A Few TxA Upadates!

TxA Board of Directors

SEPTEMBER 28-29, 2023 Meeting Highlights

PRESIDENT’S REPORT

President Nicki Marrone, AIA reviewed TxA highlights including a review of two Large States meetings that TxA participated in. These meetings are groups of other large AIA components including Florida, New York, California, and several other states. The first meeting was on legislative activities noting Texas has a similar political environment to Florida and the need to focus on issues that are important to the greatest number of architects. The second Large States meeting focused on trends in the profession including an influx of venture capital investment in the AEC space. Nicki also reviewed the AIA Compensation Report – some information is available for free and more detailed info is available for purchase. For TxA, Nicki reviewed our efforts to better represent all members including an upcoming potential LGBTQIA Town Hall and the AIA Future Focused video series (Nicki will be featured in a video coming out soon!)

TREASURER’S REPORT

Treasurer Eric Brooks, AIA presented the August 31, 2023, financial statements. He also presented the 2024 TxA Budget recommended by the Finance Committee. After discussion, the budget was approved. As a reminder, the Finance Committee consists of the TxA President, President-elect, Treasurer, 2 at-large representatives of the membership (not on the Executive Committee), and the EVP/CEO,

TxA ANNUAL CONFERENCE AND DESIGN EXPO

The TxA Annual Conference and Design Expo is coming up November 2-4 in Ft. Worth. There’s still time to register and we hope to see a great contingent of Board members at the event.

TxA BUILDING NEEDS ASSESSMENT

President Nicki Marrone, AIA, and the Executive Committee provided an update on the work they have done with STG (along with member and leadership feedback) regarding the needs of TxA daily for staff work and for the 3x per year in-person Board meetings (and occasional committee and other meetings.) The Board determined the Executive Committee should continue its efforts and bring any recommendations back to the Board at a future meeting.

K-12 EDUCATION OUTREACH

The Board discussed the issue of K-12 Education Outreach and how the state, local, and national levels of AIA work together (or could potentially better work together). Chapter-level activities include everything from high school internships, design competitions, participation in camps and scholarship programs. Several chapters in Texas aren’t involved in K-12 outreach at all and our larger chapters are very active and tend to believe the local level is where activities should be focused. The Board had a great discussion, and TxA will continue to focus on ways to share ideas, be a resource, and provide access to information already available from other entities (like NCARB and NOMA).

ADVOCACY UPDATE

TxA’s Director of Government Affairs and Advocacy Becky Walker provided an update on activities happening between legislative sessions including an additional Special Session to be called by the Governor to focus on Educational Savings Accounts (ESAs) which TxA will monitor for any issues affecting architects. Other activities: New TAC Trustee onboarding, School Safety Sub-committee continuing to work with the Texas Education Agency on facilities issues, regular participation in TBAE meetings, and participation with the Texas Business Roundtable, Texans for Lawsuit Reform, and other organizations interested in issues similar to those we care about.

Becky also noted that on August 17, 2023, the TBAE Board voted unanimously to adopt the proposed rule changes that remove the five-year rolling clock policy for architect candidates. This update reinstates score validity of previously expired ARE 4.) and 5.0 exams. The change became effective September 6, 2023.

Our Government Affairs Steering Committee (GASCom) is currently working on the legislative agenda for the 2025 Texas Legislative Session. Any member can submit an issue for review through this process.

There is also a great opportunity for chapters to meet their TAC goals! The Texas Society of Architects Committee raises funds that support our overall advocacy efforts. Many thanks to Wichita Falls and Abilene for meeting their goals!

TxA ASSOCIATE AND YOUNG ARCHITECT’S REPORT

Nestor Camacho, AIA, Associate Director and Leslie Tijerina, Assoc. AIA, State Associate Representative updated on activities for emerging professionals. TxA’s emerging professionals leadership applied for a component grant through the College of Fellows. They awarded us $5,500; part of these funds was used to bring in a speaker for the TxA conference for

MEETING HIGHLIGHTS

TXA BOARD MEETING | Q3 2023 2

EPs and the rest went to seven scholarships for emerging professionals in Texas to attend the TxA conference (3 from San Antonio, 1 from Houston, 1 from LRGV, 1 from Fort Worth and 1 from Corpus Christi.)

Nestor and Leslie also reported on the new Emerging Professionals Newsletter Breaking Ground. If you know an emerging professional who should be on the email list for this newsletter, please contact TxA’s Communications Coordinator Rachel Cooper at rachel@texasarchitects.org.

STRATEGIC COUNCIL REPORT

Strategic Councilor Brien Graham, AIA reported on his work as part of the AIA 2023 Equity Work Group. They are working with the AIA Equity and the Future of Architecture (EQFA) Board Committee. A primary topic of conversation for the Work Group is how to remove barriers to an equitable future for the profession of architecture – The most common barriers noted in a survey by the group were – poor promotion and outreach to the K-12 pipeline, the high cost of education and licensure, lack of support for a more diverse leadership in firms, lack of transparency with professional development and career path from firm leadership and unstable work/life balance that causes burnout in the profession.