Who We Are

Valerie Simone

Valerie Simone is a process improvement and project management professional with over 20 years in the real estate, financial services, healthcare, and automotive industries.  She graduated from The College of William & Mary in Virginia with a bachelor’s degree in economics and math, and she obtained her master’s degree in business administration (MBA) from the University of Michigan, where she founded the Business School Environmental Society.  Her MBA studies and subsequent role as a buyer for Ford Motor Company introduced her to the Toyota Production System (TPS; aka “Lean”), which she observed was a superior system for allowing organizations to operate and grow while maintaining “best-in-class” levels of safety, quality, delivery, cost, and morale.  She continued her studies at the Georgia Institute of Technology, obtaining a Six Sigma Black Belt and wrote a textbook for her Six Sigma professor.  She joined a financial services start-up (eventually purchased by Goldman Sachs), where she developed and launched a continuous improvement training program with support from her TPS/Lean teacher and mentor, Steve Hoeft.  Valerie taught hundreds of leaders and front-line professionals the value of “Respect for People” and “Continuous Improvement,” TPS’s two main pillars.  She also taught Business Process Modeling Notation (BPMN) 2.0 to her students as part of documenting, implementing, and improving processes.

Manuela Diaz

Manuela Diaz is a distinguished architect and urban planner renowned for her deep commitment to social causes and sustainable design. A proud alumna of the Latin University of Costa Rica, Manuela graduated with honors, earning accolades for her innovative thesis, which she generously donated to the ‘Association for Comprehensive Care for the Elderly of Alajuela.’ This work, which delves into the challenges posed by the increasing elderly population in Costa Rica, highlights her unwavering dedication to leveraging architecture to enhance lives.

With a career marked by diverse and impactful projects across Costa Rica, Colombia, and Los Angeles, Manuela has consistently demonstrated her expertise and passion for creating inclusive and sustainable spaces. Her relentless pursuit of professional development led her to UCLA, where she earned a certificate in Construction Management, graduating with honors. This achievement not only broadened her technical knowledge but also equipped her with the skills to manage complex projects efficiently.

At Pangea Design Build, Manuela continues to embody her vision of architecture as a transformative force. Her work emphasizes environmental stewardship and the betterment of communities, reflecting her belief that thoughtful design can address societal challenges and improve quality of life. Manuela’s portfolio is a testament to her ability to blend aesthetic appeal with functionality and sustainability, making her a valuable asset to any project she undertakes.

Beyond her professional endeavors, Manuela is an advocate for continuous learning and community engagement. She actively participates in workshops and seminars aimed at promoting sustainable urban development and regularly volunteers her expertise to support non-profit organizations. Her holistic approach to architecture and urban planning positions her as a forward-thinking leader in the field, committed to creating a better, more sustainable world through her work.

John Buhmeyer

John Buhmeyer grew up in the Southeast and spent over 20 years in the United States Air Force stationed in Montana, California, Idaho, and Colorado.  He obtained undergraduate and graduate degrees in business graduating Magna Cum Laude, as well as a business-related PhD and earned Walden University’s Harold L. Hodgkinson Award for Outstanding Dissertation.  During his military career, John worked in multiple Space and Missile commands, including US Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM), Air Combat Command (ACC), AF Space Command (AFSPACECOM), Air and Education Training Command (AETC), and North American Aerospace Defense Command – Northern Command (NORAD-USNORTHCOM).  He was an operations officer and program director in training, developmental, and operations organizations across the Department of Defense before retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel.  He has also served near 10 years on the board of directors of multiple community associations.   In 2020, John and his wife, Valerie, were eager to redirect their skills toward helping people live happier lives in harmony with the natural environment.  Together, they studied real estate development and ways to build off-grid, earth-friendly homes and communities.  Their quest to find “best-in-class,” forward-thinking, and sustainable building design and construction techniques brought them to Pangea Design | Build and Jonah Reynolds, with whom they shared a common vision.

Eric Ryder