The kickoff meeting of VSAIA’s Career Compass program was held on Sept. 27, 2012, at the Virginia Center for Architecture. Career Compass is the initial effort of VSAIA’s new Emerging Professionals Knowledge Community, begun in 2012 and supported in part by a Component Grant from Victor O. Schinnerer and Co., the CNA Insurance Companies, and the AIA Trust. Philip Donovan, AIA, along with a steering group and staff support, is leading the effort.
Career Compass pairs experienced architects with emerging professionals in a mentoring relationship. The intent of the program is for mentors and protégés to meet several times informally in the coming months, and several more times in formal meeting sessions, for information sharing and learning activities oriented toward supporting the relationship and continuing professional growth of the participants. Seven pairs of mentors and protégés have been recruited for this initial year, with more planned for the future.
The kickoff meeting combined “getting to know you” activities with an introduction to the program and discussion of the Myers-Briggs typology. The Career Compass group meets every other month in Richmond for the next six months. For information abut the program contact Philip Donovan at Donovan@vmdo.com or Wayne Conners at wconners@aiava.org.