People
Meet Our Team
Emma Souder, AIA, GGP
Principal & Owner
It seems we have Legos to thank for Emma’s career as an architect. She loved them as a kid and, quite literally, built a foundation of creativity upon those little plastic shapes. Practicing since 1996, she sees architecture as a profession of endless opportunities, not just for helping people realize their dreams for their space or building, but also for constantly learning something new and perfecting her trade. Outside of work, Emma finds satisfaction in renovating her house and cultivating the yard. In her free time, she enjoys traveling abroad and sailing and taking care of her French bulldog, Sha-Nay-Nay.
Joellen P. Rogers, AIA, LEED AP
Studio Leader
Joellen arrived in Charleston in 2005 by way of Indiana. She was born and raised on the shores of Lake Michigan and attended Ball State University where she received degrees in Architecture and Environmental Design. Now a licensed architect, she is an enthusiast of many things, but none quite as much as her family including her husband, two sons, and her French Bulldog, Minnie. Joellen is obsessed with her Park Circle neighborhood and lives in a home she designed in 2014. She says that the best part of any design project is witnessing its occupants thriving in the finished space.
Katie F. Sedor, AIA
Project Architect
Katie has the video game, The Sims, to thank for her choice to pursue an Interior Design degree at Ohio University. Unsatisfied with both the Ohio winters and the limitations of interior design, she continued on to earn a Master of Architecture degree from Clemson University (Go Tigers!). As both a licensed architect and interior designer, Katie's passion for the holistic view of the interior and exterior environment, working together, drive her design. Attention to detail, while still keeping a big picture in mind is important to her in both architecture and life! She has been living in Charleston since 2012 with her two dogs, Frank Lloyd Wright and DOG (Dee-oh-gee).
Russell Hopper, AIA, NCARB
Senior Architect
A Charleston native, Russell joined Red Iron Architects as Senior Architect in mid 2023. Russell received his B.Arch from the University of Tennessee School of Architecture and began his career as an architect throughout the Southeast in the late 1990s. Russell is passionate in his belief that excellent design has the power to enrich the lives of his clients and community. He has won numerous design awards and collaborated throughout his career with internationally recognized architecture firms. In his free time, Russell can often be found playing his Irish fiddle, with friends at the local pub, or hiking and exploring local historic sites.
Elizabeth M. Weir, Associate AIA
Project Manager
Elizabeth grew up in Amman, Jordan, where she was exposed early on to rich culture, architecture, and archaeology. She moved to Spartanburg, SC with her family in 1997 and realized her passion for art, mostly due to her architect/artist father, and decided to pursue a degree in architecture at Clemson University, graduating in 2010. At that time, during the height of the recession, she decided to move to Charleston with her brother (also an architect) to find a job. One day, as she was walking the alleys of Downtown Charleston, she stumbled upon a beautiful old building on Unity Alley with a restaurant inside. Unbeknownst to her at the time, she would end up working there as a server, learning a great deal about food and wine, and finding her future husband. Their family grew with the additions of their beautiful children, Paul and Laila. Elizabeth has been with Red Iron since early 2020. Outside of the office, she loves to spend time with family, garden, cook/bake, make art, and help others.
