LEADERSHIP
Nestor Zabala
Chief Executive Officer
Vickie Lester
Chief Operating Officer
Shellie Curry
Founder
Shellie Curry
AIA
President / Owner / Founder / Principal
Shellie Curry founded Curry Architects in 1990 and has been sharing his passion for architecture with this team ever since. This dedication inspires him to take each project to its highest level of design and efficiency. A specialist in providing great spaces with client budgets in mind, he is continually reminding staff that “We always have the proportions, scale, materials, texture; they are everything to the architecture”. He enjoys sharing his experiences with younger staff, helping them solve both the design and technical aspects of construction. Shellie received his Bachelor of Science in Architecture from the University of Texas in Arlington and Master of Architecture from the University of Pennsylvania.
Nestor Zabala
AIA, LEED AP-CI
Vice President / Principal
Nestor has over 20 years of experience and has headed the interior architecture and design department at Curry Architects since 2008. Before joining the Curry team, he co-founded CAZA Designs, a downtown Baltimore architectural design practice. Here his passion for historic renovations, adaptive reuse, and mixed-use projects within Charm City’s core really came alive. His environmental commitment has also brought recognition to projects such as the CHAI building for The Associated Jewish Charities and the Hilltop Center MDOT MVA building, both LEED© Silver. Traveling the world as a self-proclaimed foodie, he brings an inspired design palette back to the firm which has translated into some of the area’s hottest restaurants.
Victoria Lester
ASID, CID
Director Of Operations / Principal
Vickie’s career started as an intern for Shellie Curry in 2000 while still in college studying interior design. Afterwards, she joined his team full-time, and under his mentorship, developed a solid background in architecture while working on both residential and commercial projects. After gaining a sound knowledge of architecture and becoming an NCIDQ certified interior designer, she moved on to work with some of the best interior design firms in the region and ultimately returned to Curry Architects with enhanced experience and award-winning projects having earned publication in Chesapeake Home and Baltimore Magazine. In her free time, she enjoys staying active while training and practicing amateur boxing and Thai kickboxing.
Karen Bularz
Director of Finance and Administration
Karen brings over 15 years of experience in the business administration and accounting fields. She specializes in Enterprise application software and has implemented new tools for increasing efficiencies throughout the office. Karen received her degree from Randolph-Macon College in French and Psychology, as well as a diploma of French Language and Civilization Studies from the Sorbonne University in Paris.
Nestor Zabala
AIA, LEED AP-CI
Chief Executive Officer
The life of the party and making friends wherever he goes, Nestor is a very skilled and passionate architect and leader. He has a gift for transforming a building, a space, or an empty lot into more than just a beautiful place but one that effortlessly conveys the design direction in a way that inspires and excites our clients.
Nestor partnered with Shellie many years ago and has continued to grow the company in a thoughtful and sustainable direction. Focused on adaptive reuse projects, Nestor relishes breathing life into the old and forgotten. He has the ingenuity to navigate complicated existing conditions and troubleshoot underlying surprises on the fly. Having served on the Fells Point Design Review Committee, Nestor gained additional insight into the inner workings of the Baltimore City community’s needs.
A self-proclaimed foodie who has traveled the world, Nestor brings an inspired palette back to the firm that translates into our designs.
Vickie Lester
ASID, CID
Chief Operating Officer
From intern to Project Designer to Director of Operations, Vickie developed her career with Curry Architects, gaining a solid background in architecture and creating award-winning interior designs. More recently, Vickie’s proficiency has expanded into the newer cannabis industry, overseeing the design of several cannabis dispensaries and hundreds of thousands of square feet of cannabis cultivation and manufacturing projects.
In her current role as COO, Vickie’s practical and straightforward approach to the company's operations allows for clear direction in implementing our vision and culture. Confident and dedicated, Vickie’s perseverance shines as she forges the path to our firm’s future growth and continued success.
An amateur kickboxer, the lessons she has learned in the ring carry over into managing daily business activities and ensuring projects run efficiently with the same grit and discipline.
Shellie Curry
AIA
President / Owner / Founder / Principal
Shellie Curry founded Curry Architects in 1990 and has been sharing his passion for architecture with this team ever since. This dedication inspires him to take each project to its highest level of design and efficiency. A specialist in providing great spaces with client budgets in mind, he is continually reminding staff that “We always have the proportions, scale, materials, texture; they are everything to the architecture”. He enjoys sharing his experiences with younger staff, helping them solve both the design and technical aspects of construction. Shellie received his Bachelor of Science in Architecture from the University of Texas in Arlington and Master of Architecture from the University of Pennsylvania.
Nestor Zabala
AIA, LEED AP-CI
Vice President / Principal
Nestor has over 20 years of experience and has headed the interior architecture and design department at Curry Architects since 2008. Before joining the Curry team, he co-founded CAZA Designs, a downtown Baltimore architectural design practice. Here his passion for historic renovations, adaptive reuse, and mixed-use projects within Charm City’s core really came alive. His environmental commitment has also brought recognition to projects such as the CHAI building for The Associated Jewish Charities and the Hilltop Center MDOT MVA building, both LEED© Silver. Traveling the world as a self-proclaimed foodie, he brings an inspired design palette back to the firm which has translated into some of the area’s hottest restaurants.
Victoria Lester
ASID, CID
Director Of Operations / Principal
Vickie’s career started as an intern for Shellie Curry in 2000 while still in college studying interior design. Afterwards, she joined his team full-time, and under his mentorship, developed a solid background in architecture while working on both residential and commercial projects. After gaining a sound knowledge of architecture and becoming an NCIDQ certified interior designer, she moved on to work with some of the best interior design firms in the region and ultimately returned to Curry Architects with enhanced experience and award-winning projects having earned publication in Chesapeake Home and Baltimore Magazine. In her free time, she enjoys staying active while training and practicing amateur boxing and Thai kickboxing.
Karen Bularz
Director of Finance and Administration
Karen brings over 15 years of experience in the business administration and accounting fields. She specializes in Enterprise application software and has implemented new tools for increasing efficiencies throughout the office. Karen received her degree from Randolph-Macon College in French and Psychology, as well as a diploma of French Language and Civilization Studies from the Sorbonne University in Paris.
Shellie Curry
AIA
Founder
Only a few short years after moving to the Baltimore Metro area, Shellie’s entrepreneurial spirit encouraged him to found Curry Architects. His excellent design and technical skills were equaled by his willingness to form deep relationships and build trust with his clientele, many of whom are clients to this day. Shellie created a relaxed yet professional culture carefully crafted over the years into a welcoming and supportive environment where each team member is heard and valued. Mentoring and coaching his staff and team resulted in building the next generation of leadership for Curry Architects.
Now semi-retired, Shellie is back in his home state of Texas enjoying quality time with friends and family and the chance to pick up his guitar again. While he is not involved in the day-to-day operations, he continues to provide guidance and maintain the relationships he built.