union by Rem Koolhaas
Ice Cream Flavor you can’t do without Mint chip
Listening to right now Danish String Quartet
Desert Island Must-Have Poke bowls
On the weekends, I’m Chasing two crazy kids!

ARCHITECTURAL DESIGNER

Michael Davisson

After graduating from Southern California Institute of Architecture (SCI-Arc) in 2005, Michael worked for an architecture firm in Santa Barbara for 13 years but found he was ready for some new inspiration. He worked as a designer in Puerto Rico for a brief period and when he felt ready to come back to California, he discovered Drafting Cafe and knew it would be a great opportunity to reconnect with his northern California roots.
At Drafting Cafe, Michael is an architectural designer.He meets with clients to discuss their ideas and the project they are looking to do, he creates proposed designs taking into account proper space planning, flow, and the appropriate architectural styles that compliment the house and the clients. In his spare time, he loves swimming, particularly at the Berkeley City Club, a building designed by one of his all-time favorite architects, Julia Morgan and exploring all things local to the bay area, which he’s found could keep him busy for a lifetime.

Favorite Building Hollyhock House by Frank Lloyd Wright; Paramount Theater in Oakland
Ice Cream Flavor you can’t do without Key Lime Pie Gelato
Favorite Restaurant in the Bay Area Julia’s at the Berkeley City Club
Music Artie Shaw
Most Loved City Paris

PROJECT & OPERATIONS MANAGER

Jennifer Kang

As Operations Manager, Jennifer launches projects and oversees all project and office logistics, liaising with all collaborators and ensuring clients’ needs are met throughout the process. Segueing from a diverse background in design, holistic medicine, office management, and entrepreneurship, Jennifer joined Drafting Cafe in early 2014 to meet the growing company’s administrative and operations needs. She manages Drafting Cafe's master calendar and organizes workflow, keeping tabs on all projects while anticipating and solving issues as they arise.
A native to Los Angeles and Bay Area resident since 2007, Jennifer received her bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Berkeley. Outside of the office, she is also a bodywork and holistic medicine practitioner; she is always steeped in ideation for new creative projects and is passionate about personal leadership.

Favorite Restaurant in the Bay Area Chez Panisse Café
Most Loved City Prague
Ice Cream Flavor you can’t do without Coffee
Music you work to Anything danceable

AS-BUILT COORDINATOR

Norm de Veyra

Norm believes good design services should be accessible to everyone. At Drafting Caehe aims to explore further ways to integrate new tools and technology into the design process that allow for easier documentation, communication, and implementation.
With a BA Architecture from UC Berkeley, Norm has been documenting existing conditions asan As-Built Coordinator with Drafting Cafe since 2017. With a decade-plus experience in residential architecture, he’s familiar with the intricacies of the entire architectural process, but he finds the specialization that Drafting Cafe employs to be a wholly unique and refreshing approach to how an architecture firm can operate in the 21st century.
When he’s not playing with lasers and measuring a house you’ll most likely catch this Bay Area native at a concert snapping photos from the pit, as a music photographer, or bopping along in the crowd as a fan.

Favorite Buildings Gamble House by Greene & Greene; Robie House by FLW,Church of The Light by Ando
Favorite Podcasts Song Exploder, 2 Dope Queens
Music I Work To ONLY MARIAH CAREY (but also James Blake, Broods, Lapsley)

PROJECT COORDINATOR

Ron Wedding Jr

Ron was born and raised in Sacramento, California and went to high school in nearby Elk Grove, CA. After high school, he spent 7 years in the San Luis Obispo area while attending college at California Polytechnic State University before moving back to Northern California.
After a short stint back in Sacramento, Ron has lived in the Bay Area since 2012 and started work at Drafting Cafe after a few years working in Marin County and Berkeley, California.
As Production Coordinator, Ron starts working on projects at the end of the Design phase and carries them to completion by coordinating with City and County agencies, Structural Engineers, and other various consultants. He assures that your drawings are fully code-compliant.
When not working on your project, you can find him enjoying the outdoors fishing, hiking, camping, kayaking or a combination of all four. He also enjoys gardening, volunteering/learning at small scale farms, cooking, and brewing kombucha. Sacramento King’s basketball and Oakland A's baseball games also help fill his free time.

Favorite Restaurant in the Bay Area Potala Vegan
Favorite Building Great Mosque of Djenné
Desert Island Must-Have Fishing rod and an assortment

INTERIOR DESIGNER

Lauren Thomas

Most Loved City: Oaxaca City and Kyoto

Favorite Buildings: Casa Azul de Frida Kahlo, Casa Pedregal, The Gamble House, childhood memories of my grandparents’ house

Ice Cream Flavor you can’t do without: Cookies n cream

Listening to right now: The Delfonics

Desert Island Must-Have: Lifetime supply of pour over coffee…and a harpoon?

On the weekends, I’m: In my home recording studio and playing an neverending game of fetch with my dog, Reina