2025 ELECTIONS

Term:  Serves one year as FVP then automatically succeeds to the office of President

Current Officer:    Carina Mills, AIA

Staff Liaison(s):    Nicki Dennis Stephens, Hon. AIA, Executive Vice President;
Mirna Douet, Executive Assistant

Responsibilities:

1. Perform all the duties of the President in his/her absence
2. Have primary responsibility for the AIA CA Policy Book
3. Have primary responsibility for monitoring the annual Operating Plan
4. Co-chair the Planning and Finance Committee with the Secretary/Treasurer
5. Serve as liaison to the Long-Range Planning Committee; work collaboratively with the VP of Strategic Planning & Research to monitor and review Long Range and Strategic plans.
6. Serve as ex-officio member of the Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Committee
7. Serve as an ex-officio member of the Leadership Development Committee
8. Serve as Chair of the Nominating Committee
9. Serve as member of the Capitol Forum Board (CALC PAC Committee)
10. Participate in annual review of the Strategic Plan and development of the annual Operating Plan and budget
11. Participate in monthly leadership calls
12. Coordinate leadership development efforts in support of any and all committees, task forces and working groups for the organization

Term:  Serves one year as FVP then automatically succeeds to the office of President

Current Officer:    Carina Mills, AIA

Staff Liaison(s):    Nicki Dennis Stephens, Hon. AIA, Executive Vice President;
Mirna Douet, Executive Assistant

Responsibilities:

1. Perform all the duties of the President in his/her absence
2. Have primary responsibility for the AIA CA Policy Book
3. Have primary responsibility for monitoring the annual Operating Plan
4. Co-chair the Planning and Finance Committee with the Secretary/Treasurer
5. Serve as liaison to the Long-Range Planning Committee; work collaboratively with the VP of Strategic Planning & Research to monitor and review Long Range and Strategic plans.
6. Serve as ex-officio member of the Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Committee
7. Serve as an ex-officio member of the Leadership Development Committee
8. Serve as Chair of the Nominating Committee
9. Serve as member of the Capitol Forum Board (CALC PAC Committee)
10. Participate in annual review of the Strategic Plan and development of the annual Operating Plan and budget
11. Participate in monthly leadership calls
12. Coordinate leadership development efforts in support of any and all committees, task forces and working groups for the organization

Term:  Two Years (2025-2026)

Current Officer:    Debra Gerod, FAIA

Staff Liaison(s):   Scott Terrell, Director of Government Relations

Responsibilities:

1. Identify emerging issues affecting the practice of architecture, developing appropriate responses, and referring those responses to other AIA CA programs and committees for appropriate implementation and developing appropriate legislative response.
2. Coordinate activities relating to the California legislative process including the annual Legislative Day in the Districts.
3. Work with staff and consultants as liaison to various regulatory agencies including DSA, CAB, HCAI, etc.

1. Chair the Advocacy Advisory Committee to develop responses to legislative initiatives of others as well as proactive initiatives on behalf of the profession.

5. Serve as ex-officio member of the Capitol Forum Board (CALC PAC Committee) and liaison to the Legislative review subcommittees.

1. Participate in annual review of the Strategic Plan and development of the annual Operating Plan and Budget.

Term:  Two Years (2025-2026)

Current Officer:    Anne Cotter, AIA

Staff Liaison(s):    Tibby Rothman, Hon. AIA|LA Director of Communications;
Cam Pietralunga, Senior Graphic Designer/Web Developer
Ashley Taylor, Program Coordinator for Awards and Emerging Professionals

Responsibilities:

1. Coordinate activities relating to the internal and external communication activities of the organization. Identify, promote, and articulate the profession’s concerns and its activities toward enhancing the built environment
2. Chair the Communications Advisory Committee
3. Participate as an ex-officio member of the Climate Action communications subcommittee
4. Liaison with other programs and committees (as needed) to identify opportunities for enhanced communications efforts
5. Identify and respond to public issues and concerns
6. Serve as Chair of the California Awards committee and serve as liaison to the Design Awards and Residential Awards programs
7. Participate in annual review of the Strategic Plan and development of the annual Operating Plan and budget

Term:  Two Years (2025-2026)

Current Officer:    Amy Eliot, AIA

Staff Liaison(s):    Nicki Dennis Stephens, Hon. AIA, Executive Vice President;
Hillary Cole, Hon. AIA CA Director of Programs;
Rebekah Patterson, Asst. Director of Programs
Kim Anderson, Hon. AIA CA, Director of Development, California Architectural Foundation (CAF)

Responsibilities:

The Vice President of Education and Professional Development is responsible for the coordination of activities relating to the colleges, universities, and schools of architecture concerning professional education.

Specific duties include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. Collaborate with the VP of Professional Practice and co-chair the Professional Practice Advisory Committee (PPAC)
2. Coordinate activities relating to the schools of architecture concerning professional education, and serve as an ex-officio member of the Architectural Educators Task Force
3. Monitor issues and opportunities concerning architectural education including equity, diversity, and inclusion, challenges within the pipeline, costs, and preparation to enter the profession, etc.
4. Chair the AIA CA Education committee and provide oversight of the AIA CA’s continuing education program. and professional development of architects at the state level and serve as primary leadership liaison to conference(s) and/or committees
5. Liaison with various committees to determine programmatic needs and content
6. Serve as liaison to the California Architectural Foundation as an advisor.

1.  Participate in annual review of the Strategic Plan and development of the annual Operating Plan and budget

Term:  Two Years (2025-2026)

Current Officer:    Leigh Eisen – AIA San Diego

Staff Liaison(s):    Hillary Cole, Hon AIA CA, Director of Programs

Responsibilities:

1. Serve as the liaison to the California Council of Architectural Component Executives (CA CACE)
2. Represent the interests and concerns of the AIA Chapters in California regarding the design, development and implementation of AIA CA programs and activities
3. Assume other such responsibilities as instructed by the Executive Committee and the Board of Directors
4. Monitor activities related to membership such as recruitment, retention, mentorship and may chair any task forces and committees charged with such activities
5. Serve as Chair of the Membership Development Committee
6. Serve as Chair of the CACE Opportunity Fund Grant Review Committee
7. Participate in annual review of the Strategic Plan and development of the annual Operating Plan and budget

Note: this position is only available to local AIA component executives.

Term:  Three years (Each assignment is staggered)

Current Representatives:

Brett Dougherty, AIA     | 2021 – 2024
Leah Bayer, AIA            | 2023 – 2025
Scott Gaudineer, AIA    | 2024 – 2026

Staff Liaison(s):   Nicki Dennis Stephens, Hon. AIA, Executive Vice President;
Mirna Douet, Executive Assistant

Responsibilities:

1. Represent California’s AIA members on the AIA Strategic Council as provided in the Institute Bylaws
2. Consult with AIA CA officers and representatives of the chapters on issues of importance to California members
3. Attend the AIA CA Board meetings as voting members and prepare and present reports as requested
4. Liaison with AIA CA Executive Committee (as appropriate)
5. Attend the two national Strategic Council meetings, including the AIA Leadership Summit and the AIA Conference on Architecture (and other virtual meetings as required)
6. Participate with AIA CA leadership and California representatives in annual planning meeting to discuss issues of national concern

Term:   Two years (2025-2026)

Current Officers:  Vasilies Beseau, AIA

Staff Liaison(s):   Nicki Dennis Stephens, Hon. AIA

Responsibilities:

1. Serve as liaison between the AIA Young Architects Forum (YAF) and California members
2. Serve on the AIA CA Board of Directors (during second year of two-year term); prepare and present reports to the Board, provide leadership and continuity in identifying and implementing nationwide YAF goals
3. Serve as a member of the Academy for Emerging Professionals Council of Advisors, attend meetings and events, and participate in initiatives that support emerging professionals statewide

Note:    AIA associates who are not licensed but expect to become licensed within the first year of their term may run for election to this position.  However, if they do not complete their full licensure process within the first year, they cannot continue into the second year of their term.

Term:  Two Years (2025-2026) | Voting Board Member in 2026

Current Officer:    Jamal Powell, Assoc. AIA

Staff Liaison(s):   Ashley Taylor, Program Coordinator for Awards and Emerging Professionals

Responsibilities:

1. Serve as liaison between AIA CA and organizations of the Associate members, including Associate Directors in each of the 21 local AIA components in California
2. Coordinate and attend all Emerging Professionals Forums
3. Act as full voting members of the AIA CA Board during the second year of the two-year term
4. Attend the Academy for Emerging Professionals annual meeting as a member of the Academy for Emerging Professionals (AEP) Council of Advisors
5. Attend the AIA Grassroots Conference
6. Prepare and present reports to the Board, vote at Board meetings, provide leadership and continuity in identifying and implementing nationwide Associate goals, and may serve on the Executive Committee representing the Academy for Emerging Professionals

Shall be an Associate member at the time of election

Term:   Two Years (2025-2026) | Voting Board Member in 2026

Current Officers:   Stuart Stielau, AIAS

Staff Liaison(s):   Ashley Taylor, Program Coordinator for Awards and Emerging Professionals

Responsibilities:

1. Serve as liaison between AIA California and the AIAS
2. Serve as liaison to the California schools of architecture and Emerging Professionals in the promotion of the Paul W. Welch, Jr. ARE Scholarship
3. Provide leadership and continuity in identifying and implementing statewide student goals
4. Vote at Board meeting in the second year of a two-year term
5. Prepare and present reports to the Board, vote at Board meetings, provide leadership and continuity in identifying and implementing nationwide student goals
6. Provide outreach to local schools of architecture and AIAS chapters and maintain the Student Chapter Database. This Database will contain all contact information, Chapter President, Faculty Advisor, Department Chair, and school address, for each accredited Student Chapter School of Architecture within California. This Database will be used for information sharing, event planning, and communications
7. Shall be a student member at the time of election