2026 Hawaii State Council

Strategic Councilor Position with AIA National

The AIA Strategic Council (“Council”) is a diverse group of over 60 forward-thinking leaders, charged with exploring new ideas and solutions to significant issues facing the profession of architecture and its role in society. The Council seeks to prioritize and make advancements by informing the National AIA Board of Directors and other Institute bodies about important professional issues and opportunities.

The Council is not an AIA governing body, which allows it the freedom to explore issues outside of current constructs. The Council’s primary focus is the future of the profession. A recent and profound example of this is the Council’s effort, along with the Board of Directors, to create the 2021–2025 AIA Strategic Plan.

Your 2023–2025 AIA Hawaii Strategic Councilor is Jason DeMarco, AIA

Ideal Characteristics of a Strategic Councilor

While the form and operation of the Strategic Council have continued to evolve since its inception in 2015, engaged and effective Councilors over this time have several shared qualities.

We are seeking individuals with the following characteristics:

• A true representative of our state’s members, that can bring forth the diversity of perspectives within our various communities.
• An exemplary communicator, a listener, and advocate who will capably serve as an active conduit for information and ideas to and from our members.
• A natural leader, able to inspire, collaborate and work with others, who possess a bias for action.
• A reflective thinker who offers expertise, experience, insight, and/or unique perspectives.

The AIA Bylaws do not require that state representatives be Architect members.

Commitments and Expectations of a Strategic Councilor

Click here (PDF) to review the latest Handbook for the Strategic Council.

• The Councilor must be an engaged, active AIA member who is able to provide significant volunteer hours throughout the three-year term of service. The Strategic Councilor is to be a representative of Hawaii state’s members, capable of bringing forward the diversity of perspectives representative of our community.
• The Council meets face-to-face at least twice a year, in addition to teleconferences. Council meetings are known as “Assemblies.” AIA funds attendance at these Assemblies and events. Councilors are expected to attend Council meetings, quarterly AIA Hawaii State Council meetings, local component meetings, and AIA National events (such as the annual conference) per year.
• The Council’s structure also includes a variety of standing committees (Steering, Strategic Planning, and Best Practices), to which Councilors are assigned on an annual basis.

Application Requirements

• Must be an AIA Hawaii member in good standing.
• Provide a personal statement, limit 2 pages, to include reasons for seeking election. Utilize the prompts here for the personal statement.
• Provide personal resume, limit 2 pages, highlighting areas of service and leadership.
• Submit at least one letter of recommendation from an individual/ entity you feel represents your volunteer and leadership capabilities.

Deadline

August 1, 2025.

Selection Process

The AIA Hawaii State Council Selection Committee will review applications and short-list several candidates for recommendation. The Selection Committee will make its recommendation to the AIA Hawaii State Council to take action for approval at its fourth quarter meeting.

The AIA Small Firm Exchange body is made up of 52 AIA members who work in small firms, including representatives from each US state, Washington DC, and one international practitioner. The body is moderated by a Vice-Chair from the SFx Board, who in turn serves on the SFx Executive Committee.

The mission of the AIA Small Firm Exchange (SFx) is to advance the mutual interests of architects practicing in small firms. The objectives of the AIA SFx are three-fold:

1. Advocate the value of small firms, the national SFx, and local SFx groups, both within the AIA and to the public.
2. Curate and disseminate the most pertinent resources and information, from the AIA & elsewhere, that benefit small firms.
3. Inform the AIA of current issues facing small firms and areas in which current resources/information are lacking.

Your 2025–2026 SFx Representative is TBA

Commitments and Expectations of the Small Firm Exchange State Representative

• Be a key conduit for information and support between small firms at AIA chapters within your state and the AIA national Small Firm Exchange
• Provide constructive feedback on AIA national’s progress in delivering value to small firm members
• Serve as ambassador for small firm engagement within your state
• Every month this position will require 4-6 hours of your time and participation in up to two 1-hour calls (these occur at 6am HST)
  • Each month a state rep call to participate in small group conversations
  • Some months an all-call is held to learn about AIA resources and to ask practice-related questions
  • These calls allow reps to understand the scope of the AIA and what’s currently happening. This is also when reps will be able to alert the board to anything of importance from your specific state or local chapters
• Serve as a liaison to the state chapter, local chapters, and local SFX (or similar) groups
  • Build relationships with state and local leaders i.e. component staff, board leadership, local SFx chapter/group leaders
  • Inform state and local leaders of small firm resources
  • Collect and share small firm needs and concerns with the SFx board
  • Distribute quarterly newsletter content within your state
  • Give the SFx presentation to state’s chapters (in-person or virtually)
• Support SFX communication efforts
• Provide feedback via short surveys approximately 10 times per year
• Participate in a half-day virtual orientation and planning meeting in January
• Participate in in-person events at AIA Conference, if possible

Application Requirements

• Must be an AIA member in good standing.
• Must work in a firm with under 10 employees.
• Preference to women, ethnic minorities, and younger members, currently underrepresented.
• Preference to volunteers who help achieve a diversity of firm size, age, structure, and service area/project types.

Term: Two-year commitment, renewable up to 4 years total.

CLICK HERE TO APPLY

Deadline

Applications accepted through October 1 every year (if there is an open position).

Selection Process

State Small Firm Representatives are selected by the AIA Small Firm Exchange.  Notifications are sent in December.  Positions begin every January.

The Young Architects Forum (YAF) is a program of the AIA and the College of Fellows (COF) and is organized to address issues of particular importance to recently licensed architects (within 10 years or less after licensure).

The Young Architects Representative’s (YAR) role is to promote YAF’s mission points of leadership, mentorship, and fellowship by linking local Young Architects Forum activities with the National Institute. The YAR will interact with YAF representatives from other AIA state components and will bring ideas back to the local level while also participating in National YAF focus groups and initiatives. This may include informing the components of the state of programming ideas, grants and awards, or leadership opportunities for Young Architects that may be offered on a national or local level.

YAR’s work with their counterparts: the College of Fellows Regional Representative, the Strategic Councilor, and the National Associates Committee (NAC) Representative. YARs are responsible for gathering information about issues facing young architects within the state and disseminating information and resources at the local level.

Your 2025–2026 YAR is Krithika Penedo, AIA

Commitments and Expectations of a Young Architect State Representative

• The YAR must be an AIA member licensed for less than 10 years for at least the first year of their term.
• This is a two-year commitment with an estimated 4–12 hours per month spent on YAF activities and tasks, and up to 3 hours per month spent on Hawaii State Council meetings and tasks.
• Representatives are expected to attend bimonthly committee meetings, a minimum of one focus group (commitment varies), quarterly Hawaii State Council meetings, and AIA National events (such as the YAF orientation and annual conference).

Application Requirements

• Submit an applicant letter of interest (cover letter): one-page maximum describing the candidate’s appropriateness and interest in the position.
• A single page letter from the applicant’s employer (unless self-employed) stating their understanding and support of the time commitment for the applicant to serve in this position.
• Supporting materials: up to five pages maximum, including:
  • A resume outlining previous leadership roles and involvement in AIA at the local or state level
  • One page essay from the nominee focusing on what he or she hopes to gain from the experience both personally and professionally
  • A letter of reference from an AIA member in good standing within the state of Hawaii and/or an AIA-affiliated entity supporting the nomination.

Deadline

Completed application materials are due by August 30th, 2024, to the AIA Hawaii EVP, Julia Fink, via email at julia@aiahonolulu.org. 

Selection Process

This is an open nomination process. The Hawaii State Council Board of Directors will make an appointment as soon as a qualified candidate is identified or at the October Board meeting, whichever comes first.

The National Associates Committee (NAC) represents associates, in both traditional and non-traditional paths, by providing information and leadership to AIA components. The NAC addresses local and national issues and helps to shape and dictate new policy. The main objective of the NAC Representative is to serve as the AIA Associate representative for the State of Hawaii to the National Associates Committee (NAC) for a 2-year term.

The NAC serves as a resource to AIA National regarding issues that affect Associate members, by providing feedback/comment. In their position, the NAC representative also contributes news and announcements from state and local chapter Associate member events for NAC publications on a regular basis (monthly).

The NAC also fosters expanded interest in the program, encourages growth of the profession, acts as a mentor, builds relationships, creates goals for the state, and disseminates knowledge.

Your 2024–2025 AIA Hawaii National Associates Committee Representative is Henry G. Schneider IV, Associate AIA

Commitments and Expectations of a NAC Representative

• The NAC must be an Associate AIA member at the time of appointment.
• This is a two-year commitment with an estimated 4–12 hours per month spent on NAC activities and tasks, and up to 3 hours per month spent on Hawaii State Council meetings and tasks.
• Representatives are expected to attend quarterly committee meetings, monthly workgroup calls, quarterly Hawaii State Council meetings, and AIA National events (such as the annual conference).

Application Requirements

CLICK HERE TO APPLY

Deadline

September 1, 2025.

Selection Process

This is an open nomination process, and the Hawaii State Council Board of Directors will make an appointment as soon as a qualified candidate is identified.

Questions - Email Julia Fink, AIA Honolulu EVP with your questions at julia@aiahonolulu.org