A Busy Year Ahead

Posted on by cguske

Greetings Colleagues,

I trust this message finds you well into the New Year making excellent and exciting contributions to the practice of architecture in the Commonwealth. At AIA Virginia, we are off to a fast start and I want to first thank all the members who have renewed membership in AIA. I also want to thank the firm practitioners who support participation by their employees in AIA activities. Last year AIA Virginia ended with 2,397 members and we expect that number to grow in 2016.  Membership in AIA is at an all-time high and AIA Virginia is working hard to bring significant value to its members, provide programs and services which are relevant to our fast-changing profession and to celebrate the prosperity of our members.

Nick Vlattas, AIA
Nick Vlattas, AIA
2016 President, AIA Virginia

The 2016 Board of Directors held its first meeting in December and is engaged with AIA Virginia staff under the direction of Executive Vice President / CEO Helene Dreiling, FAIA in advancing programs and services through our three Advisory Councils for Communications and Outreach led by Rob Reis, AIA, Government Advocacy led by Tim Colley, AIA, and Professional Excellence led by Beth Reader, FAIA.

DESIGN FORUM XII: Our first major event for Professional Excellence this year is Design Forum XII which will take place on Friday and Saturday, April 1-2, at the recently completed Slover Library in Norfolk Virginia. The overarching topic is TRANSFORMATION: THE CHANGING POINT. The forum will explore how design itself is transformed in the wake of a changing climate and how meaningful changes are enacted by design. Led by our dynamic moderator, Z Smith of Eskew Dumez Ripple, presentations from OMA, Playlab, and Kieran Timberlake, among others, will explore the intersection of design and transformation. If you haven’t seen the Slover Library, I know you will be inspired by the building designed by the partnership of Newman Architects and Tymoff and Moss Architects, I hope that you will put the Design Forum on your calendar and attend. Register>>

LEGISLATIVE SESSION: The General Assembly began its 60-day legislative session on the second Wednesday of January. AIA Virginia engages legislators to tell them what we think about legislation affecting limitations of liability, open-space planning, historic renovation tax credits, universal building codes, sustainability, statutes of repose, basically the entire spectrum of an architect’s practice. Thank you to our Government Advocacy Advisory Council led by Tim Colley, AIA and staff liaison Rhea George for monitoring current legislation of importance to architects in the Commonwealth. I hope that you will consider supporting your profession and your practice by contributing to the AIA Virginia Political Action Committee. Even the smallest amount will help send a message to our representatives on the importance of legislation that impacts our profession.

STRATEGIC PLANNING RETREAT: Every three years AIA Virginia revisits its strategic plan. The Board of Directors will participate in a strategic planning retreat in late February. Our mission is to be the voice of the architecture profession in the Commonwealth, dedicated to serving our members and through a culture of innovation, AIA Virginia empowers its members, advances their value, and inspires the creation of a better-built environment. I look forward to collaborating with our officers, directors and staff leadership as we refine our strategies and goals for the coming few years.

FINANCIAL OUTLOOK:  One of our focused priorities for AIA Virginia is to be financially responsible so as to ensure operational sustainability and success. In 2015, we changed our fiscal year from a December 31, year-end to a June 30, year-end to correspond to the timing of our programs and member dues revenue. We are pleased to report that at the semi-annual period ending December 31, 2015, our revenues are ahead of forecast due to a strong showing at Architectural Exchange East and our expenses are on budget leading to an improved balance sheet as compared to the same period a year ago.

EMERGING LEADERS: Congratulations to the 53 architects who passed their ARE exam in Virginia in 2015. Additionally, AIA Virginia has selected the 16-member 2016 class of Emerging Leaders in Architecture which held its first session in Richmond in early January. We wish them well in the program which consists of seven, day-long seminars, several work sessions, culminating with a presentation at Architecture Exchange East. The future success of AIA hinges on our ability to engage the next generation of architects. I hope you will join me in encouraging participation by our emerging professionals in AIA programs at the local, state or national level.

AIA GRASSROOTS and AIA CONVENTION: Leadership from AIA Virginia will be attending AIA Grassroots 2016, February 23-25, in Detroit. Registration is now open for AIA Convention 2016, May 19-21, at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. I hope you will consider attending.

Thank you again for your support of AIA Virginia. On behalf of the Board of Directors and staff of AIA Virginia, we look forward to serving our members in 2016 bringing value to your practice.

Sincerely,
Nick Vlattas, AIA
AIA Virginia President 2016

National Officers Elected

Posted on by cguske

Delegates attending the National Convention in New Orleans elected Mickey Jacob, FAIA (AIA Tampa Bay), to serve as the 2012 AIA first vice president/president-elect and 2013 Institute president; Russell A. Davidson, AIA, and Debra S. Kunce, FAIA, each to serve as vice president from 2012 through 2013; and Gabriel Durand-Hollis, FAIA, as the Institute’s treasurer from 2012 through 2013.

Jacob, managing principal at Urban Studio Architects, a seven-person firm in Tampa, has more than 25 years of AIA participation holding numerous leadership positions with AIA Tampa Bay, AIA Florida, and AIA National. Following his term as president of AIA Florida in 2004-2005, he served as the 2007-2009 AIA Florida/Caribbean Regional Director on the AIA National Board of Directors. In 2009, he was elected to a two-year term as an AIA vice president.

“The AIA is standing at the threshold of exciting new opportunities,” Jacob said. “The AIA brand is a respected one, but it is much stronger when we speak with a unified voice. By building a foundation of knowledge and trust with a collective commitment to leadership, advocacy, and communication, the AIA will continue to evolve into an influential professional organization that takes opportunity and turns it into reality.”

Jacob also has been active in government advocacy, including serving as chair of the Florida Architects Political Action Committee, of ArchiPAC, and of the AIA Board Advocacy Committee. Participating in the development of several advocacy initiatives, including as a cofounder of the AIA Breakfast of Champions program, Jacob has helped raise the awareness of the importance of political engagement, and is a vocal advocate to position AIA members to attain leadership positions.

Davidson is former president of the AIA New York State (2007) and Westchester Hudson Valley (1999) chapters. He is president and managing partner at Kaeyer, Garment & Davidson Architects & Engineers PC, in Mount Kisco, NY, a 20-person architectural and engineering firm.

“I believe the best way to know the essential meaning of something is to take aspects of it away until all that is left is the single defining element that is most broadly understood,” Davidson says. “For the AIA, promoting the positive value of design and the contribution of architects is that core defining value. You cannot take that away from us. It is who we are and why the AIA is still vital to the profession for over 150 years.”

Davidson currently serves on the AIA National Board of Directors as the regional director from New York and is a member of the Board’s Communications Committee and Board Advocacy Committee, where he is chair of the Public Policies Subcommittee and former chair of the Public Engagement Subcommittee (2010).

Kunce is currently serving as Ohio Valley Regional Director on the AIA National Board of Directors. She is an associate with Schmidt Associates, Inc., in Indianapolis, a full-service architecture and engineering firm.

“My AIA service has centered on strategically planning an AIA future that nurtures emerging professionals, advances our legislative agenda, and promotes the AIA brand,” said Kunce. “Design is the new currency, and it is our time to demonstrate the strength of our organization and our members’ ‘can do’ attitude.”

Kunce’s national experience also includes board representative to the Strategic Directions Group and Board Community Committee; chair of the Integrated Media Task Force (2009-2010); AIAS Honor Awards Jury (2009); and member of the Young Architect’s Forum Advisory Committee (2003-2005). Kunce has been active in the AIA for more than 15 years, including service to AIA Indianapolis as the associate director (1995-1996), public relations director (1998-1999), secretary (2002), treasurer (2003), vice president (2004), and president in 2005. For AIA Indiana, she served as the treasurer (2006-2007), vice president (2008), and president in 2009.

Durand-Hollis, former president of the Texas Society of Architects, has been the regional director from Texas on the AIA National Board of Directors since 2009 and is also a member of the Board Finance and Audit Committee. He is president of Durand-Hollis Rupe, Inc. (DHR), a San Antonio firm.

“I believe it is time to examine some of the AIA practices to determine if change is necessary and challenge ourselves to do better by seeing how we can benefit from making those changes,” Durand-Hollis states. “I anticipate great things to come knowing that we have great leaders at the AIA. I am sure we will continue to make great strides together.”

Other national AIA experience includes member of the AIA International Committee (1997-2000); chair, Small Projects Professional Interest Area (1995); member, Firm Benefits Task Force (1995); and member, Small Projects Professional Interest Area (1993-1995).