Lead Instructor & Curriculum Developer
Owner, Accessory Dwelling Strategies LLC
Founder, AccessoryDwellings.org
Author, Backdoor Revolution
Kol is the owner of Accessory Dwelling Strategies LLC, a company dedicated to ADU-related education, advocacy and consulting. He edits and manages accessorydwellings.org, a website that addresses ADU policy issues and features an array of ADU projects. Kol also wrote the book on ADUs, Backdoor Revolution: The Definitive Guide to ADU Development, runs Portland’s city-wide ADU tour, offers homeowner-focused ADU courses, and delivers ADU education, speaking and consulting for a variety of audiences.
Kol is the lead instructor & curriculum developer of the ADU Specialist training and accreditation program.
DIRECTOR
Kol Peterson
All About ADUs Instructor
Principal, Inspired ADUs
Principal, Larson Shores Architecture and Interiors
Carrie is the Principal at Inspired ADUs and Larson Shores Architecture & Interiors. She dedicated to timeless architectural and design excellence rooted in a sense of place and purpose. She is a licensed architect and LEED AP, who received her master’s degree in architecture from UC Berkeley, where she met her business partner Josh Larson. Carrie’s fierce commitment to ADUs and aging in community began when she, herself, faced serious spinal problems. She realized, firsthand, that her home was fighting rather than supporting her. The wisdom gained from her 10-year battle for wellness and personal independence opened her eyes to the environmental needs of the disabled and elderly, and informs every Inspired ADU.
Carrie is a content developer and instructor for ADU Specialist trainings in the Bay Area, CA.
DESIGN
Carrie Shores-Diller
Stephanie Gutierrez is a distinguished realtor with over a decade of experience in the real estate industry, having worked in the dynamic markets of Orange County, Los Angeles County, Palm Springs and Miami. She started working in Real Estate in 2011 and was licensed in 2016. Her expertise is prominently centered around ADUs, and she's helped numerous homeowners buy and build these valuable property additions.
She leads a dedicated team of real estate professionals who share her ADU specialization, sold over 500 homes and has helped clients with over 40 ADU projects between 2017 to 2023. She runs ADU Meetup events, fostering a community of real estate professionals in Los Angeles and Orange County & San Diego who share her enthusiasm. Over the course of her career, Stephanie has successfully helped over forty homeowners and investors in building ADUs, positively impacting their property value and rental income.
In addition to her ADU advocacy, Stephanie has also played a pivotal role in guiding clients through the process of buying or selling properties with existing ADUs, leveraging her in-depth knowledge of this niche. Her involvement in various investments and construction projects further showcases her dedication to this market.
REAL ESTATE
Stephanie Gutierrez
Gabe Alvarez is a professional with over 20 years of extensive experience in the architectural and construction industry. This began with a 13-year stint as an AutoCAD designer in Orange County. Gabe transitioned into the construction sector over a decade ago. In 2010, he founded GA Design Build, Inc., based in Downey, CA. Under his leadership, GA Design Build has emerged as one of the premier ADU contractors in the greater Los Angeles area.
Gabe's company distinguishes itself by offering comprehensive services, encompassing the entire spectrum of design and construction for ADUs. Since 2017, GA Design Build has designed and built over 50 ADUs. This includes garage conversions, junior ADUs and ground up detached new construction. The majority of these ADU have been built in the greater Los Angeles Area, Downey, Long Beach and areas of Orange County.
GA Design Build provides clients with a seamless experience from conceptualization to the final construction phase. Gabe's commitment to quality, innovation, and client satisfaction has established his design & build firm as a trusted partner in the construction industry.
BUILD
Gabe Alvarez
Meredith Munger is a loan officer at CrossCountry Mortgage and the lead loan officer at ADUloans.net with a focus on helping families buy, build, renovate and refinance property. She’s worked in mortgage for 12 years and specialized in ADU financing since 2017. She is also a specialist in construction and Renovation loans, including the FHA 203(k), Fannie Mae Homestyle Renovation, Construction HELOCs and privately funded construction bridge loans. Meredith is a certified lender for the California Housing Finance Authority, and is licensed in California, Oregon and Arizona.
As a founding member of the ADU Coalition and Casita Coalition, she also advocates for attainable housing from the financing perspective. She consults with local housing and HUD counseling agencies including Richmond Neighborhood Housing Services, HPP Cares, Housing El Dorado and the San Diego Housing Commission. She is regularly featured in ADU articles written by the Los Angeles Times and other publications and is a regular featured speaker at the California Association of Realtors.
FINANCE & APPRAISAL
Meredith Munger
FINANCE & APPRAISAL
Meredith Munger
Derek Sherrell
DEVELOPER PLENARY
Derek is a real estate investor, ADU builder, and endurance athlete with over 25 years experience in the building/development trade.
His first ADU build was a high school project in 1996. That led to a carpenter apprenticeship and a career as one of the youngest licensed building contractors in Oregon.
Derek founded ThatADUGuy.com and began an open-source video series designed to guide homeowners through the process of building or converting their own ADUs. As a pioneering ADU developer, builder, and investor, Derek brings one of the most comprehensive skill sets to any ADU discussion or instruction. He spends his days running, skiing, talking about ADUs with homeowners, policy makers, builders, and anyone else who will listen.
Derek is a content developer and instructor for ADU Specialist trainings in Southern Oregon.
