John Hreno

Résumé

John Hreno

Landscape Design · Studio Leadership · Practice Growth

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johnhreno3@gmail.com(424) 467-5161Southern California

Objective

Seeking a full-time design or studio leadership role with a practice focused on residential landscapes and gardens. Based in Southern California; open to relocation for the right opportunity.

Summary

Landscape design and practice leader with experience in residential gardens, from concept through documentation and installation. Combines planting and material knowledge with client relationships, team mentorship, and project delivery. Spent four years leading many aspects of Hoerr Schaudt’s West Coast operations.

Mentorship + People

Mentored numerous direct reports who advanced to project manager.

Selected Expertise

Design

Residential Landscape + Garden Design · Planting + Material Knowledge · Design Development + Review · Permit + Construction Documentation · Concept Design · Design Direction · Sustainable + Regenerative Design

Leadership

Project Management · Consultant Coordination · Multidisciplinary Teams · Staff Supervision · Mentorship · Workload Allocation · Design Review · Studio Leadership

Practice

Client Acquisition + Relationships · Business Development · Proposals + Fees · Financial Oversight · Practice Growth

Selected Residential Work

Wabi-Sabi House

Palm Springs, CA · 2025

Living the Dream

Larkspur, CA · 2013

Elegance

Atlanta, GA · 2010

Italianate

Atlanta, GA · 2010

Beach Tapestry

Manhattan Beach, CA · 2009

Selected Cultural, Public-Realm + Mixed-Use Work

The Getty Villa

Malibu, CA · 2006

Berkley Riverfront at CPKC Stadium

Kansas City, MO · 2024

T.O.D.

Chongqing, China · 2020

Professional Journey

2026 — Present

The Lili Group

Founder & Design Director · Independent landscape design practice

California

2022 — September 2026

Hoerr Schaudt

Associate Principal · West Coast Business Development

California

  • —Combined design creation and review with staff supervision, mentoring, workload allocation, permit and construction documentation, proposals, fee development, client acquisition, and financial oversight.
  • —Internal project teams of 2–8 people located across the country; external teams of 6–30 people across multiple firms.
  • —Expanded scope: Helped expand Wabi-Sabi House from an initial interior-garden commission to the full property.
  • —Project continuity: At Berkley Riverfront, managed an architect transition at the end of design development by transferring design history, adapting workflows and drawing protocols, and maintaining the master schedule.
  • —Practice development: Developed architect and contractor relationships that generated new residential opportunities and repeat work.
  • —Business development and client relationships, including shortlisted RFP responses and qualifications submissions (Getty/Gehry, LACMA, USC).

2017 — 2022

West Coast Design Leadership

  • Gates Studio
  • Ground Level Landscape Architecture
  • Terrain Studio

California · Shanghai

2009 — 2017

National + International Practice

  • Strata Landscape Architecture
  • DTJ Design
  • Terra Ferma
  • L&A Design Group · SCI

2002 — 2009

Independent Practice

Founder

  • Ecologie · California
  • LUSH · Atlanta

1996 — 2002

Foundations in Architecture + Landscape

  • Denis Kurutz Associates
  • DMJM Keating

California

1996

Bachelor of Architecture

University of Southern California

Client Experience

Residential + Development

Private residential clients · Toll Brothers · Lennar · Shea Homes · Crescent Communities · David Weekley Homes · Trammell Crow · Palmer Square Capital Management

Cultural + Hospitality

The Getty Trust · Augusta National Golf Club · Ritz-Carlton

Additional Select Experience

Google · Rolex · Vanke · Disney · Knott's Berry Farm · Kilroy Realty

Affiliations

ICAA · ASLA · AIA · SPUR · USGBC · ULI · Children & Nature Network · Therapeutic Gardens Network · California Native Plant Society · International Ecotourism Society · International Palm Society

Tools

Hands-on

AutoCAD · Land F/X · Adobe Creative Suite · Bluebeam · Miro · AI platforms · Mosaic · Vantagepoint

Review and direction

SketchUp · Rhino · Revit · Lumion

SketchUp includes past hands-on experience.