Small Firm Exchange VA Update

Posted on by cguske

Greetings SFx VA,

It has been an exciting month. We had our first kick off meeting on Jan. 22nd and I feel like we are on a roll. We had 16 SFx members join our call, representing 14 firms across the commonwealth. We are hoping to grow our network and include you in our next commonwealth wide meeting. All meetings are virtual and we hope to see you there. Microsoft Teams meeting credentials at the bottom.

At our first meeting SFx VA formed a small working group tasked with putting together the foundational pieces to launch this new group. The working group has begun to interview SFx chapters in other states and cities to learn from their experience. We are asking about their organizational structure, programs and resources they offer to their member small firms, how they fund their initiatives, how they communicate with each other, and other questions related to managing a pear group of small firms. We had our kickoff interview with SFx DC this past Monday and gathered some great information, tips, and best practices. We are looking to book at least two more interviews and report back to SFx VA at our March meeting.

We highly encourage small firms throughout the commonwealth to sign up for the upcoming “Firm Size Roundtables” on February 25, 2026. Register here

Our next SFx VA meeting will be on February 19, 2026, at 12:30 PM. Please use the following links and credentials for access:

Microsoft Teams meeting
Join: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/27388847162207?p=nt7AoY44rX6X3LiBpo
Meeting ID: 273 888 471 622 07
Passcode: D3x3bD2k

Please feel free to reach out to me directly if you have any questions, comments, or ideas. cj@circlesquarecross.com

SFx Update: appointment of CJ LaMora, AIA

Posted on by cguske

CJ LaMora, AIA has been appointed as the Virginia State Representative to the National Small Firm Exchange (SFx).

The SFx State Representative serves as a conduit between small firms within AIA state components and the AIA national Small Firm Exchange. The national SFx includes 53 AIA members who work in small firms; representatives from each US state, Washington DC, Puerto Rico, and one international practitioner.

CJ will draw from his previous experience with DC SFx in fulfilling the mission of the AIA Small Firm Exchange: advancing the interests of architects practicing in small firms.

The key objectives of the position are three-fold:

  • Advocate for the value of small firms, the national SFx, and local SFx groups, both within the AIA and to the public.
  • Curate and disseminate the most pertinent resources and information, from the AIA & elsewhere, that benefit small firms.
  • Inform the AIA of current issues facing small firms and areas in which current resources/information are lacking.

CJ is committed to reaching out to small firms throughout the state to build and develop a support system for those who may have less resources than larger firms. Outgoing SFx Representative Dan Zimmerman, AIA says CJ’s engagement with the profession “reflects a genuine commitment to strengthening connections among small firm leaders and advancing dialogue around practice, mentorship, and business leadership”.

We are grateful to Dan for his leadership, initiative, and continuing support for these efforts. We welcome CJ to his position and look forward to his impact. CJ’s two-year term will commence January 1, 2026.