Meet Your Local Architects

Peter J. Hill

Sr., Principal Architect 

With a career spanning 40 years, Peter brings unparalleled leadership to a vast range of architectural disciplines. For three decades, he has been at the helm of HDA Architects, guiding over a thousand projects in sectors as diverse as housing, senior living, medical, municipal, and restaurant design. This extensive portfolio embodies the HDA promise, "If you can conceive it, we can create it!" and ensures he understands the nuances of every project type. 

While his experience is exceptionally broad, Peter holds a particular passion for animal care facilities, a specialized field where he has personally guided more than 500 projects. His ability to coordinate multidisciplinary teams and foster strong client relationships has made HDA Architects a trusted partner across the industry. 

A resident of Rome, GA, Peter and his wife, Dr. Lisa Blake, MD cherishes time with their three grown children, two grandchildren, and their beloved yellow lab, Abby. When they get a chance to get away, they love traveling to new destinations or escaping to the North Georgia mountains. 

James (Jim) Bergen

VP, Equipment Specialist, Construction Administrator

James Bergen is the Vice President and Contract Administrator at HDA Architects, where he has proudly served for nearly 22 years. Known for his attention to detail and commitment to excellence, James plays a key role in managing every stage of a project’s development — from the initial concept through final construction. He is dedicated to fostering a collaborative “team approach” during construction, which consistently leads to successful outcomes. 

Living in Dahlonega, Georgia, James is deeply involved in his community as an active member of the local Rotary Club and Chairman of the Dahlonega Historic Preservation Commission. Married to his wife Sabrina for 34 years, James enjoys life with their two cats, Turbo and Scotch. A devoted Atlanta Braves fan, he also loves traveling and discovering new destinations. 

Susan Wade

Project Manager 

Drawing on 19 years of architectural design and production experience, Susan Wade offers versatile expertise from leading projects that include educational facilities, Chick-fil-A builds, daycare centers, and animal health facilities. Her expertise in managing is only enhanced by her technical proficiency in Revit 3D Modeling to produce high-quality construction documents with remarkable speed and accuracy. As Project Manager, Susan oversees every phase of production, from code analysis and detailing to coordination and specifications. She earned her Mechanical Drafting Diploma from Coosa Valley Technical College. 

Susan and her husband celebrated 20 years together, and enjoy their 5 kids, 8 grandkids, and little farm with chickens, goats, and horse that thinks it’s a goat! She still finds time for things she's passionate about like baking elaborate decorated cakes, teaching Awana class, and kickboxing.   

Ben Huckaby

Project Manager - Studio Manager 

With over 20 years of experience in building design, construction, and maintenance, Ben brings meticulous attention to detail to every project. As a project manager and serving as the firm's studio manager, his expertise in creating comprehensive 3D models using Autodesk Revit and rendering in Enscape is critical for identifying and resolving potential conflicts before construction begins. Ben has contributed to a wide range of projects, including veterinary hospitals, animal housing, industrial/manufacturing, and institutional facilities, ensuring the highest quality of service throughout the design and construction process. He holds an Associate of Business Administration from Georgia Highlands College. 

Born and raised in Rome, GA, Ben stays active in the community through his church and his family. Married to his wife Valerie since 2009, they have four children along with four cats and their husky. All of which are rescues. As time allows, Ben enjoys being outdoors hunting, fishing and playing golf. Ben is also an artist with his most recent focus being in China painting. 

Elizabeth (Liz) Wilson

Interior Designer 

With 6 years of experience, Elizabeth's passion for both animals and design is reflected in her specialization in creating thoughtful, functional environments for animal care facilities. Her expertise lies in designing spaces that prioritize fear-free principles and caretaker efficiency, addressing unique challenges such as noise mitigation and durability. Elizabeth’s technical proficiency in Revit, SketchUp, and Enscape allows her to produce detailed and visually compelling designs that meet both client expectations and industry standards. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Interior Design from Georgia Southern University. 

Elizabeth's creativity extends beyond her design work into various hands-on crafts like painting and pottery. She is active in the community, volunteering with the Rome Floyd Chamber’s young professionals and testing her knowledge at Wednesday night trivia at the Foundry. 

Blake Brown

Director of Development

Blake Brown serves as the Director of Business Development at HDA Architects. In his role, Blake is instrumental in driving the firm's growth and fostering client relationships. His leadership and commitment to architectural excellence had helped with the firm's recent expansion, including the move to a new, larger headquarters in downtown Rome. This strategic move, as Blake noted, positions HDA for long-term growth and enhanced collaboration, ultimately allowing them to better serve their clients. 

Driven by a passion for innovation and a focus on client experience, Blake plays a key role in steering HDA Architects toward continued success and design excellence. Outside of his professional life, Blake, his wife Laura, and their 4-year-old daughter Millie Blayke are active in their church and enjoy traveling. Blake is also an avid sports enthusiast, with a particular love for golf, tennis, and college football.

Ethan Cameron

BIM Specialist 

As a BIM Specialist, Ethan Cameron plays a key role in the design process, transforming initial concepts into detailed construction documents and immersive 3D visualizations. His proficiency in Revit and Enscape helps clients clearly envision their projects from the earliest stages. A Louisiana native, Ethan’s passion for design is hands-on; in his spare time, he builds and refurbishes furniture. 

Russell Evans

Marketing Associate 

As a Marketing Associate, Russell Evans is the driving force behind HDA's public-sector pursuits, where he specializes in crafting in-depth and compelling RFQ responses for animal shelter projects. He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Mercer University, where he majored in technical writing. This expertise, combined with his unique background as a professional actor, gives him a distinct edge in telling the firm's story. 

Russell is also an active volunteer and a familiar face in the local arts scene. He is well known for participating in Rome's Celebrity Dance Challenge, a local annual fundraiser hosted and coordinated by the Sexual Assault Center of Northwest Georgia. He holds 2 coveted disco ball trophies! 

Erica Amalfitano

Marketing Associate 

With over 10 years of strategic marketing experience, Erica focuses on HDA's private-sector growth as the Marketing and Digital Media Associate. She excels at building targeted digital campaigns that generate new leads and effectively communicate the firm's commitment to excellence. 

When she’s not working, you can find her with her two daughters creating art, crocheting bespoke projects, or writing—preferably with a side of chips and salsa.