Our Team

Marco Barrantes, Principal

Marco Barrantes was born and raised in Southern California, as well as early years in Peru and elsewhere, an international background with citizenships in Peru, Italy, and the USA. Raised in various countries and having traveled extensively, Marco brings a multicultural and global perspective to La Loma Development Company, Inc. Mr. Barrantes' professional career is exemplary of his worldly and interdisciplinary education and life experiences. He received his Masters in Landscape Architecture and Masters in Environmental Planning from UC Berkeley in 2004. In 1999, Mr. Barrantes completed the pioneering B.A. program in Ecology, Culture and Sustainability at NCOC, Santa Rosa, Ca, where he helped to start the legendary PEA, a local garden and greening campaign. He has over ten years of experience as a certified Permaculture designer, with Bill Mollison 1997 and La'akea 1999, and as an autodidact, avid gardener and handyman. Marco has traveled to many places, participated in many events, and studied with many teachers throughout California, as well as Hawaii, Mexico, Costa Rica, Peru, Western Europe, China and Japan.

Forging partnerships between community members, non-profit organizations, and city government for green and sustainable projects, Marco Barrantes is the former Parks and Recreation Commissioner for the City of Berkeley, where he served for five years and oversaw dozens of projects for the city's parks, greenways, creeks, shores and natural areas. Prior to La Loma, Marco also worked with the Urban Gardening Institute and helped to create Spiral Gardens Community Food Security Project, a federally funded two-block community farm, organic nursery and produce store in South West Berkeley. Marco Barrantes' first book, "Feed Your City: Field Guide to Planning for Food Systems," was published in 2004 by CED, Berkeley.

Mr. Barrantes passions span from creative real estate, sustainable landscape design, site planning, erosion control, runoff water use, hillside developments, vineyards, orchards, natural pools and ponds, etc. He's designing for healing, entertaining, and other functional purposes, as well as for animals, such as dogs, cats, fish and chickens. His designs and built projects have been featured in various media outlets, such as the LA Times, the ABC Evening News, and the Berkeley Daily.

Anahi Cervantes, Jr. Designer

Anahi Cervantes received her Bachelor of Science degree in Landscape Architecture from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. Her experience in studio design from individual topic studios to interdisciplinary design courses, span across diverse project types such as large scale urban planning designs to smaller residential designs. She believes a stimulating part of a landscape is the occurrence of visible change over time. From gardening to computer drafting, Anahi’s concentrations are supported by her knowledge of horticulture and understanding of landscape systems. She enjoys the challenge of creating landscapes that combine beauty and sustainability to harmonize with each client’s distinct visions.

Eiko Hamada-Ano, Jr. Designer

Eiko Hamada-Ano, a Landscape Design Associate and Fine Gardener, is responsible for project design, research and development, and construction estimates on a wide range of projects from private residential gardens to urban parks.  Eiko has over six years of experience in architecture and four years in horticulture with a sustainable, organic approach to design, construction and maintenance. She has been involved in converting lawns into climate-appropriate gardens, urban food systems, grey-water harvesting, rain catchment systems, natural pools, aquaculture, green roof and outdoor learning playscape.  Eiko is a California Native, committed and passionate about energy conservation, natural building practices and sustainable urban living in Los Angeles.  Her hobbies are backpacking, gardening, dancing, and photography.

Michelle Matthews, Creative Director

Michelle Matthews received her BFA from the Art Institute of Chicago and her MFA from the University of Southern California Roski School of Fine Arts. Her fine art photography has dealt with the landscape, the built environment and identity through place. Her thesis was a photographic geo-history of all the places she has lived and attended school in Los Angeles, and she continues to create photographic work on the urban landscape, which includes a curiosity for urban empty lots, empty buildings, and construction sites. It was only a natural fit that she left her role as a Senior Designer at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles in 2008 to work with La Loma as a graphic designer, marketing and communications director. Michelle was happy to combine her understanding of the landscape through art, with designing and building landscapes, as she sees the landscape as a way to immediately improve the quality of life in a big city.  

Steve Miller, Bookeeper

Steve Miller joined the La Loma Development team in February 2012.  He comes to us after 14 years in the gaming industry as a Controller, and before then 5 years as a Controller in the clothing industry.  Steve grew up in Altadena, CA where he attended St. Francis High School.  He then attended Cal Poly San Luis Obispo where he earned his degree in Recreation Administration.  Steve was also a four year lettermen in football and signed with the Los Angeles Rams after his senior year.  His Mom owned a landscape company for many years where Steve developed his passion and knowledge of landscaping.  Steve hopes to combine his accounting knowledge with his passion for landscaping to be a helpful asset to La Loma.  Steve currently resides in Montrose with his wife Angela.

Jordan Trujillo, Project Coordinator

Jordan Trujillo is a great community liaison and knowledgeable about local and global environmental issues.  With a background in conservation biology and ethnobotany Jordan has worked with closely with CSU Los Angeles and UC Santa Cruz faculty on some of the most pressing conservation challenges of California and Canada.  After receiving the 2011 Tarrence Freitas Award for demonstrating scholastic commitment to indigenous studies and environmental conservation, Jordan worked in collaboration with the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band UCSC Arboretum, The National Park Service to create the Amah Mutsun Re-learning Garden.  The garden has since unfolded as a place where traditional plant-gathering and tending co-exists with educational and interpretive programs.