Service through Gubernatorial Appointment

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Many AIA Virginia members serve Virginia through gubernatorial appointments. Architects serve on critical boards and commissions such as our regulatory board: the Board for Architects, Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, Certified Interior Designers and Landscape Architects – APELSCIDLA. They also serve on the Art and Architectural Review Board, advising on the design of Commonwealth buildings. And they contribute to bodies like the Fair Housing Board, the State Building Code Technical Review Board, the Secure and Resilient Commonwealth Panel, and the Virginia Board for People with Disabilities.

You are encouraged to contact AIA Virginia EVP Paul Battaglia if you are interested in serving.

The process to be considered for (re)appointment includes:

  1. Researching openings/positions
    Consider current boards/commissions and available seats to find ones that match your interests and qualifications. Many positions have specific eligibility requirements. https://www.commonwealth.virginia.gov/va-government/boards-and-commissions/comprehensive-board-listing/
  2. Completing the online application or nomination form
    Use the Virginia Governor/Secretary of the Commonwealth appointment system to submit your application. https://www.commonwealth.virginia.gov/va-government/boards-and-commissions/vaid
  3. Notifying AIA Virginia
    Let us know that you have applied. We can then contact the Secretary of the Commonwealth in support of your application.

Appointees serve at the pleasure of the Governor. It therefore follows that the pool of applicants is purged at the end of each administration. This means that individuals who want to be considered for appointment, or reappointment, need to renew their application soon after – but not before – inauguration. Abigail Spanberger is set to be sworn in as the 75th and first female governor of Virginia at noon on Saturday, January 17, 2026.

Colley Reappointed to APELSCIDLA

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We are very happy to announce that Tim Colley, AIA was recently reappointed by the Governor to the APELSCIDLA Board. The Board for Architects, Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, Certified Interior Designers and Landscape Architects (APELSCIDLA) examines, licenses, and regulates approximately 35,000 individuals and related business entities in Virginia. Helene Combs Dreiling, FAIA and Erik Bootsma, RA continue their dedicated service as the other architects on that board. Gratitude to each and all of them. Your service is much appreciated.

APELSCIDLA Appointees

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Applauding those who serve!

The Board for Architects, Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, Certified Interior Designers and Landscape Architects (APELSCIDLA) examines, licenses, and regulates approximately 35,000 individuals and related business entities in Virginia. Until just recently April Drake, AIA, and Mel Price, AIA have been serving on the APELSCIDLA board. We thank them for their service and commitment. Last week, Helene Combs Dreiling, FAIA was appointed by the governor to serve in that capacity. Helene joins Tim Colley, AIA, and Erik Bootsma, RA who continue their dedicated service on that board. Special thanks and renewed appreciation to each and all of them. Keep up the great work.

Drake Appreciation

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April Drake, AIA was recently honored by the APELSCIDLA board for her service by Jim Kelly, PE, current chair of APELSCIDLA.

The Board for Architects, Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, Certified Interior Designers and Landscape Architects (APELSCIDLA Board) examines, licenses, and regulates approximately 35,000 individuals and related business entities in Virginia.

If you are interested in serving on this board, please email Paul Battaglia, AIA at pbattaglia@aiava.org

Latest DPOR News

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From Kate Nosbisch, Executive Director
Commonwealth of Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation

June marks my ninth year as your executive director.  We have seen many changes over the last nine years (meeting structure, guidance documents, updates to the apprenticeship program, revisions to the regulations, a new profession added – land surveyor photogrammetrists, continuing education requirements, emeritus status added; NCEES exams transitionicomputer-based based testing, multiple changes to the NCARB ARE exam, restructuring and renaming of the NCARB IDP to AXP, the passing of three sitting board members, Bill Spell, LA, John Combs, PE and Paul Holt, LS,  the addition of the PE Advisory Committee to assist with the review of PE applications with credit going to John Combs, the LARE converting to computer based testing, and board members rotating on and off the board just to name a few. I’m sure there are still many more to come and the Board stands ready to protect the health, safety and welfare of the public and the staff is poised to service our customers – the applicants, licensees, and citizens of the Commonwealth

It is a pleasure to work with the board members who serve the APELSCIDLA Board. Your professions are represented by a dedicated, articulate, professional group of individuals; it is their commitment that keeps the work of the Board moving. Board members write regulation, develop guidance documents, attend board meetings, section meetings, committee meetings, provide consultation, and preside over informal fact finding conferences.  It is rewarding and challenging work.  If you have been teaching or practicing in your profession for ten years, hold a Virginia license, and reside in the Commonwealth, perhaps you may want to consider board service. If so, please visit the board appointments page of the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s website to complete an application; you may have others access the same page to provide a nomination on your behalf. If you have any questions regarding board service, I welcome the opportunity to speak with you in person.

Bif Johnson and Corey Clayborne conclude their board service in 2017.  I look forward to working with Corey in his new position as CEO of AIA Virginia.  Bif was here when I started with the Board and he has been a mentor to me and he is always willing to assist the Board regardless of the task.  It has been a pleasure working alongside these two gentlemen to accomplish the goals and mission of the Board.

The Board staff is here to assist you, if you have questions about licensure, renewals, continuing education, emeritus status, exam windows, or anything else related to licensure, please contact us at (804) 367-8506 or apelscidla@dpor.virginia.gov.

Read the summer edition of the APELSCIDLA Dimensions newsletter.

Virginia Town Hall Regulatory Action Notice

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The Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation has made us aware of the opportunity for public participation and comment during a period for regulatory review.  APELSCIDLA Executive Director Kate Nosbisch advises that this is offered on a very limited basis.  Please see, below, the “Virginia Regulatory Town Hall Action Notice” and respond as you deem appropriate.  Note that the deadline for their receipt of comments is April 19, 2017:

The following regulatory stages have been submitted for publication in the Virginia Register

Board for Architects, Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, Certified Interior Designers, and Landscape Architects
 Agency Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation
 Chapter Board for Architects, Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, Certified Interior Designers, and Landscape Architects Regulations (18 VAC 10-20)
 Action General Review 2017
 Stage NOIRA
 Comment Period 03/20/2017 – 04/19/2017
More details on this stage

Please address any questions or comments to Melanie.West@dpb.virginia.gov.

Gubernatorial Appointments 2015

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The VSAIA offers its support to candidates who wish to serve the public by leading the various boards that oversee the work of state agencies. All agencies below — and many others — are led by gubernatorial appointees.

While only a few positions are reserved for architects — such as the regulatory board and the Fair Housing Board — many agencies would benefit from an architect’s insight and ability to see several steps ahead, similar to a chess grandmaster. To some, this would appear to be magic. To architects, it remains a daily exercise in rational thought.

For boards requiring architects, the VSAIA is asked to provide a slate of nominees. For other boards, we may support as few or as many as are interested. Board openings beginning July 1, 2015, requiring gubernatorial appointment are as follows:

  • APELSCIDLA — three positions are open, one reserved for an architect. The other two are for a landscape architect and a land surveyor. This board regulates architects, professional engineers, land surveyors, certified interior designers and landscape architects.
  • Board for Professional and Occupational Regulation — one position open, not reserved for an architect. This board oversees the actions of the department that regulates licensed professionals including architects.
  • Board of Historic Resources — two positions are open, none reserved for an architect.
  • Board of Housing and Community Development — two positions open, one each from the 8th and 10th Congressional Districts. No positions are reserved for architects. One of this board’s primary duties is to approve updates to the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code.
  • Fair Housing Board — five positions are open one of which is for an architect.
  • Virginia Housing Development Authority — two positions open, none reserved for an architect.

While other boards may be considered, these are more often of interest to architects.

To submit an application to the secretary of the commonwealth, go to the website: https://commonwealth.virginia.gov/va-government/gubernatorial-appointments/ and click on the link. Members who wish to receive the support of the VSAIA must send a resume and a letter of interest to Duncan Abernathy AIA at daber@aiava.org for review by the Government and Industry Affairs Committee.

For more information about the process or an individual board as well as the commitment of time required by each, contact Abernathy as well.

VSAIA Seeking Candidates for Appointments

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© 2006, The American Institute of Architects. All rights reserved.
© 2006, The American Institute of Architects. All rights reserved.

While we have not been notified officially of any gubernatorial appointments for the 2013 vacancies, the VSAIA is moving toward selecting and supporting nominees for openings in 2014.

The VSAIA offers its support to candidates who wish to serve the public by leading the various boards that oversee the work of state agencies.  While only a few positions are reserved for architects — such as the regulatory board and the Art and Architectural Review Board — many agencies would benefit from an architect’s insight and ability to see several steps ahead, similar to a chess grandmaster.  To some, this would appear to be magic.  To architects, it’s a daily exercise in rational thought.

[adrotate banner=”52″]For boards requiring architects, the VSAIA is asked to provide a slate of nominees.  For other boards, one nominee is fine. Board openings beginning July 1, 2014, requiring gubernatorial appointment are as follows:

  • Art and Architectural Review Board – five positions open, one reserved for an architect and one at-large.  Currently two architects serve on this extremely important board, which reviews designs for every state-owned project.
  • Board of Housing and Community Development – four positions open, one each from the 1st, 2nd, 6th, and 11th Congressional Districts.  No positions are reserved for architects.  One of this board’s primary duties is to approve updates to the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code.
  • Virginia Housing Development Authority – two positions open, none reserved for an architect.
  • Board for Professional and Occupational Regulation – four positions open, none reserved for an architect.  This board oversees the actions of the department that regulates licensed professionals including architects.
  • APELSCIDLA – no architect positions open, but three other positions are open, one each for a professional engineer, a land surveyor, and a certified interior designer.  This board regulates architects, professional engineers, land surveyors, certified interior designers and landscape architects.
  • Board of Historic Resources – two positions are open, none reserved for an architect.

There are other boards to be considered as well.  These are only the ones most commonly of interest to architects.  Members who wish to receive the support of the VSAIA must send a resume and a letter of interest to Duncan Abernathy AIA at daber@aiava.org for review by the Government and Industry Affairs Committee.  For more information about the process or an individual board as well as the commitment of time required by each, contact Abernathy as well.

Snetter, Gresham Appointed to Boards

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Christine Snetter, AIA
Christine Snetter, AIA

Christine Snetter, AIA, of Providence Forge was appointed to the Board for Architects, Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, Certified Interior Designers and Landscape Architects by Governor Bob McDonnell.  She succeeds Michael LeMay AIA, who did not seek a second appointment. The APELSCIDLA Board examines, licenses, and regulates approximately 35,000 individuals and related business entities in Virginia. She will serve with Robert A. Boynton, FAIA, from Richmond, and  Clint Good, chair of the Architect Section, from Purcellville.

Others appointed to the APELSCIDLA Board for the 2013-2017 term are Charles F. Dunlap of Winchester to the surveyors’ section, Daniel J. Santos of Vienna to the engineers’ section, and Andrew Scherzer of Midlothian to the landscape architects’ section.

Dick Gresham, AIA
Dick Gresham, AIA

The Norfolk City Council appointed Richard Wells Gresham, AIA, to the Norfolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority’s Board of Commissioners. Founded in 1940, NRHA is a national leader in community revitalization and fostering sustainable mixed-income communities. As the largest redevelopment and housing authority in Virginia, NRHA is an important driver of the local economy.