The Team

Alexander Dzurec, Principal Architect

Alexander has over 17 years of experience in the fields of Architecture, Planning & Sustainable Design. Mr. Dzurec believes in open communication and an Interdisciplinary approach to architecture that balances technical solutions with time-tested building traditions.   Alexander has excellent communication and team building skills. He is adept at walking clients and stakeholders through complex design problems, ensuring that projects run smoothly from start to finish. Mr. Dzurec’s responsibilities at autotroph include project management & oversight, business development & marketing and quality control.

Prior to forming Autotroph in 2006, Mr. Dzurec was a principal of Mazria Odems Dzurec, a leader in the field of sustainable design.  He holds a Master of Architecture degree from the University of New Mexico and a Bachelor of Science in Architecture from the University of Maryland.  Mr. Dzurec is a member of the American Institute of Architects and holds an Architectural registration in New Mexico.

Brett Linker, Project Manager

Brett Linker strives to make the ordinary extraordinary with a belief that an architectural idea is inextricably tied to the client’s need, the building’s use, and the place it will be built. Without ties to a specific style, but rather, the intention to create a unique language built on the client’s dream for the construction. That good design is about the delight of the denizen. Mr. Linker has 30+ years experience in architecture with comprehensive, problem solving approaches that are responsive, innovative, functional, sustainable, and sensitive to their place. 

Brett obtained his architectural degree from Carnegie Mellon and practiced in Pennsylvania, New York, and New Jersey prior to relocating to Santa Fe.  Brett holds an Architectural registration in New Jersey. He joined the Autotroph team in 2013

Ivan Spratte, Intern Architect

Ivan is a native New Mexican and Intern Architect.  Ivan joined Autotroph in December 2019. He has experience as a designer, drafter, and computer modeler.  He enjoys designing with the use of sketches and physical models.  He has accumulated a depth of experience from working on a wide variety of project types and scales.

Ivan attended the University of New Mexico, where he earned his Bachelor of Criminology degree, and went on to earn his Master of Architecture degree.  He is currently in pursuit of his Architectural license.

Kristina Olivent, Architect/ Project Manager

Kristina Olivent is a licensed architect (RA NM, TX) with experience since 2012 working on a variety of quality projects. The range of these projects includes small historic rehabilitations, large commercial mixed-use and multifamily developments, and custom residential design.  Kristina works closely with clients during the design phases to help determine the best design for the budget, manages the flow of information during the project, generates construction documents, and oversees the construction process.  Her mixed-use multifamily project management experience includes market-rate and affordable housing projects from as small as a 2-building, 28-unit neighborhood revitalization project, up to a 5-building 2,000-unit market-rate residential and commercial retail development.  

No matter the scale of the project, the embedded principle which governs Kristina's work is to create places which build community and enrich individual lives.

Veronica Alarid, Office Manager

Veronica joined Autotroph, in 2019. She has over 20 years' experience in the administrative/management field, human resources, accounting, budgeting, and group insurances.

Her experience in business valuation helps her guide business owners to an understanding of how the decisions they make impact the value of their business.

Samantha Spitzer, Intern Architect

Samantha first joined autotroph in 2022 as a Student Intern.  She recently completed her formal education by earning both a Bachelor of Arts in Architecture and a Master of Architecture from the University of New Mexico.

Samantha supports a variety of projects through generating 2D and 3D visualizations, architectural drafting, and interior design. Samantha grew up surrounded by art and architecture in Santa Fe which inspired her to be creative from a young age. Samantha enjoys creating visualizations that bring projects to life.