A Legacy of Relationships: Lisa Thomas’s Indelible Influence on Landscape Architecture and Land Planning in Southeastern PA
In the field of landscape architecture and land planning, technical expertise is expected. Creativity is assumed. But what sets true leaders apart is their ability to forge meaningful connections, to see beyond blueprints and zoning laws to the human element that breathes life into every project.
As RGS Associates principal Lisa Thomas, RLA, AICP prepares to retire at the end of this year after an accomplished career spanning four decades, it’s clear that her legacy extends far beyond the campuses and communities she’s helped shape.
Her legacy is woven into the fabric of countless relationships she’s cultivated along the way.
From Classmate to Cornerstone: The Early Years
Lisa’s journey in landscape architecture began at Penn State University, where she first crossed paths with Bernard “Bern” Panzak, who is now one of Lisa’s fellow principals at RGS.
“Our relationship goes back to when we were 18 years old in the same dorm at Penn State in the [landscape architecture] program,” Bern said. “As you often do, you work with fellow students on design projects in groups. That’s where we first got to work with each other.”
One of the projects that stands out was when they visited and analyzed the small Pennsylvania borough of Renovo in Clinton County. They wouldn’t know this, but years later, they would become business partners.
Those college years, Bern said, marked the beginning of a friendship that would span their entire careers.
“Lisa was originally from the Pittsburgh area, although we tried not to hold that against her,” Bern said with a laugh. “I think we actually graduated together, but there was an option to stay and complete a fifth year, and Lisa committed to stay.”
After graduation, Lisa’s path led her to the Philadelphia area, including a stint at Sullivan Associates. It was there that her reputation for excellence and attention to detail began to take shape. Dennis Glackin, who would later become a key figure in Lisa’s career, also worked at Sullivan Associates and said he remembers being impressed by Lisa almost immediately.
“Lisa was always very focused on her professional development and work,” Dennis said. “She was very attentive to detail. She obviously was smart and knew what she was doing.”
Bern said he met Dennis after Lisa reached out and persuaded Bern to join them at Sullivan. For a brief period the trio worked there together, foreshadowing their eventual partnership.
It wouldn’t be the first time Lisa influenced Bern’s career path.
The Birth of a Partnership: Glackin Thomas Panzak
When Dennis eventually struck out on his own, recruiting Lisa to join him in his new venture was an easy decision. After she joined him, it wasn’t long before he realized how important she was to the burgeoning firm.
“I decided I wanted to make her a full part of the business,” he said. “I had a planning background, not a landscape architecture background. So, we fit together really well that way.”
Dennis added that Lisa’s ability to bridge the gap between planning and landscape architecture became one of her greatest strengths. She could take a project from initial planning to detailed landscape design in a way that clients found invaluable, he said.
When the firm ultimately needed some additional help, Lisa took charge.
Reaching out to a former colleague and friend who had worked with her and Dennis at Sullivan, Lisa explained that Glackin Associates was looking to beef up the firm and bolster their landscape design capability.
“You might be in luck,” Lisa’s friend said. “I think I know someone who might be interested.”
When Lisa’s friend relayed the message, her husband Bern wasn’t merely interested — he was delighted.
With Bern on board, the firm began to build a reputation for success, and Dennis realized it was time to elevate Lisa’s role.
“She became a full partner in the firm sometime in the mid to late 90s,” he said. “At some point after Bern joined the firm, we changed the name to Glackin Thomas Panzak.”
A Leader Emerges: Building Trust and Solving Problems
Throughout her tenure at Glackin Thomas Panzak (GTP) and later at RGS Associates, Lisa’s leadership style set her apart. Colleagues and clients alike speak of her ability to navigate complex challenges with grace and determination.
John Forde, Senior Vice President of Development at Equus Capital Partners, has worked with Lisa on numerous projects over the years, including the ambitious Ellis Preserve development. John’s picture of Lisa is as a professional who is both technically proficient and deeply committed to her clients.
“There was never a task that they couldn’t figure out how to get done,” John said of Lisa and her team at GTP. “Whether developing a comprehensive set of guidelines or figuring out how to get the town a little more open space — whatever the task was, they did it and did it well.”
This sentiment is echoed by JoAnn Magnatta, Senior Vice President of Planning and Design at Main Line Health, who has collaborated with Lisa for over 25 years. When asked to describe Lisa’s approach, JoAnn didn’t hesitate.
“She is extremely talented,” JoAnn said. “Very professional, very patient, and very creative.”
Lisa’s ability to navigate complex projects is perhaps best exemplified by her work on the Lankenau Heart Pavilion for Main Line Health.
“When they told us we had to put something like 1,000 trees back on the site, I didn’t know what to do,” JoAnn recalled with a chuckle. “But we said, ‘We’ll figure it out.’ And we did. Thanks to Lisa, we figured it out.”
The Art of Relationship Building
By all accounts, what truly sets Lisa apart is her ability to forge lasting relationships. This skill has not only benefited her personally but has been instrumental in the success of countless projects and the growth of both GTP and RGS Associates.
Chris Garrity, who joined GTP over 20 years ago and is now a principal at RGS, speaks of Lisa as a mentor and career advisor.
“She was always a mentor, a kind of coach-type influence on my professional career,” Chris said. “Whether it be design-related or public speaking or marketing, building relationships; you name it. She had a large impact on the whole gamut of my professional growth.”
Lisa’s commitment to nurturing relationships extends to clients as well.
During the Ellis Preserve project, which required many nights of planning and meeting with municipal authorities, John Forde recalled how her level of dedication and personal investment made her a valued partner to her clients.
“We were really more or less – I want to say ‘family,’” he said. “I mean, during those pivotal years, I was spending more time with them than with my own wife!”
Lisa’s deep understanding of client needs and a commitment to helping them find creative solutions stood out to Eric Donovan, COO of Elmwood Park Zoo. Eric worked with Lisa and her team on a recent revitalization project at the zoo.
“Lisa has particularly been amazing and wonderfully supportive throughout the process for us,” he said, adding that she and her team made things easy with fresh ideas and new concepts. “They’re very receptive to our ideas and very creative. They took time to really understand where we come from and who we are.”
A Vision for the Future
As Lisa prepares for retirement, her impact on the profession and those around her is undeniable.
RGS principal Mark Hackenburg said Lisa was a driving force behind the merger between GTP and RGS and a primary reason why it has been so successful.
“Lisa was a strong champion for bringing our two organizations together,” Mark said. “She saw early on the value we could bring and the value they could bring to us. The merger also gave her confidence that there would be stability for her staff, which she cares deeply about.”
In the planning space, Mark said, Lisa is highly respected by municipal agencies and authorities, and that respect follows her everywhere.
“She really epitomizes the quality and strength of relationships that we look for in our organization,” he said. “Her expertise and reputation were key factors in our decision to align with GTP.”
Managing principal Joel Snyder agreed.
“She’s very driven,” Joel said. “Very capable, very easy to work with, and very personable. Since the merger, she has not taken her foot off the gas one bit.”
When she does finally step into retirement, Joel said her legacy will live on.
“She will certainly be missed,” he said.
An Enduring Legacy
As Lisa prepares to close this chapter of her life, she leaves behind a legacy that transcends the projects she’s completed and the accolades she’s received. Her true impact lies in the relationships she’s built and the standards of excellence she’s set for her team and the industry.
For Bern, Lisa’s departure is bittersweet. He knows she’s excited about the new path that awaits her, and he’s happy for her. At the same time, she’s played a major role in his life and career and will miss her frequent visits to his office.
“Our lives have intersected or intertwined in so many different ways over many, many years,” he said with emotion in his voice. “I mean, I could talk for a while on it, and I don’t even remember half of it. She’s just been a constant and trusted presence.”
In an industry often focused on the tangible – buildings, landscapes, and plans – Lisa Thomas has shown that the most enduring impact comes from the connections we make along the way. She has demonstrated that true success in landscape architecture and land planning comes not just from technical expertise, but from a deep understanding of human needs and a commitment to building lasting relationships. Her legacy will continue to grow through the projects she’s touched, the professionals she’s mentored, and the relationships she’s nurtured.
“She was a great partner,” Dennis Glackin said. “She made our company what it was in a lot of ways. If there’s one thing I could say to her now, it’s that I wish her the best of luck and good health in the future and that she continues to find happiness as she goes on in life.”
