SFx Virginia Update

Posted on by cguske

Greetings Small Firm Exchange Virginia,

It was a true pleasure to see many of you this past month at AIA VA’s Design Forum.  Virginia is an amazing place to practice, not just for our long history of architectural excellence, but also because of the community. 

At the National level, last month SFx held it’s first ever AIA Candidate Forum.  This is not only a milestone for the SFx organization but also shows the importance of small firms as the backbone of AIA, representing ~75% of all firms nationwide.  Candidates for AIA President-Elect and At-Large Board positions were given the opportunity to speak to SFx State representatives throughout the nation.  You can read more about the Candidate Forum in this newsletter from National SFx Chair Daguin Fortuna: 

SFx Chair Letter – April 2026 A Defining Moment for Small Firm Representation

And here is the SFx Insider for April 2026.  This includes a brief synopsis of each candidate and their platform.  You will need to click on the PDF attachment:

April SFX Insider: Meet the Candidates

We continue to hold monthly virtual meetings every 3rd Thursday. Our next SFx VA meeting will be May 21, 2026 at 12:30 PM.  If you have not yet had the opportunity to attend, we would love to have you join us.  Microsoft Teams meeting credentials are noted below

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

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 Virginia Meeting

The first National SFx meeting of the year will be on Thursday, January 15th, and we will follow up with a Commonwealth-wide meeting the following Thursday, January 22nd, at 12:30 PM.  We will continue to hold Commonwealth-wide meetings one week after each National meeting and will start by using their agenda to inform our own meetings.  For the time being, we will host SFx VA meetings on Microsoft Teams until we can implement a more official communication tool with the assistance of AIA Virginia.  Below are the meeting credentials; feel free to distribute this to any other small firms that may be interested.  Please feel free to reach out to me directly if you have any questions, comments, or ideas.

C.J. LaMora, AIA, NCARB, CDT, CSI
cj@circlesquarecross.com

January 22nd meeting:
Microsoft Teams
Meeting ID: 223 290 501 820 52
Passcode: Cc6P6pV9

Happy New Year from the SFx

Posted on by cguske

It is an honor and a pleasure to have been named as the Small Firm Exchange’s representative at the National level.  We are just getting started and we are looking forward to growing the SFx over the next year.  This is a new role for me, and I will be looking to the small firm community for your assistance as we grow this resource.  I would like to thank Dan Zimmerman for his tireless effort as the prior SFx Rep.  He has been a great wealth of knowledge, and I will continue to seek his guidance. 

The first National SFx meeting of the year will be on Thursday, January 15th, and we will follow up with a Commonwealth-wide meeting the following Thursday, January 22nd, at 12:30 PM.  We will continue to hold Commonwealth-wide meetings one week after each National meeting and will start by using their agenda to inform our own meetings.  For the time being, we will host SFx VA meetings on Microsoft Teams until we can implement a more official communication tool with the assistance of AIA Virginia.  Below are the meeting credentials; feel free to distribute this to any other small firms that may be interested.  Please feel free to reach out to me directly if you have any questions, comments, or ideas. 

C.J. LaMora, AIA, NCARB, CDT, CSI
cj@circlesquarecross.com

January 22nd meeting:
Microsoft Teams 
Meeting ID: 223 290 501 820 52
Passcode: Cc6P6pV9

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.

Call for the Next SFx Representative

Posted on by cguske

As you know, I’ve had the privilege of serving as the Virginia State Representative on the National Small Firm Exchange (SFx) for the past three years. It has been an honor and a truly rewarding experience, but it’s time to hand over the reins to another member who can benefit from this great opportunity.

The mission of the AIA Small Firm Exchange is to advance the mutual interests of architects practicing in small firms. Its objectives are threefold:

  1. Advocate for the value of small firms, the national SFx, and local SFx groups—both within the AIA and to the public.
  2. Curate and share the most relevant resources and information from the AIA and beyond that benefit small firms.
  3. Inform the AIA of current issues facing small firms and highlight areas where additional resources or information are needed.

Application Requirements
AIA Membership – Applicant must be an AIA member in good standing within AIA Virginia (AIA Blue Ridge, AIA Central Virginia, AIA Coastal Virginia, AIA Northern Virginia, and AIA Richmond).

Letter of Interest – From Applicant. Indicate understanding of the position, qualifications/experience, and reasons for seeking appointment. Limit one page.

Letter of Recommendation – From an AIA member. Indicate the Nominee’s qualifications for the 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.

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).

Timeline
Prospective candidates should send their application materials to EVP Paul R Battaglia, AIA at pbattaglia@aiava.org no later than Wednesday, 12 November 2025. The Board of Directors will review candidates and make an appointment to a two-year term commencing 1 January 2026.

I’m happy to answer any questions if you are interested in serving. Thank you again for allowing me to represent small firm architects and serve as a bridge between our state and the national organization. It’s been a wonderful experience.

Best,
Dan Zimmerman, AIA
dan@alloyworkshop.com

Updates from the Small Firm Exchange

Posted on by cguske

Attached are the All Call summaries from our monthly SFx meetings. 

Dan Zimmerman, AIA

July 2025>> Why be a citizen architect

August 2025>> How Does Artificial Intelligence Benefit the Small Firm

SFx is hosting a webinar: Demystifying AIA Fellowship on October 9, 2025. Register here>> 

The Small Firm Exchange is a fantastic way to stay connected with other small firms. It is a great forum for asking questions and getting great feedback from our peers.
View the community conversation here>>



Small Firm Exchange Updates

Posted on by cguske

Recent resources released:

With the 2026 call for volunteers open, SFx is hosting a Zoom on May 27 for anyone interested in learning more about the Member Group and/or volunteering for 2026. Register>>

The Small Firm Exchange (SFx) seeks to advance the mutual interests of architects practicing in small firms. They advocate for small firms within AIA and outside organizations and agencies, promote leadership in small firm professional development and practice, and facilitate and support the local component roundtables and small firm networks. The SFX consists of a board and 53 state representatives.

Apply to SFX board through this annual call for volunteers. See the current SFX board and full position description on aia.org/sfx. (Apply to be a state representative via your state component in the fall (see current list here).

Time commitment:  Board terms are three (3) years with two (2) hour-long monthly conference calls. Expect to dedicate five (5) hours per month to this role. State Representative terms are two (2) years with one (1) hour-long monthly call. (Note: The SFX chair currently has registration and travel reimbursed for the AIA Leadership Summit.)  

Happening on the local front:

  • The SFx Central Virginia is conducting a speed mentoring event with AIA CV Emerging Professionals on May 29 from 5:30-6:30 at Alloy Workshop.
  • The newly formed SFx Central Virginia will host the Workshop for members in Charlottesville on June 20, 2025. More details to follow, but all are welcome. 


Small Firm Exchange Update

Posted on by cguske

SFx National:
The SFx (National’s) all-call discussion was about (Branding and Marketing best practices and tips). All links in the document are live.

Here’s a schedule of what we will be talking about the rest of the year

SFx Central Virginia:
The newly formed SFx CV chapter has had its second monthly virtual lunch meeting last week. Moving forward, we will continue monthly (virtual) meetings on the 1st Tuesday of each month, punctuated quarterly with in-person gatherings. Email dan@alloyworkshop.com if you are interested in joining.

—-other items of interest and action in service to small firms—-

FYI: This is the AIA Compensation Survey year. Survey respondents (like out in April) get a free copy and the more firms complete the survey the more we can slice and dice the data!

AIA25 Offer – Sign up for first access to AIA25 tours
Join our email list by March 9 for early access to AIA25’s always sold-out architect-led tours. You’ll also be able to register 24 hours before everyone else.

AIA25 – Discounts, including volunteering
Looks like the same process as last year. Sign up asap for access.  https://conferenceonarchitecture.com/discounts/