PROGRAM SPONSOR: ITEK Construction + Consulting, Inc.
Seasoned and emerging leaders, from practices of all sizes, sole proprietors, allied organizations, educators, etc. from across the Commonwealth will converge on March 14, 2025, at the Tower Club Tysons Corner for the Art of Practice forum. The program is intended to cultivate strong leaders, identify solutions to common business challenges, advance business practices, and fuel collaboration across the profession.
Registration is now open for the day-long event in Northern Virginia. Space is extremely limited, so early registration is strongly encouraged. Tickets are available to members and non-members. Participants can earn 6 learning units.
Art of Practice is currently sponsored by:
ITEK Construction + Consulting, Inc. (PROGRAM SPONSOR)
Moseley Architects (Lunch Sponsor)
O’Hagan Meyer (Lunch Sponsor)
ASSA ABLOY (Reception Sponsor)
Ames & Gough (Coffee Sponsor)
Keith Fabry (Signage Sponsor)
If you would like to sponsor Art of Practice, please contact Jody Cranford
About the Program
10:00 a.m. Winning Work: Storytelling and the Value in Architecture
Effective communication skills are critical to the success of any business leader. Take part in an intensive presentation — developed specifically for architects — to understand how and why people make decisions, how to craft messages that communicate your value, and how to move clients to choose you.
Speaker: Kelly O’Keefe, Founding Partner and CEO, Brand Federation
11:00 a.m. Rethinking the Future of Work: Neurodiversity in Design
Participants will learn how fostering an inclusive environment and accommodating environment for neurodiverse people can enhance holistic design outcomes and boost productivity through practical, actionable strategies.
Speakers: Corrie Cohen, Assoc. AIA, Architectural Designer at WPA and Alison Allred, CID, IIDA, Senior Interior Designer at WPA
12:00 p.m. Lunch sponsored by Moseley Architects and O’Hagan Meyer
1:00 p.m. Broad Perspectives: Macroeconomics
Review Macroeconomics 101, discuss local/national economy’s impact on the profession, how the major sectors of the economy are influenced/affected by interest rates and recognize the economic forces/factors that govern public and private funding sources.
Speakers: Terry Clower, Ph.D., Director, Center for Regional Analysis, Stephen S. Fuller Institute, George Mason University and Keith Waters, Assistant Director, Stephen S. Fuller Institute, George Mason University
2:00 p.m. Peer Panel: Strategic Planning for Strong Firm Culture
Failing to plan is planning to fail. Whether your firm is facing the retirement of a key leader, a merger, or simply considering how to nurture the next generation of principals, leadership transitions can often take years — even with advance planning and management. Hear how your colleagues faced a host of issues and positioned their firms for success in the face of change.
Speakers: Donna Phaneuf, FAIA (VIA design), Andrew McKinley, AIA (VIA design), Susan Pryor, AIA (Quinn Evans), Mel Price, FAIA (Work Program Architects), Helene Combs Dreiling, FAIA (The Three Aspens)
3:00 p.m. Break
3:15 p.m. Firm Size Roundtable Discussions
Taking a cue from the most popular part of AIA Virginia’s Firm Size and Non-Traditional Practice Roundtable meetings, we’ve reserved time for peer-to-peer learning. Discuss key themes from the day, discover best practices and share your experiences with colleagues.
Speakers: Maggie Schubert, AIA, (small), Andrew McKinley, AIA, (mid-size), Charles Piper, AIA (large), Bill Conkey, AIA (non-traditional)
4:15 p.m. Roundtable Report-Out
4:45 p.m. Closing Remarks
5:00 p.m. Cocktails and Networking
Tickets
AIA members: $175
Assoc. AIA member: $135
Non-member: $200
REGISTRATION CLOSES ON MARCH 3, 2025 at 8:00 PM – Get your tickets now!
Lodging
Below are two hotels within walking distance of Tower Club:
Tysons Corner Marriott
Hyatt Regency Tysons Corner
About the Art of Practice
The biennial Art of Practice was launched in 2017 with the purpose of providing current and aspiring firm leaders and with timely, relevant, actionable advice on how to grow and sustain their businesses.
Read the key takeaways from the 2017 event and see the photo gallery.