President’s Message

Eightight years ago AIBD took a huge step forward with the birth of a new AIBD governance unanimously voted on by the then dissolved AIBD House of Delegates. Today, AIBD is on the verge of its next monumental step forward. Since the beginning of AIBD in 1950, AIBD has been a highly respected Institute providing experienced professional designers in the building industry that then evolved into creating a certified professional building designer (CPBD). In 2022 AIBD is on the footsteps of becoming American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Accredited. This means AIBD will reach the highest level of standards for our certification program and professionalism in residential and building design. The goal of AIBD has always been to help designers reach credible status. To offer the right to design buildings and the right for home and building owners to choose whom they want to help them design and build. Becoming ANSI accredited is a giant step to continue the progress of AIBD’s vision and mission to represent how homes are designed in America and to build a better residential design profession, one designer at a time. Thanks to our leadership from the AIBD Board of Directors and the leadership from AIBD’s certification program, the National Council of Building Designer Certification (NCBDC). The Council has been working on ANSI accreditation for several years led by AIBD members Alan Abrams, John Fought, the current NCBDC president Kimberly Mockert and AIBD’s staff and Executive Director Steven Mickley. Because of them, becoming ANSI accredited will elevate your professionalism in residential and building design. This past year the AIBD Board of Directors voted on the implementation of using sources like the “Great Game of Business” to elevate our AIBD Committee programs and offering AIBD member personal development in running and operating a successful design business firm. Many of our AIBD Committees have implemented this program or are in the process of using it to establish an organized responsible committee with goals and commitments that will carry our AIBD programs for years to come. These initial steps in the “Great Game of Business” will help set the next stage of coaching and mentoring AIBD residential business owners.

In my first year of AIBD President I wanted to create an open Board society transparent to all members. The creation of an evolved Monday Minute newsletter which has now become the hub of AIBD information, virtual conferences, virtual coffee chat roundtables and the institution of our virtual platform ‘Hopin has helped create this open society. Of course a lot of the virtual programs were forced upon us by adapting to conditions uncontrollable. Our Board and staff have met those challenges head on and successfully where other business and institutes have failed throughout the country. Last summer we instituted back to in-person conferences combined with virtual attendance and the birth of our hybrid events. As I near the completion of my 2nd year as President I look forward to working with our Executive Director Steven Mickley to continue mentoring programs, supporting NCBDC with ANSI accreditation, and building our Committee programs that will have a foundation to build on for years to come.

Our many AIBD Committees include the Conference Committee chaired by AIBD Vice President Benjamin Tabolt, Chapter Coordinator chaired by Board Director Keith Zoni, Membership Committee chaired by Board Director Dinesh Shah, Finance Committee chaired by AIBD Treasurer Lisa Schafer, High Performance Homes Team chaired by Board Director Michael Payne, AIBD Magazine chaired by AIBD 2nd Vice President Yu-Ngok Lo, ARDA Committee chaired by Board Director Ted Hake, and the Codes and Standards Committee chaired by Board Director Michael Battaglia. To all of you thank you for your much appreciated work and efforts to make AIBD better for each member of the AIBD and towards our entire building industry. To all AIBD members please contact AIBD staff or a member of the AIBD Board if you wish to join the cause and help out within our Board of Directors and Committees. And of course we can’t go without recognition to our AIBD staff (the A-Team) led by Executive Director Steven Mickley, our Communications Director Garrett Mickley, our Certification Director Rusty Hudnet, and Administration Director Raven Epps in whom none of the above accomplishments are even possible without their dedication, their personal care for each and every member of AIBD. We thank you all from the deepness of our hearts. And in much respect and honor to our College of Fellows Chancellor James Wright and to our past President Karen Kassik-Michelsohn whose mentorship and experience from both of you at our Board meetings are much inspired. With much sincere appreciation of you, my friends and colleagues, Bernie Kern AIBD President

Bernie Kern

has been in the residential building industry for 35 years and has owned and operated BBKern DESIGNS, LLC, Colorado Springs, CO, for 25 years. BBKern DESIGNS is winner of multiple ARDA submittals. Having become an AIBD member in 2002, Bernie is serving consecutive years as President of the AIBD and has served on the AIBD Board since 2014. Bernie was honored and humbled with the 2018 AIBD Designer of the Year. Bernie is also past President and Chair of the Central Colorado Chapter. Bernie helped launch AIBD’s first chapter, Central Colorado.