Steve Semones, LA

Steve is a Senior Director of Land Development for the East region at Westwood, with over 27 years of experience in land use planning, site design and landscape architecture. Joining Westwood through its acquisition of Balzer and Associates, Steve brings a comprehensive project portfolio spanning commercial and residential developments, mixed-use communities, industrial and both public and private sector projects.

In his current role as Senior Director, Steve supports business development and new market expansion initiatives across areas in Virginia, Tennessee and North Carolina. Steve also leads all governmental land use entitlement projects originating from the New River Valley office and is dedicated to navigating clients through the ever-changing regulatory and political environments to overcome development obstacles and secure project approvals. Throughout his career he has been actively involved from initial conceptual planning through to final construction, delivering designs that balance aesthetics, function, and environmental responsibility. His background also includes wetland delineations and environmental planning, adding value to developments by ensuring regulatory compliance and cost-effective solutions.

An advocate for collaboration between the development community and government, Steve has served on numerous committees, stakeholder groups and industry boards at the local and state level, including as Past President of the New River Valley Home Builders Association and Past Chair of the Virginia Board of Housing and Community Development. This commitment to fostering partnerships has established him as a trusted consultant to both his clients and the municipalities in which he works. He is a regular speaker and guest lecturer for various degree programs at Virginia Tech and also sits on the Landscape Architecture Advisory Board at Virginia Tech, reinforcing his commitment to advancing the profession.