D.J. Chagnon joined CBA in 2002, and has been a Principal since 2010. He brings a keen attention to detail to all phases of the design process, from public meetings through design development to construction administration. He is trained as a Certified Playground Safety Inspector (CPSI), which makes him a valuable asset for CBA's public park design work. Highlights of his work in numerous communities include: Oakland and Choate Parks in the Town of Medway; Almont Park in Boston; Woburn's Clapp Park; Cremin Playground in Somerville; Chelsea's Veterans Stadium and the Burke Schoolyard; Wayland Town Center; and the Lanterns in Ashland, MA, an award winning multi-family housing development. Mr. Chagnon is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, has an MLA from Cornell University, and is a registered Landscape Architect in Massachusetts. He also serves on the Somerville Historic Commission.
Megan N. Tomkins, Principal, RLA, ASLA
Megan Tomkins has been a core team member at CBA since 2011 and became a Principal in 2016. Her projects range from corporate developments to urban parks and schools, and suburban and rural libraries. Her background in horticulture and wetlands geomorphology is a valuable asset for her work. Recently, she has lent her expertise to Malden's Tartikoff Park and Lincoln Common Splashpad, new development at 450 Kendall Street, Cambridge, and Boston's Roberts Playground and Paris Street Playground, among others. Ms. Tomkins received her Bachelor of Science in Landscape Architecture from Cornell University and became a registered Landscape Architect in Massachusetts in 2013.
Kaila Bachman Chavez, Principal, RLA, ASLA, LEED AP
Kaila Bachman Chavez joined CBA in 2013 after beginning her career in residential landscape design, and has been a Principal since 2017. She is passionate about creating multi-purpose, dynamic spaces and enjoys the challenge of finding technical solutions to programmatic needs. Ms. Bachman Chavez is a clear communicator and analytical designer with broad horticultural knowledge. Her avid interests in the outdoors and travel allow her to incorporate both foreign and familiar landscape observations into her work. Some of Ms. Bachman Chavez's notable projects include a Vision Plan and Phase 1 design for Carr Park in Medford, the Proto Apartments at 88 Ames Street in Kendall Square, Cambridge; MassAudubon's Broadmoor Sanctuary in Natick, Everett's Gramstorff Park, and the new Paula Titus Park in Roxbury, Boston. She has a BLA from the University of Rhode Island, is a registered Landscape Architect in Massachusetts and Maine, and is fluent in Spanish. Her diverse personal interests complement her enthusiasm for the ecological, historical, and cultural facets of landscape architecture.
Preston Holleman, Landscape Architect, RLA
Preston Holleman is a seasoned professional with extensive knowledge in all phases of the profession; from schematic design, master planning, and design development to project management, permitting, and construction administration. His key projects include his work on the new Andover Elementary School, the Drumlin Farm Environmental Center for MassAudubon; Oakland and Choate Parks in the Town of Medway; Clapp Park and Ferullo Field Dog Park in the City of Woburn, and Harold French Square and the surrounding streetscape for the City of Winthrop's Centre Business District. Mr. Holleman is a registered Landscape Architect and he holds a BLA from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst; he began his tenure at CBA in 2015. His personal interests include hiking, sustainable foraging, permaculture, historic food preservation and exploring the native cuisines of various cultures.
amy foster, Landscape architect, rla, LEED AP BD+C
Amy Foster joined CBA in 2022 after several years of working on diverse project types for a firm in New York City. She has a keen interest in publicly accessible designs that accommodate a wide range of users. Amy is a registered landscape architect in New York and a LEED Accredited Professional. She earned a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture from Pennsylvania State University with a double minor in International Studies and Environmental Inquiry. In her personal time, Amy enjoys staying active by playing volleyball and tennis and by exploring Boston and Cambridge neighborhoods on foot.
MICHELLE JOHNSON, Landscape Designer
Before joining CBA in 2024, Michelle gained valuable experience working in offices in Boston and Portland, Maine, where she contributed to a diverse range of projects, including private residences, mixed-use developments, and public plazas. Through this work, she developed a strong foundation in collaborative design and an appreciation for thoughtful, context-driven landscapes. She holds a Master of Landscape Architecture from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Outside of the office, Michelle is an avid traveler and outdoor enthusiast who enjoys jogging, hiking, and snowboarding, and her deep connection to the outdoors was shaped by summers spent in Maine—an influence that continues to inform her approach to design.
CHAITRALI DOKE, Landscape Designer
Chaitrali's journey in landscape architecture and urban design is deeply rooted in her design background and experiences. Chaitrali joined CBA as a landscape designer in 2024 with an MLA degree from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and a background in Architecture from India. Chaitrali holds certificates in Cultural Landscape Management from UMass Amherst and Smart and Sustainable Cities from INREGU, Paris. She is passionate about crafting inviting urban landscapes and enhancing public parks. She has invested significant research hours into understanding cultural landscapes, their importance, and implications, as well as exploring strategies for creating smart and sustainable buildings and urban environments. Her studies focused on the New England landscape and the evolution of Boston’s parks system, enriching her approach to sustainable design. Chaitrali is driven by her belief in the transformative power of accessible green spaces to mitigate the urban heat island effect, seeing every contribution as meaningful. She loves cats and outside of work, she finds inspiration in exploring new places and likes to read a diverse genre of books.
SERENA DENICOLA, Landscape Designer
Before joining CBA in 2025, Serena gained experience working in Landscape Architecture offices in Boston, Ithaca, New York, and Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where she contributed to a variety of projects including community farms, sustainable resort hotels, parks, and universities. She holds a Bachelor's of Science in Landscape Architecture with a minor in Climate Change from Cornell University. Serena's passion for landscape design stems from her love of the environment, gained during a childhood spent surrounded by Floridian nature and rock climbing outdoors. Serena is driven by our ability to make the spaces we occupy more sustainable, healthy, and beautiful for the wellbeing of the planet and its people. Outside of work, she enjoys rock climbing, running, yoga, skiing, hiking, traveling, and painting.
Clara Couric Batchelor, Founder and principal Emerita, RLA, ASLA, LEED AP
The founder of CBA, Clara Batchelor established the firm as a leader in the design of urban open spaces; her portfolio includes city plazas, schoolyards, playgrounds, and passive parks. Ms. Batchelor's projects have been published in the New York Times, Landscape Architecture Magazine, Garden Design, Design New England, New England Home Magazine, Great Backyards, Landscape Architect and Specifier News, and on the television shows Restore America with Bob Vila, Bob Vila’s Home Again, and People, Places, Plants. Ms. Batchelor has received numerous awards for her projects, including the BSLA Merit Award for the Harriet Tubman Park in Boston’s South End and the Massachusetts Historical Commission Preservation Award for the Warren House in Newton, MA. She presented at ABX/Greenbuild 2017, as well as at the New York Botanic Garden, Smith College, and has taught at Harvard Graduate School of Design’s Evening Courses for Professional Development. Ms. Batchelor holds a BS from Smith College and she received her MLA from the Harvard Graduate School of Design. She is a registered Landscape Architect in Massachusetts, and serves as a Parks and Recreation Commissioner for the Town of Brookline.