First Vice President / President-elect
Jeffrey Huber, FAIA
Jeffrey E. Huber, FAIA, ASLA, NCARB, LEED AP, WEDG, is a principal/partner at Brooks Scarpa Huber and professor at the Florida Atlantic University School of Architecture. A licensed architect and landscape architect with more than 25 years of practice, his work integrates architecture, landscape, and urbanism with a focus on resilience, housing, and the public realm.
Huber has been deeply engaged in AIA leadership at the local, state, and national levels. He currently serves as vice president of AIA Florida and previously represented Florida on the AIA National Strategic Council, where he helped advance conversations on practice innovation, sustainability, AI and the future of architectural education. He is a recipient of the AIA Young Architect Award and was elevated to the AIA College of Fellows for his contributions to design, advocacy, and professional leadership.
Throughout his career, Huber has championed policies and initiatives that strengthen the architect’s role in shaping resilient communities, advancing licensure standards, and reinforcing the profession’s responsibility to public health, safety, and welfare. As a candidate for AIA Florida president, he is committed to practice forward—elevating the architect’s influence, supporting emerging professionals, and ensuring the profession remains relevant, innovative, and impactful in a rapidly changing world.
Architecture carries both privilege and responsibility. We are entrusted with shaping environments that protect public health, safety, and welfare while advancing culture, resilience, and opportunity. My philosophy is grounded in the conviction that architecture must continually evolve to remain relevant, trusted, and indispensable to society and the public we serve.
Florida stands at the forefront of climate adaptation, housing affordability challenges, technological disruption, and rapid growth. These forces require architects to lead beyond the drawing board. Design excellence remains essential, but it must be paired with advocacy, policy engagement, research, and strategic thinking. The profession’s future depends on our willingness to expand our influence and clearly articulate our value.
Through service at the local, state, and national levels of the AIA, I have worked to strengthen the architect’s voice in discussions about resilience, licensure, education, and the future of practice. I believe in a practice forward agenda that invests in emerging professionals, reinforces the importance of licensure and lifelong learning, advances resilient and equitable communities, and positions architects as civic leaders.
Our strength lies in collective leadership and shared knowledge. When we act with clarity and purpose, architecture shapes not only buildings, but the future of Florida itself.
Secretary/Treasurer
Peter Hauerstein, AIA
Peter has been active in AIA Tampa Bay and AIA Florida since moving to Florida. During his first year of service, he filled a vacancy by stepping into the role of president-elect. He completely dedicated himself to AIA while being a Tampa firm owner. Peter led AIATB through the purchase, design and opening of their new headquarters. Peter received the 2022 Bob Levinson Award for his service. He has been a mentor at USF SACD since program inception.
Serving AIA Florida years before becoming a board member Peter actively serves on all AIA Florida’s committees and is the 2026 vice president of advocacy. He contributed to the Electronic Seal, Education and Resilience Appendix Task Forces. As chair of the 2025 convention in Tampa he brought a record number of attendees to the event. Peter is a Citizen Architect, a Safety Assessment Program participant and a Jacob Leadership Institute graduate. An advocacy leader, Peter has led AIATB since 2019, is the 2026 AIA Florida advocacy chair and sits on AIA National’s Government Advocacy Committee. He raised record FAPAC money with AIATB in 2023. This year his testimony to the Florida House helped save BOAID and continuing education by defeating HB607.
I love what I do, and I have fun doing it. I did not know how rewarding serving the AIA could be until I said “yes” for the first time. When the opportunity to step up for my chapter arrived, that is when I started to understand how much the AIA means to me. My all-in attitude showed me how much enjoyment serving the architectural community gives me. The appreciation I receive for what I do is inspiring and guides me to look for more ways I can contribute.
The people who know me know that I do not know how to do anything less than 100%. The architects who have trusted me with the privilege of serving as state director and vice president for AIA Florida deserve everything I can give. I truly enjoy helping with each task that AIA asks me to do. In this way I can give members the best experience and value for being a part of the organization. As your secretary/treasurer, I would continue to bring the love and dedication I feel for the AIA to doing my part in giving you the same great experience I have while serving the membership.
Vice President
Naomi Harrison, AIA
Naomi Harrison, AIA, LEED AP, is a senior project manager at MCHarry Associates with more than 26 years of experience delivering complex public-sector projects throughout Florida. Her portfolio includes K–12 educational facilities, emergency response buildings, and resilient community infrastructure, reflecting a commitment to architecture serving the public and strengthening community preparedness.
An advocate for the profession, Naomi has been deeply engaged in leadership and service within the architectural community. She has served on the AIA Miami Board of Directors for nine years in multiple roles, including scholarship chair, co-chair of the Christopher Kelley Leadership Development Program, and co-chair of Women in Architecture. She is also involved with Black Architects in the Making (BAM) and served as president of SoFloNOMA, where she supported mentorship and expanded pathways into the profession.
Committed to advancing the role of architects in addressing challenges, Naomi is currently pursuing a master’s degree in disaster management at FIU. Her studies explore how architects can contribute to disaster preparedness, resilient design, and the rapid deployment of shelter and recovery infrastructure following crisis events.
Through her professional work, leadership, and mentorship, Naomi remains committed to strengthening the profession while helping architects play a meaningful role in building strong, resilient communities.
My leadership is rooted in service, collaboration, and resilience. Architecture has always been about more than buildings—it is about people, community, and the role we play in supporting them through both stability and crisis.
While I am currently pursuing a master’s in disaster management at FIU, this is not a departure from my architectural path, but rather a return of what first drew me to the profession. Throughout my career, I have been committed to strengthening communities—whether through the design of public facilities that serve as safe havens during emergencies, or through mentorship, professional service, and community engagement that supports the growth of others in our field.
My graduate studies are expanding that commitment by exploring how architects can contribute more actively to disaster preparedness, resilient design, and the rapid deployment of shelter and recovery infrastructure.
If elected, I will work to strengthen collaboration between architects, emergency managers, educators, and community leaders so that our profession continues to play a meaningful role in preparedness and recovery.
Architecture has always been a profession of service, and I believe our greatest impact comes when we use our skills not only to design buildings, but to help communities stand stronger after every challenge.
Stephen Hruby, AIA
Stephen J. Hruby, AIA founded Architects Unlimited, a Naples based architecture and urban design firm nationally recognized for affordable housing and community revitalization.
Stephen is serving a second term on the AIA Florida board, is past chairman of the FFA, chairs his component’s foundation, and serves on the board of FAPAC. He served on four convention committees and three communication committees. He co-chairs the AIA Florida/FHC Missing Middle Task Force and AIA Florida/APA Middle Florida Planning Task Force.
Stephen is past president of AIA Florida Southwest and serves as treasurer. He hosts the component’s video podcast, “Coffee Talk as well as AIA Florida/FFA podcast “Architecture and You”. AIA Florida and AIA Florida Southwest have designated him Citizen Architect. He is the recipient of AIA Florida Silver Medal and the W.R. Frissell Medal of Honor, AIA Florida Southwest’s highest honor. He is also the recipient of the 2022 Sam Noe Award for community service to the City of Naples.
Stephen is the chairman of the Naples Design Review Board, Collier County Affordable Housing Advisory Committee and the Housing Alliance. He serves on the board of the Collier County Community Land Trust and was previous chairman. He is a member of AIA, ULI and USGBC.
I believe we AIA leaders are obligated to not only communicate but demonstrate the value of the architect to society. Throughout my career I’ve integrated this philosophy into my practice, community involvement and AIA service.
I look for opportunities to demonstrate how architects innovatively solve problems and make places that improve the quality of our lives.
In my own practice, I use public engagement to expose communities to a vision of a better place to live and work through planning and design.
In my service on community boards, I use televised public forums and hearings to communicate how architecture impacts our lives.
In my service to AIA, I volunteer for committees, task forces and boards that demonstrate my philosophy.
Whether as chairman of the state and component Foundations for Architecture, Design Review Board, and Affordable Housing Advisory Committee, my position on component and state boards of directors, or my podcasts, I seek to demonstrate the importance of our profession to society.
If elected vice president, I will be honored to serve—but more than that, I will use this role to champion my philosophy that architects bring profound value to society, and only architects can communicate that value to our communities.
Timothy Johnson, AIA
Timothy L. Johnson I (Tim) is a licensed architect in Florida, with more than 30 years of design and construction experience. Tim is a graduate from the Florida A&M University School of Architecture. He is serving as city architect and deputy director of the economic development department. His responsibly includes managing key large-scale developments within the city. Tim is a recipient of the Mayor’s Leadership Award.
He is a member of the American Institute of Architects Orlando and currently serves as state director. Tim has also served as president of AIA Orlando, director at large and has chaired the AIA Orlando golf tournaments for the past five years. He has served on the AIA Florida Building Codes and Standards Committee and was recently recognized as a 2025 Citizen Architect. Tim is currently serving on the Technical Advisory Committee for the Bob Carr Theater Renovation and the Pulse Night Club Memorial Technical Advisory Committee for the City of Orlando.
Tim is married with three children, and two grandsons (Timothy III and Deacon). He spends his free time gardening, golfing, and auto mechanics.
Tim Johnson is a licensed architect who believes that architects are a benefit to society. He has experience as a firm owner, a consultant and owner. His philosophy is that the architect must lead projects and understand what success looks like. Protecting the health, safety and welfare of the public is primary, but understanding business is also important. Architects must see themselves as the visionary. Tim also believes that continuing education is important; and licensure is just one of the standards that we must achieve.
Edward O’Donnell, AIA
As a founding partner of ODP Architecture and Design, Edward O’Donnell has been instrumental in building the firm from inception to one of the South Florida’s largest architecture firms. Mr. O’Donnell is responsible for the firm’s financial and administrative management as well as the firm’s contractual issues, operations scheduling, technical detailing and specifying.
Prior to forming ODP, Mr. O’Donnell was employed with various general contracting firms as an estimator as well as in project management responsible for total project operations from estimates to project delivery.
Mr. O’Donnell is a state certified general contractor as well as a registered architect. Ed attained a Masters in Business Administration from Nova Southeastern University and is a graduate of Pratt Institute, School of Architecture. He has completed an OSHA 10 hour safety certification. Mr. O’Donnell held an adjunct professor position teaching graduate level Professional Practice at Florida Atlantic University, School of Architecture, in downtown Ft. Lauderdale. He also served on the City of Hollywood Planning and Development Board and currently serves as an event chair for the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation. Additionally, Ed and ODP are active in the Hollywood PBA afterschool educational initiatives.
Architecture is a profession that bridges art and technology opening new avenues of thought and creativity. It is also a service that we provide to our clients and a responsibility that we, as architects, have to society to enhance the built environment as well as the human condition.
The desire to build and create is inherent in humanity and it is elevated to its highest form by the practice of architecture. As architects we have the benefit of a vast documented history of architectural forms that provide the foundation of our profession. From basic shelters to the architecture of antiquity, to the Bauhaus and our own modernity, architects stand on the shoulders of giants combining lofty design with technological advancements.
In a time where architectural services can be seen as a commodity; as a line item on a schedule of values, it is important to elevate the presence and value of the architectural profession throughout the building industry and public perception.
It is equally important to defend the architectural profession from constant assaults that seek to create greater liability for the architect, to ensure that architecture remains a profitable profession for ourselves and the next generation of architects.
Alexander Straughn, AIA
Born and raised in Central Florida by a family of architects deeply engaged in AIA, Alexander’s commitment to the profession began early and continued to accelerate. A graduate of the Orlando 2+2+2 Architecture Program with a 3.95 GPA and top honors, he completed AXP while working nearly full-time and earned licensure in 2021.
Alexander began his career with SchenkelShultz, contributing to aviation, education, and public safety projects while teaching design studios at Valencia College and serving as an AIA Orlando director-at-large. He later joined DLR Group, where his impact quickly expanded to client leader and senior project manager before being appointed Orlando office leader, guiding a team of nearly 80 professionals while remaining actively engaged in winning and delivering work.
As AIA Orlando president, Alexander led one of the chapter’s most transformative years, delivering record-setting FAPAC contributions, advancing the Center for Architecture + Design, leading an executive director transition, reforming policies, establishing a digital workspace, and modernizing the website and social media platforms.
A proven leader with momentum, Alexander is charged with a mission to show our membership that being involved is exciting. Through his leadership, we will tangibly improve the experience of everyone involved in our organization.
Architecture has proven, in Alexander’s experience, to be a unique profession that truly defines an individual’s character beyond a professional capacity. It is driven by extraordinarily talented people, and its greatest outcomes are achieved together. He leads with a “we, not me” mindset, grounded in the belief that anything worth doing should be done together.
Alexander believes people perform at their best when they are fulfilled and aligned with their passions. He is most driven by elevating those around him, creating an environment where individuals can reach their highest potential. As a “winner-doer,” he actively pursues and manages work to empower his teams to design and deliver exceptional architecture across the region.
As an office leader guiding nearly 80 professionals, Alexander leads with authenticity, empathy, and a strong foundation in social and emotional intelligence. He understands that behind every project are people, and that trust, respect, and connection are critical to success.
Service to AIA is, to him, one of the most meaningful responsibilities of his career. He is committed to leadership that strengthens relationships, fosters engagement, and leaves a lasting, positive impact on both the profession and its people.
Associate Director at Large
Masiel Mullen, Assoc. AIA
Masiel Mullen earned her architecture degree from Florida Atlantic University, where she found her way into design without a traditional background. Raised in a military family, she moved frequently throughout her childhood, which shaped how she understands place, identity, and the importance of community within the built environment. Those early experiences continue to inform how she approaches design today.
At FAU, she received an honorable mention in topical design studio with Joseph Choma, an acknowledgment of her curiosity and commitment to exploring ideas through design thinking and experimentation. She now works at a small design-build firm, moving between concept and construction, and gaining a grounded understanding of how architectural ideas translate into real, lived spaces. This hands-on process has deepened her appreciation for the relationship between design intent and building execution.
She is especially interested in supporting other associate members, particularly those entering the field through non-traditional paths, and advocates for more accessible, hands-on learning opportunities and stronger connections between education, professional practice, and community.
As an emerging professional, I see architecture as something people experience first—through movement, atmosphere, and daily use. Good design isn’t just about form; it’s about how a space feels, how it welcomes people, and how it supports real life.
Early in my career, I’ve come to value the balance between ideas and making. Working in a design-build environment has shown me how important it is to carry design intent through construction, where decisions become tangible.
I’m also interested in how we support associate members and those entering the field. Clearer pathways, mentorship, and more hands-on learning can make a real difference. When the profession feels more open and connected, it strengthens the work itself and helps design better reflect the people and communities it serves.
Hannah Murray, Assoc. AIA
Starting as president of AIAS at USF, Hannah continued her involvement with AIA after graduating. Hannah currently serves as the associate director for AIA Tampa Bay and co-chair of the Young Architects Forum, roles she has held since January 2025. Hannah previously served on the board for the Center for Architecture and Design (CA+D), AIA Tampa Bay’s community outreach arm, where she helped organize Tampa Bay Design Week. She is also a member of the Jacob Leadership Institute Class of 2026, further strengthening her leadership and engagement skills so she can better serve the profession.
As associate director, she has organized firm crawls throughout the Tampa Bay area to connect students with firms and provide early exposure to the profession. Through her continued connection with USF, she has participated in a student women in architecture panel, led discussions on integrating AI into the design process, contributed to reestablishing her firm’s internship program, and helped strengthen the university’s mentorship program between professionals and students.
Hannah is focused on being a resource for associates by strengthening connections between associates and young architects across Florida and expanding opportunities for engagement and collaboration.
I have found that the most valuable part of being involved in AIA is the people. The relationships built through shared experiences and conversations are especially important for associates navigating the early stages of their careers.
Through my involvement at USF AIAS and AIA Tampa Bay, I have focused on creating opportunities for connection, whether through firm crawls, guiding the ARE resources, or Young Architects Forum initiatives. These experiences have shown me that associates are looking for guidance, accessibility, and stronger connections within the profession.
If elected as associate director at large, my goal is to be a trusted resource for associates at all stages of their career across Florida. I will help strengthen connections between associates and young architects, making it easier to share knowledge, experiences, and opportunities across chapters.
I am committed to being approachable, listening to members, and contributing in a way that brings practical value as associates grow within the profession.
Elena Voronina, Assoc. AIA
Elena Voronina, Assoc. AIA, Assoc. NOMA, is a Russian architect, author, and founder of KAP, an international initiative advancing architectural literacy.
Through KAP, she has established a rigorous, multi-stage framework that guides students from early design thinking to advanced architectural development, mentorship, and professional orientation, reaching thousands across Florida and internationally. Her work actively engages architecture students and associate AIA members as instructors and mentors, strengthening the emerging professional pipeline.
Voronina’s work integrates design, education, and service, expanding access to architecture while reinforcing its long-term relevance. She contributes as a mentor, guest critic, and collaborator with academic and professional institutions.
Her work has been recognized with the 2024 AIA Miami Associate of the Year and the 2025 AIA Miami and AIA Fort Lauderdale Community Service Award.
Voronina believes that meaningful engagement with architecture begins early and ultimately shapes its future. She identifies the absence of early architectural education as a critical loss for the profession. In response, her work positions architecture as an accessible, interdisciplinary way of thinking that connects design, science, and human experience.
Through education and mentorship, she advances a model that links early discovery with professional development, strengthening both access and continuity within the field.
Young Architect Representative
Emily Anderson, AIA
Emily Anderson, AIA, NOMA, NCARB, is a practicing architect in the Central Florida area. She earned her B.A. in architecture from Washington University in St Louis, and her M. Arch at the University of Florida Graduate School of Architecture, City-Lab Orlando. She was the first woman in Florida to complete the accelerated IPAL program, and her thesis work on trauma informed design for survivors of human trafficking won the Research of Societal Significance award.
Anderson has previously worked as the outreach manager for the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB), where she presented to students, licensure candidates, and licensing advisors across the country about the architectural licensure process. She has also previously served on the board for AIA Orlando as the director of emerging professionals. Emily is passionate about providing access to mentorship and career pathing resources for all levels of the architecture profession.
Architecture is a complex and diverse field with many options for practitioners to find a niche that aligns with their strengths and passions. However, finding the place you belong in this field can be difficult. My primary goal in this role would be to connect members with the resources needed to navigate their next steps and plan for the future beyond. The focus would be on individuals in the mid-career once licensure has been achieved and launching into their uniqueness begins.
I am also committed to investing the time and energy to making AIA a continuously improving organization. I am not one to sit on the sidelines and take shots. When I see something wrong, I want to fix it, not just complain about it. If I hear others complaining, I want to invite them to lean in and work towards improvement.
Collaboration with other collateral organizations like NOMA and AIAS is more important than competition. This extends to the engineering, landscape, interior design and construction fields as well. Working together will reach more people to help them along their journey, than simply promoting a singular brand.
Amanda Barton, AIA
Amanda S. Barton, AIA, NOMA, a vice president at HKS, is registered with over 12 years of experience serving the architectural community. Amanda strives to enhance communities by meeting challenges with unique design solutions that influence the future of the industry while remaining timeless. Amanda, who specializes in coastal hospitality design, works on projects from master planning through documentation, bringing a thoughtful approach to each phase of design.
When not designing, she volunteers in local AIA and NOMA chapters, as a former AIA Miami president and current SoFloNOMA vice president, supporting mentorship, advocacy, and community engagement. She is an advocate for sustainable design, sitting on the AIA Miami and AIA Florida Resilience and Adaptation Committees and promoting environmental resilience through education and advocacy. Amanda participates across HKS initiatives that push the boundary of ESG, and she is a co-author of the Resilience Design Toolkit, published with AIA, helping integrate resilience design into architectural practice.
Amanda’s recent honors include AIA Young Architect Award (2026), ENR Texas & Southeast Top Young Professionals (2025), and the AIA Florida Anthony “Tony” Pullara Individual AIA Service Award (2025). She is a graduate of the University of Miami and recipient of the Alpha Rho Chi Medal.
My philosophy is rooted in turning community into action and leadership into impact. Young architects are not emerging voices, they are active drivers of change.
Through my work, I have focused on building platforms that connect architects to each other, to their communities, and to the issues shaping our future. From expanding mentorship networks and elevating diverse voices, to creating programs that foster leadership and engagement, I believe growth happens when we create intentional opportunities for connection and visibility.
I am committed to advancing climate action by integrating resilience and regenerative design into everyday practice, ensuring our work not only withstands change but improves environmental and community systems. I will strengthen equity by broadening access and representation, expand advocacy so young architects confidently engage in policy and leadership, and prioritize learning the business of architecture so emerging professionals can create, communicate, and capture value.
As young architect representative, I will ensure Florida’s voices contribute meaningfully at the national level while delivering programs and connections that translate ideas into measurable impact.
Ana Orosco, AIA
Ana Orosco is a licensed architect and PhD candidate at the University of Florida, where her research examines housing resilience, building codes, and equity in underserved communities. Licensed in 2023, she brings a decade of practice across design, construction administration, and disaster recovery, including HUD-funded research through UF's Florida Institute for Built Environment Resilience (FIBER). She is a faculty member at Florida A&M University's School of Architecture and Engineering Technology, where she has taught design, theory, and computation. Orosco holds certifications in Living Future, SAP, FEMA resilience training, NGBS Green Pro, Fitwel, and Asset Based Community Development. She has been recognized by AIA's Next to Lead cohort, the Sho-Ping Chin Women's Leadership Summit, and the Align Mentorship Program through the YAF and College of Fellows. She currently serves on AIA National's Resilience and Disaster Response (RADR) Committee and AIA Florida's Resilience and Professional Development Committees. Her work travels between technical systems and lived neighborhood experience, a position she brings to every table she sits at.
Young architects are entering practice at a moment of real consequence. Climate risk, housing crisis, and an expanding definition of what architecture can do with artificial intelligence are reshaping the profession faster than institutions can keep up with. That gap is where the YAF does its most important work. I believe emerging architects need more than encouragement. They need clarity: about their role in decision-making, about how codes and policies actually shape outcomes, and about what it means to practice with intention in communities that depend on us. My practice moves between research, design, and community engagement. I work at the intersection of technical systems and lived experience. That position informs how I advocate, mentor, and lead.
As Florida's YAR, I would bring Florida's emerging architects into national conversations with the depth and intention that work requires.
Kaci Seitzinger, AIA
Kaci Seitzinger, AIA, is a project architect at HuntonBrady Architects with over eight years of professional experience. She holds both a Bachelor of Design and Master of Architecture from the University of Florida, where she also served as a graduate teaching assistant from 2020 to 2022. This role helped shape her commitment to mentorship, education, and professional development within the architecture community.
Kaci is actively involved in leadership within AIA at both the local and state levels. She serves as director of emerging professionals and chair of the Young Architects Forum for AIA Orlando. She also co-leads a biweekly ARE study group with AIA Orlando Women in Architecture for emerging professionals across Orlando. At the state level, she serves as chair of the AIA Florida Emerging Professionals Committee. In addition to her involvement with AIA, Kaci supports the next generation of architects by mentoring high school students through the ACE Mentor Program.
Through these roles, she leads initiatives that support licensure, foster mentorship, expand leadership opportunities, and strengthen the pipeline of future architects. She believes leadership in architecture is not only about good design, but about collaboration, supporting people, sharing knowledge, and helping strengthen the architectural profession as a whole.
My philosophy is rooted in the idea that professional growth in architecture is a continuous progression, not a series of separate phases. Since becoming licensed at the end of last year, I’ve experienced firsthand that while licensure is a major milestone, it is not the finish line. Young architects need clear pathways, meaningful support, and accessible opportunities to continue growing as leaders within the profession.
Through my work with ACE, AIA Orlando, and AIA Florida, I have focused on strengthening that pipeline from first exposure to architecture through licensure and into leadership by building community around mentorship, professional development, and engagement. I believe leadership is developed through access to knowledge, to people, and to real-world experience.
As young architect representative, I will continue to expand on this work by focusing on initiatives that create tangible opportunities for growth. At its core, I believe that leadership in architecture is developed through connections to knowledge, to experience, and to one another. When we strengthen those connections across every stage of practice, we strengthen the profession as a whole and empower young architects to actively shape its future.
Small Firms Exchange Representative
Stacey Boynton, AIA
Stacey Boynton, AIA, NOMA is the founder and principal of STUDIO-US DESIGN, a community-centered architecture practice based in South Florida. As a newly licensed architect and small firm owner, Stacey brings a deep personal and entrepreneurial perspective to the profession, rooted in representation and impact.
As the leader of a boutique practice, Stacey is intentional about maintaining a firm size that allows for hands-on involvement and meaningful client relationships. Having led projects from early concept through development and completion, she has experienced every stage of the design process firsthand shaping her understanding of both the creative and operational realities of small firm practice. Her goal is to continue building a practice that is design-driven and community-centered, while demonstrating the value and impact that small firms can bring to the profession.
Stacey is an active leader within the profession, currently serving as vice president of AIA Fort Lauderdale and contributing to AIA Florida through the IDEA Advisory Council. She is also the past president of the SoFlo NOMA, where she championed initiatives focused on mentorship, equity, and expanding access to the profession.
She is committed to strengthening the visibility, connection, and voice of small firms across local, state and national platforms.
Small firms are not just a segment of the profession; they are its pulse. We operate at the intersection of design, business, and community, often navigating multiple roles at once. This requires technical skill, strategy, adaptability, and vision.
My philosophy is rooted in the same belief that guided my leadership journey: to inspire beyond myself by creating pathways, visibility, and support for others. As a small firm owner, I understand both the opportunities and pressures that come with building something from the ground up. We are constantly making moves and balancing creativity with operations, growth with sustainability, and service with advocacy.
Small firm practitioners must think like the most dynamic piece on a chessboard. They must be able to move across disciplines, anticipate challenges, and respond with intention. As the Small Firm Exchange state representative, I would embrace that role by listening closely to the needs of our community while strategically advancing those conversations at the national level.
I am committed to strengthening connections across our state, elevating the voices of small firms, and ensuring that resources are not only available, but truly accessible. When we are informed, aligned, and supported, we are positioned not just to participate but to lead.