IMPACTED BY THE FIRES? CHECK OUT OUR
IMPACTED BY THE FIRES? CHECK OUT OUR
We don’t just manage permits—we remove roadblocks, cut through red tape, and get projects approved.
A sweeping entrance of a national landmark, a riding center for children, a boutique marketplace in a coastal community, an iconic music & arts venue in an up and coming neighborhood, a bar and restaurant by a visionary chef, or a young couple’s home where they’ll build a family. Each of these projects we manage will act as the fabric for memories of one or many generations to come.
So when we decided on our own offices, we knew that where we work, affects how we work. This meant glass and light, nature, flora, and community all in one. We chose the award winning 2 acre facilities and campus at ‘The Preserve’ in Hollywood, designed by Spanish practice, SelgasCano. It’s here that Whitestone takes visionary ideas and drives their city approval so that they can become physical spaces we all use.
Come visit us sometime at 1370 N St Andrews Place,
Los Angeles, CA 90028
Principal / Founder
Specialty: Estates Expert
Jake, as the founder of Whitestone, works at a high strategy level for all company projects. He’s overseen roughly a hundred projects a year since the company’s founding in 2019.
He has a degree from The University of Cincinnati in Urban Studies and has worked in Land Use both in Cincinnati and Los Angeles for the last 15 years. Known for his intelligent approach and deep understanding of local regulations, he’s a self described land use nerd, and enjoys discussing local and global trends alike.
Outside of the office he swaps time between writing, exercise, the outdoors, and cultural activities with friends.
Sr Planning Consultant
Specialty: Discretionary Entitlements
Elizabeth Optholt is a Planning Consultant with a degree in Urban Planning, with a focus in Historic Preservation from the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign. Throughout her career, she feels lucky to have worked on a variety of preservation and adaptive reuse projects throughout the City of LA. A particularly special recent project has been the Lovell Health House, whose renovation involved completing work shown in Richard Neutra’s early models that was never constructed – how special to be a bridge from the past to today.
She finds purpose in collaborating on projects that are thoughtful odes to the environment and the neighborhoods they are situated in.
Outside the office, Elizabeth is often helping with little furniture or production design projects for fun.
Sr Project Manager
Specialty: Commercial Expert
John is a Senior Project Manager with a degree in Creative Writing and Linguistic Studies from Miami University; and an extensive background in music and event production. Passionate about Historic Conservation, Adaptive Re-Use of Culturally Significant property, and Native Plant Landscaping; John has managed a variety of projects with Whitestone, and is particularly proud of his work on historically-significant projects including Frank Lloyd Wright’s Anderton Court in Beverly Hills, and the Hollyhock House in Los Feliz.
Outside of the office John enjoys scuba diving, live music, and backpacking.
Project Manager
Specialty: Expediting Expert
Gaby Carrillo Has been working in permitting for over 8 years, helping bring projects to life across Los Angeles County. She’s worked on everything from residential remodels to large-scale commercial and mixed-use developments.
One of her most memorable experiences was managing the Final Certificate of Occupancy for The West Hollywood Edition Hotel—a standout moment in her career. She also contributed to The Grand LA, designed by Frank Gehry, and loves being involved in projects that shape the city’s skyline.
Gaby enjoys being part of the journey that transforms drawings into beautiful, tangible spaces. She’s passionate about helping teams navigate the complexities of permitting and seeing projects come to life.
Outside the office she loves cooking, hosting friends, and mixing up handcrafted cocktails for a great night in.
Project Manager
Specialty: Food & Beverage Expert
Kristan is a Consulting Manager at Whitestone, specializing in commercial hospitality projects and nationwide permit expediting. With deep expertise in health and building codes, and a reputation for building strong relationships with stakeholders, Kristan consistently brings projects across the finish line with transparency, efficiency, and a collaborative spirit.
In Los Angeles, one of her favorite projects was the Vista Theater Renovation and Pam’s Coffy concept with Quentin Tarantino. These days, she’s expanding her expertise by permitting corporate chain projects across the US.
Kristan holds a BS in Urban Planning from Cal Poly Pomona and an AS in Architecture from Fullerton College.
Outside of work, Kristan enjoys cooking, indulging in good food, cycling (on occasion), and lovingly disturbing her Shih-Poo, Charlie, from his naps. She’s a four-time self-declared laundry-folding champion and firmly believes children are better admired from afar.
Office Manager / Admin
Aylar serves as an Administrator at Whitestone. She oversees day to day office management, accounting, tax and project administration.
With academic backgrounds in Accounting and Fashion Design from universities in both Iran and the U.S., Aylar brings a unique blend of precision and creativity to her role.
She enjoys helping others and finds fulfillment in making complex financial processes more accessible and efficient.
Outside of work, Aylar draws inspiration from reading psychology books, practicing meditation, walking in nature, and exploring spiritual teachings.
Associate Project Manager
Karla Mora has a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering at the National University of Engineering in Managua Nicaragua. She plays a vital part in managing small-scale development projects, conducting detailed property research, and supporting entitlement-related processes. Her work contributes directly to the successful navigation of Los Angeles’ often complex and multilayered permitting environment.
Karla is especially passionate about understanding municipal regulations and facilitating efficient project clearances. She thrives on helping clients understand the details and steps of building approvals, ensuring that each project moves forward with clarity and confidence.
When not working, Karla enjoys spending time with her family, going to concerts, and exploring new places with her dogs.
Project Manager
Specialty: Multifamily Expert
Peter studied Architecture at the Art Institute of California. Over the last decade, he’s managed approvals for dozens of investors, and close to a hundred large multifamily projects across Los Angeles, his specialty. Peter particularly enjoyed the complexity of approving a mixed use project with 300 units in Reseda for address 6650 Reseda Blvd.
His background in drafting and architecture brought him to work at Whitestone as a draftsman for projects across commercial & single family before he joined the project management team. His understanding of technical drawings and his ability to see from both the bureaucratic and technical side makes him a favorite among city engineers and project teams alike.
Peter’s interest in architecture and design started as a child sitting on his father’s lap while, as a Civil & Structural Engineer in Taiwan, he hand drafted engineering blueprints. Watching his father work on large projects such as mountain bridges & cross ocean tunnels, his ambitions taught him to build big. When Peter isn’t working he’s an avid weight lifter and has been patiently making his way into public service through police & safety training.