Meet the Team

Dan relocated to Arlington, VA in 2007 after graduating from the University of Pittsburgh.  With more than 18 years of commercial architecture experience in the DC Metro area, Dan guides Deceder Group with a cohesive, strategic, and considerate vision. Dan is committed to helping clients shape their vision and be there every step of the way from initial proposal to final inspection.  

Spending time with my wife, son and yellow lab, getting out on the golf course whenever possible, or escaping down to Keswick Hall outside Charlottesville for a long weekend!

Wu-Tang Clan 👐

Thorne is an enthusiastic architectural professional who specializes in Project Management, Technical production and being a firm-wide resource. Thorne graduated with a BFA in Architecture from the University of Memphis in 2005 and a Master of Architecture from the Southern California Institute of Architecture (SCI_Arc) in 2008. He has worked on a wide range of project types in Commercial Architecture, Workplace and Retail. Thorne leads workshops on Project Management, Quality Assurance/Quality Control and Design Technology.

Card-carrying nerd with memberships to three local astronomy clubs. I regularly travel to dark sites where I camp and image the night sky. 

RuPaul

Rachel is from Fairfax, VA and graduated from Marymount University in 2015. Her love for design stemmed from photography, playing the Sims and watching Trading Spaces. She enjoys the daily challenge of working to solve client’s problems and bringing their designs to life. 

Exploring the area with my husband and our rambunctious boxer mix, kayaking, disc golfing, cooking, and reorganizing every part of the house. 

All Mexican food, especially margaritas!  

Julia grew up in Chantilly, Virginia and attended Virginia Tech, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Interior Design and a minor in Leadership and Social Change.  Her minor has translated into a passion for mentoring newer designers and advocating for accessibility in design. Her primary focus is in commercial design, and she also has experience in hospitality, healthcare, and education.

I love to visit museums and see musicals with friends. At home you’ll usually find me knitting, baking macarons, or working on projects around the house. 

“Original Broadway Cast” 😉 

Carolina is from Northern Virginia and graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2016. Her love of marketing stemmed from her creativity in the fine arts and analytical mindset. She has been in the AEC industry for over five years and enjoys using her skillset to provide innovative solutions to further business development, proposal development, and communication strategy. 

 Traveling, trying new restaurants, reading a good book, or yoga!

Italian, I love pasta.

Maedeh graduated from Marymount University Magna Cum Laude in B.A. in Interior Design. She was always passionate about interior design because of the creativity aspect of it. However, her real passion for interior design started right after graduation when she started working full time. Working in the industry taught her that Interior design is an endless world and can teach so much. She also like to stay up to date with the latest technology, and always looking out for new ways of doing things.

Exploring new cafes, outdoor activities (walking, biking, roller skating), and embroidery.

Indian Curries and chai latte because I like strong spices. 

Andrea moved from Ecuador to Arlington, VA to study Interior Design at Marymount University. She enjoys all the creative liberties that come with design, and loves that every day she gets to learn something new. 

I enjoy going on long walks and hikes, and taking pictures of everything. I also love spending my free time with my family and friends.

Simon Grossmann

Brandon graduated Magna Cum Laude with his Bachelor of Science in Architecture from Fairmont State University in 2019 where he continued his education working as the program’s Graduate Assistant and received his Master of Architecture in 2020. He is from Charleston, WV and relocated from Fairmont, WV to Arlington, VA to peruse personal and professional interests.

Exploring this new place I call home through museums, restaurants, and the outdoors. I enjoy taking pictures of the built environment and recognizing the nuances of the city.

Orville Peck

D’Wayne is a Hampton roads native who graduated from Radford University in 2021 with a B.F.A in Interior Design where he received the “Outstanding Graduating Senior Award” for the Department of Design. His love for interior design stemmed from solving design problems in his family home, as well as early morning crafting, inventing and ideating as a young child which granted him the name “Midnight Crafter”. D’Wayne is excited about design, helping people connect with their spaces, and eager to learn as much as he can from his experiences in the design world.

Outside of work, D’Wayne spends his time gardening, working out, exploring the DMV, traveling, hanging out with friends and family, outdoor activities, thrift shopping and his favorite… dancing.

Arianna Grande

Emmi grew up in Bethesda, MD and earned her Bachelor of Science in Architecture with a minor in Sustainability Studies from the University of Maryland in 2023. Her interest in architecture and design came from traveling abroad! 

I like doing hot yoga, reading, going to art museums, listening to music, and spending time outside with friends and family! 

Lana Del Rey

Caroline grew up in Northern Virginia and received her B.A. in Interior Design from Marymount University in 2022. She is passionate about using design to craft meaningful spaces and problem solve. She loves the balance of technology and creativity in Interior Design. 

  I love to hike and explore new cities. I also love baking and cooking with my family. 

Italian food and anything with chocolate

Vanesa received her Bachelor's of Science in Interior Design from Virginia Tech where she also minored in Visual Arts and Society. She is passionate about bringing innovative design to the table and creating a sense of belonging. She brings experience in commercial and residential design, specifically workplaces and restaurants. 

When I'm not working you can find me thrifting, reading, or watching old movies. 

Frank Ocean