Blueprints for Leadership: A Series of Workshops (2 LUs)
Empowering Architects at Every Stage of Their Career
Blueprints for Leadership is a dynamic series of workshops designed to help architects build essential skills in strategic thinking, business acumen, and effective management. Led by top experts in their fields, each session offers premium instruction and meaningful networking opportunities.
Whether you're just starting out or looking to refine your leadership toolkit, these sessions are crafted to support your growth. Attend one or attend them all-each workshop stands alone but together forms a comprehensive professional development experience.
#8 Blueprints for Leadership: How Work Gets Won
Branding, Relationships & Business Development for Architects
Great architecture alone doesn’t guarantee that the next project will walk through the door. Successful firms must build strong reputations, develop meaningful client relationships, identify opportunities, and effectively communicate why clients should choose them.
This session will explore how branding, marketing, and business development work together to help architectural firms win work. Mark Tawara, FSMPS, CPSM, and Jason Takeuchi, AIA, NCARB, NOMA, will share practical perspectives on how firms build awareness, develop relationships, pursue opportunities, and turn successful projects into repeat clients and referrals. Participants will also examine what influences a client’s selection of an architect—from technical competence and experience to trust, reputation, relationships, and communication.
Most importantly, participants will learn that marketing and business development aren’t limited to principals or marketing staff. Architects at every career stage contribute to their firm’s brand and future success through the quality of their work, the relationships they build, and the way they represent their firm.
Things to be covered during this presentation:
- Understand the distinct but interconnected roles of branding, marketing, and business development in architectural practice.
- Explore how clients select architects and the tangible and intangible factors that influence their decisions.
- Understand the business development cycle, from building awareness and relationships to identifying opportunities, winning work, delivering exceptional service, and generating repeat business and referrals.
- Identify practical ways architects can contribute to marketing and business development at any stage of their career, even if they are not directly responsible for selling or pursuing work.
Welcome Speakers
Mark Tawara, FSMPS, CPSM, Honorary Affiliate of AIA Honolulu
Mark Tawara, FSMPS, CPSM, is Principal and Co-Owner of Manageability, a Hawaii-based management and marketing consulting firm serving organizations and businesses throughout the built environment. With more than 25 years of experience in marketing, business development, management, and leadership within the architecture, engineering, and construction industry,
Mark has held executive leadership positions and founded multiple businesses throughout his career. He is a Fellow of the Society for Marketing Professional Services, a Certified Professional Services Marketer, and actively develops and facilitates leadership programs for AIA Honolulu, ACEC Hawaii, The Pacific Resource Partnership, and other professional organizations.
Mark serves on the boards of the Hawaii Architectural Foundation, the University of Hawaii Pacific Asian Center for Entrepreneurship, and Ahahui Koa Anuenue, the nonprofit fundraising arm of UH Athletics. Mark graduated from the University of Hawaii at Manoa Shidler College of Business and is an Honorary Affiliate of AIA Honolulu.
Jason Takeuchi, AIA, NCARB, NOMA
Jason Takeuchi, AIA, NCARB, NOMA, is a mission-driven architect at Ferraro Choi in Honolulu, Hawaii. He is passionate about building resilience of his community through stewardship of the unique culture and environment of Hawaii and the Pacific. Jason received a Doctor of Architecture degree from the University of Hawaii. Jason currently serves as 2026-2028 At-Large Director on the National Board
of The American Institute of Architects (AIA) and was 2024 Chair of the AIA National Young Architects Forum, representing 20,000 emerging architects globally. In his community, Jason volunteers with the Liljestrand Foundation, Hawaii Architectural Foundation and Scouting America’s Aloha Council. Jason is a recipient of the 2018 AIA Associates Award, Building Design + Construction Magazine’s 40 Under 40 recognition and the 2023 AIA Young Architects Award.
DATE: Friday, October 23
TIME: Workshop: 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM | Pau Hana: 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM
WHERE: Center for Architecture, 828 Fort Street Mall, Suite 100, Honolulu
COST: $75 (Includes workshop and Pau Hana networking)
CEU: 2 AIA/CES LUs
PARKING: Click here for parking suggestions
RSVP for Blueprints Session 8
$75.00
Tickets Available
Professional Development Sponsors
Dickey Sponsor
Wood Sponsors
Ossipoff Sponsors
Preis Sponsors
