The Board of Directors of the American Institute of Architects Region of The Virginias has selected Sydney Huibregtse, Associate AIA, as Regional Associate Director for the 2021 – 2022 term on the AIA National Associates Committee.
Sydney Huibregtse, Assoc. AIA
Sydney graduated from Auburn University in 2016 and works for KGD Architecture, where she has been since 2019. She previously worked for MTFA Architecture in Arlington, from 2017 to 2019 and studied abroad at the Istanbul Technical University (Istanbul, Turkey) and Unitec Institute of Technology (Auckland, New Zealand). She is a 2019 graduate of AIA Virginia’s Emerging Leaders in Architecture program and was recently awarded the 2020 Service to the Chapter Award by AIA Northern Virginia.
Chief Operating Officer of Little, Charles Todd, AIA describes Huibregtse as a “passionate young professional with great potential as a leader within the AIA and in the community.” Sonia Jarboe, AIA who is the 2021 AIA Northern Virginia President-Elect added that Sydney is “committed to fostering better relationships between AIA and AIAS members and recent graduates as well as AIA Associate members.”
The National Associates Committee (NAC) serves Associate AIA members in the advancing their careers. The NAC wants to be a catalyst by becoming agents of change, by challenging the status quo, by representing a diverse membership, and by promoting mentorship, fellowship, licensure, advocacy, and service.
The Regional Associate Director (RAD) serves as a vital link between Associates and the national organization. RADs work with other association counterparts, are responsible for gathering information about issues facing Associates within their Regions and help disseminate information about national/regional activities and resources for use at the local level.
Are you an Associate AIA Member? Are you interested in confronting the issues recent graduates and young professionals face as they navigate the next step in their careers? Would you like to help the National Associates Committee address these issues? Then, you may be just the person we’re looking for.
Every two years, the AIA Region of The Virginias (Virginia and West Virginia) selects an Associate AIA member to represent the Region on the National Associates Committee. Applications are now being accepted for the National Associates Committee 2021 – 2022 Virginias Regional Associate Director.
This is a tremendous opportunity to take on a larger leadership role within the AIA. This rewarding experience will allow you to be actively engaged in shaping the future of the profession and to grow your network with the NAC, YAF, and the AIA both regionally and nationally.
If you think you may be interested, please read on. If you know of an Associate AIA member who may be interested, please forward this information to them.
NAC Purpose
The National Associates Committee (NAC) is dedicated to serving Associate members of the AIA in the advancement of their careers.
NAC Vision
By promoting excellence, providing information and leadership, fostering inclusiveness, and encouraging individual, community, and professional development, the NAC will integrate the growing Associates community of the profession into a strong voice within the Institute. The NAC aspires to be the catalyst for progress within the Institute and the profession:
• We ENGAGE by becoming agents of change
• We INNOVATE by challenging the status quo
• We CONNECT by representing our diverse membership
• We LEAD by example, promoting mentorship, fellowship, licensure, advocacy, and service
The NAC believes its work serves to make AIA membership meaningful to Associates through services that effectively anticipate, meet, and exceed their needs.
NAC Overview
The Regional Associate Director (RAD) works with their counterparts, the YARDs, AIAS Quad Directors, Architect Licensing Advisors, and AIA Regional Representatives. RADs are responsible for gathering information about issues facing Associates within their Regions and disseminating information about
national/regional activities and resources for use at the local level. Of equal importance, RADs serve as a vital link between Associates and the national organization.
RADs are the key to vertical communication, connecting Associate leaders at all levels of the Institute. RADs are also encouraged to work on various issues important to them and their regions through the NAC work groups.
The RAD is the primary connection between local, state and regional AIA components and the National Associates Committee (NAC).
The RAD keeps communication flowing between these groups by:
• Maintaining quarterly communication with all NAC chapters within the designated region.
• Serving as a conduit between local NAC chapters and the AdCom.
• Collecting from and disseminating information to local, state, and regional components.
• Submitting a regional report.
The RAD contributes to the direction and planning of the NAC by:
• Participating in the NAC Annual Meeting.
• Working on various national issues.
• Working on at least one group identified by the NAC annually.
The RAD is a connection at the regional level to other AIA groups by:
• Communicating with COF Regional Representative and Young Architect Regional Director (YARD quarterly about how to work together to support each other’s efforts.
• Suggesting or encouraging young architects for nomination for regional or national awards, positions or committees/subcommittees.
• Attending AIA National Convention, when possible.
• Working within Region of The Virginias to ensure that expectations from regional leadership are clearly defined and met.
• Attendance at regional meetings.
• Applicants are encouraged to discuss the position with their Regional Representative to AIA Strategic Council or the current RAD to fully understand the responsibilities prior to submitting an application.
RAD Commitments
AIA National Commitments (plan for a number of events to be held virtually during pandemic) are as follows:
• NAC & YAF Joint Annual Meeting (Q1)
• NAC Full Committee Conference Calls – 1 hour each TBD estimated quarterly
Region of The Virginias Commitments (plan for a number of events to be held virtually during pandemic) are as follows:
• AIA Virginia’s Architecture Exchange East Conference
• AIA West Virginia’s Expo
• Attendance at Regional Emerging Professional Committee Meetings and Programs
• Regional Reports – written with the assistance of the NAC
Other recommended engagement:
• AIA Grassroots
• AIA Conference on Architecture
NAC Funding
National AIA covers the costs for Regional Associate Director travel, food, and lodging to attend the NAC/YAF Annual Meeting (if in person). In addition, RADs have the opportunity to attend AIA Grassroots and the AIA Convention, but expenses for these events, along with any other costs associated with other travel or conferences, are the responsibility of the RAD.
There are supplemental stipends available from AIA Virginia and AIA West Virginia.
Application Requirements
AIA Membership – Applicant must be an Associate AIA member in good standing within The Region of The Virginias (the State Components AIA West Virginia and AIA Virginia, including AIA Blue Ridge, AIA Central Virginia, AIA Hampton Roads, AIA Northern Virginia, and AIA Richmond) and must not be licensed at the time of submission.
Letter of Interest – From Applicant. Indicate understanding of the position, qualifications/experience, and reasons for seeking election. Limit one-page.
Letter of Nomination – From an AIA local or state component Board Member. Indicate connection between the RAD position and the Nominee’s leadership qualities. Limit one-page.
Letter of Recommendation – From an AIA member. Indicate Nominee’s qualifications for the RAD position. Limit one-page.
Letter of Support – From Employer. A Principal (or Officer) within the candidate’s firm must commit to supporting the candidate in fulfilling the role’s obligations. Limit one-page on company letterhead.
Personal Resume – Indicate education, employment history, organizations, activities, honors, and awards. Limit two pages (It is NOT in the applicant’s best interest to simply submit a firm resume with project experience).
Deadline
Completed applications must be submitted by email as a single PDF to Donna Dunay, FAIA, Region of The Virginias Representative to AIA Strategic Council (ddunay@vt.edu) AND Corey Clayborne, FAIA, Executive Vice President of AIA Virginia NLT Monday, November 30, 2020.
Selection Process
The Region’s nominating committee will prepare nominations to be reviewed and elected by the Board of Directors of the Region in December 2020 and January 2021.
It’s the summertime, it’s the middle of July, and so far, it’s been a
really ‘rad’ year. I’d first like to give a shout-out to all Virginia
component chapters: big ups to all the EPs in West Virginia, Richmond,
Northern Virginia, Blue Ridge, Central Virginia, and my hometown Hampton Roads.
Jeffrey Butts, Jr., Assoc. AIA
Last month, I had the great fortune of being formally acquainted with this
year’s ELA class on their visit down to my neck of the woods here in
Norfolk, at VIA Design Architects.
Although brief, it’s very likely this was perhaps the first time RAD and ELA
had an intentionally direct engagement with one another. At the start of our
meeting, I issued a brief survey to the group to gauge what issues and topics
both affect and interest our current generation of emerging professionals.
Further on, as the group exchanged their inspiring project ideas with me, I got
to also witness the amiably kinetic camaraderie of this class—in another way of
saying: they’re a very tight group that keeps it 100.
So what does the RAD do?
In our RAD ELA meeting, I got to share a few professional opportunities
for emerging professionals, and also bring awareness to just what the RAD does,
and shed light on the National Associates Committee (NAC), and the Center
for Emerging Professionals. To keep this kept in one breath: a RAD
(Regional Associates Director) is an appointed NAC member, for a term of two
years, with the sole task of fostering communication between AIA National and
their local region (in my case, AIA Virginia and West Virginia) and relay
issues of importance that affect us associates (unlicensed design professionals
with AIA membership) and assist AIA to devise opportunities that benefit
emerging professionals. RADs are also placed in one of four NAC Work
Groups—Future Practice, Knowledge, Mentorship, and Advocacy—to brainstorm with
the other RADs throughout the country and implement new emerging professional
opportunities and initiatives. If you have any questions relating to the NAC or
RAD, feel free to contact me at jffrybttsjr@gmail.com.
Now on to those professional opportunities! Although there are many out
there, here are a few in the pipeline:
ARE Scholarship
The Architects
Foundation issues annually the Jason
Pettigrew ARE Memorial Scholarship. Sadly, the deadline has passed
(12 July), however, if you are thinking about studying for the ARE in the near
future, keep this opportunity on your radar for next year! More access to additional
professional and student scholarships through the Architects Foundation found
here at the “Scholarships” tab.
AIA Leadership
If you are seeking further leadership opportunities within AIA
National, apply
here to volunteer on the National Associates Committee (NAC) or the
Young Architects Forum (YAF) Advisory Committee.
Call for Design Entries
Support our AIA Virginia Political Action
Committee (PAC) by submitting a design entry of a new PAC lapel pin
via the PAC Pin Design. More
information on the design challenge posted here.
As this is my first official RAD report to you guys, I intend to share
updates quarterly and highlight opportunities and news that affect us Associate
AIA members. In the meantime, connect with me if there’s something on your mind
related to the NAC, or any queries you have to the leadership of AIA Virginia.
I’m here to serve you.
One last thing: although this is called a “RAD Report”, let me know if
you have any other creative ideas for what this report could be named.
Have an amazing summer!
Jeffrey G Butts, Jr. | Hanbury AIA Regional Associate Director – Region of the Virginias
The Board of Directors of the American Institute of Architects Region of The Virginias has selected Amanda N. Schlichting, Associate AIA, as Regional Associate Director for the 2017 – 2018 term on the National Associates Committee.
Amanda graduated from Virginia Tech in 2015 and lives in Danville, Virginia, where she has worked for Dewberry since 2014. She has been involved with both local and national organizations as a student, a community advocate, and as a Director on the Board of AIA Blue Ridge. Through the AIA, she has helped run community design events and become a part of the 2017 Class of Virginia’s Emerging Leaders in Architecture Program.
She discovered her passion for architecture during a middle school when she became determined to go to architecture school, get licensed, and give back to the community and the profession. She believes that, to be truly successful, it is crucial to develop relationships and push others to succeed with you. She wants to help other emerging architects see the value in becoming licensed and bring others along the path to professional success.
“Amanda has the right temperament as a leader and listener,” according to Larry W. Hasson, Jr., AIA, her immediate supervisor at Dewberry, adding that she “is a leader, not a follower, as she does not wait to be told to perform; she initiates.” President-elect J. W. Blanchard at AIA Blue Ridge said, “Amanda is a hardworking volunteer leader who understands the appropriateness of delegating and building consensus among volunteers… and understands when the time is right to roll up her sleeves.”
The National Associates Committee (NAC) serves Associate AIA members in the advancing their careers. The NAC wants to be a catalyst by becoming agents of change, by challenging the status quo, by representing a diverse membership, and by promoting mentorship, fellowship, licensure, advocacy, and service.
The Regional Associate Director (RAD) serves as a vital link between Associates and the national organization. RADs work with other association counterparts, are responsible for gathering information about issues facing Associates within their Regions, and help disseminate information about national/regional activities and resources for use at the local level.
