From the President

In my last letter, I promised an update on our new Strategic Plan, and I’m excited to share that the Board of Directors recently approved it, which will go into effect on January 1, 2027.  I want to thank my fellow Board members for their dialogue, debate, and collaboration over the last eight months, starting with our retreat held in February.  I also want to acknowledge the good work of our consultant, Spill Team, and their masterful facilitation of our discussions and coalescing countless ideas and opinions into a clear, cohesive, and comprehensive plan.

The 2027 – 2031 AIA Virginia Strategic Plan is comprised of four overarching strategic goals:

• Broaden the Tent
• Stewardship of the Profession
• Elevate the Profession
• Organizational Excellence

Collectively, the Board developed for each goal:

• Goal Statement
• Desired Impact
• Conditions for Success
• Measures of Progress
• Change Lens

By no means is our work completed.  While we now have a solid framework for achieving the goals and vision of the Board, and by extension, our members, we must now move from strategic to tactical mode.  Leading up to the day this plan goes into effect, the Board will take this framework and begin assigning tasks to our councils, committees, and staff, with measurable outcomes and timeframes for each.  I also invite each of you to share any thoughts you have about this plan.  Please reach out to me or any AIAVA Board or staff member.  Better yet – let me know your thoughts when we see each other at Architecture Exchange East in November!

I look forward to rolling up my sleeves with my AIA Virginia colleagues as we put this plan into motion.

Sincerely,

Bill Hopkins, AIA
2026 AIA Virginia President