EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT’S LETTER

Enthusiastic Board and Officers Set Tone for 2023

We’re Back!

After kicking off the past two years in a virtual environment, the January cold did not dampen the energy and enthusiasm during this year’s Board Orientation and Inaugural meeting. The member’s of this year’s AIANYS Board reinforced their tenacity by adopting a quote from Peter Drucker, one of the most widely-known and influential thinkers on management, as their motto—“Systematic change requires a willingness to look on change as an opportunity.”

Serving On The Aia New York State Board

An experience for today that makes a difference for tomorrow is one way to look at Board service. Decisions are made through a combination of data and historic intuition that Board members and Officers bring to the table. They interact with leaders from across New York, serving over 9,000 members that make up AIA New York State. By the end of the year, a solid cohort emerges, using the Strategic Plan as their map. The Board works as a unified group, putting aside chapter and firm boundaries to best serve the members of AIANYS.

Preparing For A Year Of Good Governance

As a requirement by the American Institute of Architects and a best practice, Board members are provided resources that outline both legal and operational responsibilities including fiduciary responsibilities and modules on Anti-Trust and Harassment. The sessions are provided by attorneys both known nationally and throughout New York State.

AIA New York State’s Legislative Counsel, Richard Leckerling, Esq., and Kevin Quinn, Esq., of Whiteman Osterman & Hanna, advised the Board on lobbying requirements. Erin Callahan, Esq., also of Whiteman, Osterman & Hanna, provided a session on Harassment. Anthony DiBrita, Esq., of Zetlin & DeChiara, acts as AIANYS’s Legal Counsel, providing guidance on projects. A lighter part of the Board Orientation included team building exercises and social events that conclude with the Installation of the Officers and the Board.

This year, projects on the boards include a review of the Governance and Organizational structure of the State Component; launching a new website; a laser focused Legislative event at the New York State Capitol and locally; a rebranded offering of AIANYS Podcasts; and the development of several practice focused conferences that range from Legal and Marketing to Affordable Housing and Connecting Neighborhoods.

In 2023, the Board will focus on three different strategic discussions—Empowering the New Workforce; Next Gen Professionals and Automating Work x 2. They will also continue their discussions on the impact of Climate Change.

The 2023 Board of Directors is a group of dedicated architects and design professionals who travel to Albany several times a year, spend time in lively discussion and cordial debate, all for the betterment of the practice and the organization.

Serving on the 2023 Board are:

OFFICERS:

President – Paul McDonnell, AIA

President-Elect – Willy Zambrano, FAIA

Immediate Past President – Pasquale Marchese, AIA

Vice President, Government Advocacy – Giuseppe Anzalone, AIA

Vice President, Education – Jeffrey Pawlowski, AIA

Vice President, Communications & Public Awareness – Casey Crossley, AIA

Treasurer – Andrew Harding, AIA

Secretary – Tonja Adair, AIA

BOARD OF DIRECTORS:

Director | Sarah Bruce, AIA | AIA Central New York

Director | Danei Cesario, AIA | AIA New York

Director | Kritika Dhanda, Assoc. AIA | AIA New York

Director | Richard Kruter, AIA | AIA Queens

Director | Andrea Lamberti, AIA | AIA New York

Director | Christopher Less, AIA | AIA Buffalo/Western New York

Director | Julian K. Misiurski III, AIA | AIA Bronx

Director | Jacob Rivalsi, AIA | AIA Long Island

Director | Michael Short, AIA | AIA Rochester

Director | Richard Stott, AIA | AIA Peconic

Director | Nell Taranto, AIA | AIA Staten Island

Director | Seth Wiley, AIA | AIA Westchester + Hudson Valley

Director | Charles Woodcock, AIA | AIA Southern New York

Director | Mi Zhang, AIA | AIA Brooklyn

Associate Director | Leah Przybylski, Assoc. AIA

Student Director | Jaifer Sultan

New York State Representative to the Young Architects Forum | Wei Wang, AIA

New York State Representative to the National Associates Committee | Ayo Yusuf, Assoc. AIA

Also, elected to serve as a New York State Member to the AIA Strategic Council, Ex-Officio Members of the Board is Peter Wehner, AIA. He will join sitting members of the Council, Victor Han, AIA and Graciela Carrillo, AIA.

If you are interested in learning more about AIA New York State Board service or becoming involved with AIA New York State, please contact Georgi Ann Bailey, CAE, Executive Vice President, AIANYS at gabailey@aianys.org.

We are looking forward to a terrific member centric year filled with anticipation and a positive outlook on what the Board, the Officers and the AIANYS team of staff specialists will achieve together.

Sincerely,

Georgi Ann Bailey, CAE, Hon. AIANYS Executive Vice President | AIA New York State