The Hub

Mariska Peel is originally from South Africa, where she obtained her Masters in Architecture, with honors. Prior to joining Design (Cayman) in 2017, Mariska worked in the construction industry for several years in Durban, South Africa.

Since early childhood, Mariska has shown a great interest in puzzles and believes architecture to be the epitome of puzzles, as it requires both creative and rational problem-solving skills. She enjoys the balanced integration of artistic sensibility and scientific methodology that both large and small designs provide. Through this, Mariska finds her work closer to ‘playing’ than ‘working’ at Design Cayman.

Mariska’s long-standing core values are to be respectful. This goes beyond her personal relationships, to her work and her designs, where she strives to keep her designs respectful to the community and environment. She values continually improving her designs, abilities and herself.

She is a very private person but can be spotted on weekends enjoying her solitude on a paddleboard while fishing with magnets.

Cindy O’Hara, Chairwoman and Founder of Design Cayman, is from the Cayman Islands and has over 30 years of experience in the construction industry in Cayman and internationally, with an exceptional foundation in sustainable architecture and project.

Prior to opening Design Cayman in January 2008, Cindy was Managing Director of OBM International Limited’s Cayman Islands office from 2001 to 2007. After studying architecture in Canada, France and Spain, Cindy became an integral part of the design team at CGMJ Architects from 1992 to 2000.

She is dedicated to making a better country for her son’s and the people of Cayman’s future by creating spaces that work, inspire and are grounded in Caymanian tradition. She is grateful to be a member of the Cayman construction industry for nearly 30 years, starting as a student and building a career as an architect under her mentor and friend, the late Bill Bissell, who taught her civic pride, professionalism and ethics, and above all, duty to her country.

Her design approach encompasses a uniquely minimal-modern Caribbean sensibility, yet with feet always firmly planted in Caymanian soil. She is passionate about creating practical buildings that are technically advanced and sustainable against our regional climate, including being storm- and earthquake-resistant.

Sustainability in design and architecture means, in its simplest form, building something smart and something that lasts. The design process focuses on ensuring the best fit of the built environment to the natural environment.

Alex Mena-Hebbert is from the Cayman Islands and is a Senior Architectural Technologist, Facility Management Professional, and a Partner at Design Cayman with over 20 years of experience.

At age 10 he was focused on his goal of becoming an Architect. In 1999, He attended the Cayman Islands Community College, now known as the University College of the Cayman Islands, studying Construction Technology. In 2000, he started as an intern at OBM International as an Office Junior and worked his way up the chain to Junior Draftsman before attending Humber College in Toronto Canada in 2004, where he attained an Advanced Diploma in Architectural Technology.

In 2008, Alex joined the founding partners, Cindy O’ Hara (former director of OBMI) and Brian Macdonald at Design Cayman. With his strong listening and communication skills, expertise in drafting and detailing, vast knowledge in Building codes and laws, and a fun approach to resolving stressful situations, Alex’s core values add depth to the Design Cayman family. For the past 6 years, Alex has worked closely with Brian to develop the ‘Small Works Division’where he manages various projects and works directly with clients, consultants, and Government Authorities.

In 2019, Alex became a junior Partner of Design Cayman, adding another milestone to his growing career.

Alex has worked to further himself by obtaining a facility management professional certificate in 2011 and is registered with the International Facility Management Association (IFMA). Presently, Alex’s professional goals include becoming a Certified Facilities Manager (CFM).

In his personal life he works towards achieving a black belt in Taekwondo and living a healthier lifestyle.

Debby Kohler is originally from Chicago and most recently from Orlando Florida. Debby fell in love with the Cayman Islands and thought her well-rounded experience of office organization and her meticulous eye for numbers would be an asset to enhance any workplace. This self-motivated and service-oriented positive outlook encouraged the management of Design Cayman Limited to hire Debby as Operations Officer in 2017.

Debby’s bubbly and lively personality brightens the office every day. Her long-standing core values are to be cooperative and accommodating with and for anyone who requires support. She believes personal relationships are the foundation of a great business and exceptional people.

With 15 years’ experience providing operational support to professional office environments, Debby has developed solid client relationships and offers a new dimension to the office. This is turn allows all of the team to concentrate their time and creative energy towards their clients, providing the high level of service every client has come to expect.

“I enjoy bringing my undivided focus to individual tasks and office management with a focus on client service. I understand that creating and maintaining order, maintaining an accurate schedule leads to optimal business productivity and exceptional client experience.”

Debby’s passion is travel and photography! Each new destination sparks a desire for more travel.

Shana is from the Cayman Islands and began her Architecture career through the construction industry. As a child, she was found to be naturally artistic and found to be happiest when she was amid art, craft and design. She later gravitated towards Architecture because of her experience in construction and her passion for art & craft, and in 2017, after obtaining her bachelor’s in architecture, she started her career with Design Cayman.

Getting involved has been a consistent theme in all that Shana does in life. When she is not busy in the office you will find her volunteering at her local church, playing or teaching Women’s Basketball, or at home crafting a new art piece with her favorite being portraiture. She enjoys the mixture of solitude and social life and believes that keeping a balance of both lifestyles helps her to grow in her creativity.

Shana’s long-standing core values are equality: her eye for detail and the desire to please others lead her to pour out all of her knowledge and the best of her creativity to every project, regardless of its size, so that every project receives the best of its potential and the end result is something that both her and others are proud of, and inclusion: as Shana’s main goal is to produce works that bring happiness to those around her, she finds value in the opinions of others. The inclusion of others is what always bends, twists and shapes her designs in all the right ways.