This exciting panel, hosted by AIA Philadelphia in collaboration with EPSA USA, is designed specifically for Architects, Principals, and Firm Owners looking to better understand and take advantage of evolving cash incentive opportunities for the R&D Tax Credit & the 179D Deduction. 

With recent changes under OBBBA, now is the time for firms to take a fresh look. EPSA will kick things off with a clear, practical overview of what’s changed and how it impacts eligibility and cash benefits, followed by real-world insights and discussion with: 

• Gabe Deck, Principal & Design Director at GNOME Architects
• Kate Julyan, Director of Finance and Operations at DIGSAU 
• John Mishler, Manager & A&E Expert at EPSA USA

Learning Objectives:

1. Understand the recent changes under OBBBA and how they now create opportunities, and sometimes hurdles. 
2. Identify which architectural activities and projects may qualify under updated guidelines 
3. Learn how firms are practically implementing and benefiting from these incentives 
4. Gain insight into key considerations when evaluating whether to revisit past or ongoing projects 

Credits: Coming soon!

Speakers:

(Moderator) Alexis Martin is the CEO of EPSA USA, the U.S. arm of EPSA Group, a global consulting firm focused on Innovation Funding and Operational Performance. Since joining in 2021, Alexis has led the company’s efforts to help small- and medium-sized businesses unlock cash flow through tax credits and incentives, with a particular focus on architecture and engineering firms. With more than 20 years of experience across New York City, Pittsburgh, and Philadelphia, Alexis brings deep expertise in business strategy, expansion, and operational optimization, working closely with CPA firms and industry partners to ensure clients capture the full value of available incentives while maintaining strict compliance with IRS guidelines. Prior to EPSA USA, Alexis built and scaled the U.S. operations of an international consulting firm supporting global companies entering the American market, and later led the European Desk at YER USA, helping organizations expand their U.S. presence through strategic talent acquisition. Alexis holds a Master’s degree in Management and Entrepreneurship and is actively involved in professional organizations, including several CPA state societies (PICPA, WICPA, MASSCPA) and the Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce, reflecting a strong commitment to industry education and advocacy.

Gabriel Deck is a founding partner and Principal at Gnome Architects, a Philadelphia-based architecture and interiors firm he co-leads from the BOK Building in South Philadelphia. With more than 20 years of experience, Gabriel began his career at a globally recognized firm in Philadelphia before founding Gnome, where he leads creative direction across the firm's portfolio of high-end residential and mixed-use projects. Rooted in Philadelphia and the surrounding region, Gnome's practice spans the Mid-Atlantic and beyond, built on contextual design and a deeply collaborative process. Gabriel oversees the design process across the firm, with a particular focus on site-specific residential work that integrates with its surroundings. Gnome was recognized with the AIA Philadelphia Emerging Architect Award in 2022 and continues to earn regional and national recognition.

Kate Julyan is Director of Finance and Operations at DIGSAU, a contemporary architecture, urbanism, and environmental design practice based in Philadelphia. Working from a single studio of more than 45 professionals, DIGSAU serves arts and culture, civic, educational, corporate, and nonprofit clients across the United States. Since joining the firm in 2008, Kate has worked alongside DIGSAU’s founding members to lead finance and business operations, helping guide the firm’s sustained growth and evolution. She oversees financial planning, business operations, human resources, risk management, and administrative functions, ensuring the firm’s long-term success. Her accomplishments include successfully leveraging the federal R&D Tax Credit for the past decade and orchestrating multiple 179D deductions across several projects prior to the program's changes under the OBBBA. Her steady leadership ensures DIGSAU maintains the capacity necessary to deliver enduring, mission-driven projects. 

John Mishler serves as a Manager & A&E Expert at EPSA USA. In this role, he works with clients to identify and substantiate qualified research activities across a wide range of industries, with a particular focus on architecture, engineering, and construction. He also has extensive experience supporting companies in manufacturing, software, agriculture, and food and beverage. With a strong legal foundation and a sharp analytical mindset, John brings both technical depth and intellectual curiosity to his work. He is known for his thoughtful, client-centered approach—taking the time to understand each business’s unique challenges and operations in order to deliver meaningful, strategic guidance. Trusted by clients across industries, John excels at bridging complex tax regulations with real-world business goals.