AIA Chicago architect members to register to attend the Annual Meeting on December 9, 2024, to learn more about the proposed slate.
The AIA Chicago chapter Board of Directors is the representative leadership body elected by the local membership each year. All AIA Chicago members in good standing are eligible to be nominated or self-nominate for an open position on the Board of Directors. Open positions and calls for nominations were sent to members in September of 2024.
Electronic voting on the proposed AIA Chicago Board of Directors Slate of Candidates, will take place directly following the Virtual Annual Meeting.
2025 AIA Chicago Board of Directors Nominating Committee
Lynda Dossey, AIA, AIA Chicago President
Jason Golub, AIA, AIA Chicago President Elect
Mindy Viamontes, AIA, AIA Chicago Past President
Catherine Baker, FAIA, AIA Chicago Fellows Committee Chair; AIA Chicago Board President (2018)
P.K. “Trish” VanderBeke, AIA, AIA Chicago Foundation Trustee; AIA Chicago Board Director (2007-2008)
Elizabeth Cisneros Tlaxcala, Assoc AIA, Communications Chair, Arquitectos
Emmanuel Garcia, AIA, Immediate Past President, Arquitectos
James Holland, AIA, President, I-NOMA (Illinois Chapter, National Organization of Minority Architects)
Randy Guillot, FAIA, AIA Fellow
Proposed 2025 AIA Chicago Board of Directors Slate of Candidates
The following individuals have been selected by the Board of Directors Nominating Committee and approved by the Board of Directors to begin or continue terms on the AIA Chicago Board of Directors.
Of the nominees, 65% identify as female [up from 57% in 2023 and 48% in 2022], and 35% serving as Firm Owners or Executives within their offices. 30% identify as descending from minority populations.
The breakdown of firm size is as follows:
Small Firm: 1 (1-9 people) [down from 3 in 2024]
Medium Firm: 8 (10-49 people) [up from 7 in 2024]
Large Firm: 11 (49+ people) [up from 10 to 2024]
PRESIDENT
Jason Golub, AIA
Ware Malcomb
Existing Board Member, New Position, Term Ending 2025
Read Jason’s Bio
FIRST VICE PRESIDENT / PRESIDENT ELECT
Kelly Moynihan, AIA
Nurture
Existing Board Member, New Position, Term Ending 2025
Read Kelly’s Bio
VICE PRESIDENT, FINANCE (TREASURER)
Calli Verkamp, AIA
Wheeler Kearns Architects
Existing Board Member, Current Position, Term Ending 2025
Read Calli’s Bio
VICE PRESIDENT, MEMBERSHIP (SECRETARY)
Richie Hands, AIA, NOMA
Lamar Johnson Collaborative
Existing Board Member, New Position, Term Ending 2026
Read Richie’s Bio
PAST PRESIDENT
Lynda Dossey, AIA
Jahn/
Existing Board Member, New Position, Term Ending 2025
Read Lynda’s Bio
VICE PRESIDENT, ADVOCACY
Natalie Hicks, AIA
RATIO
Existing Board Member, Current Positon, Term Ending 2025
Read Natalie’s Bio
VICE PRESIDENT, EDUCATION
Chey Taylor, AIA
SMNG A Ltd.
Existing Board Member, Current Position, Term Ending 2025
Read Chey’s Bio
VICE PRESIDENT, SPONSORSHIP
Susan Brain, AIA
Perkins&Will
Existing Board Member, New Position, Term Ending 2026
Read Susan’s Bio
VICE PRESIDENT, HONORS & AWARDS
Peter Wojtowicz, AIA
Valerio Dewalt Train
Existing Board Member, Renewed Position, Term Ending 2026
Read Peter’s Bio
DIRECTOR
Sara Beardsley, FAIA
SCB
Existing Board Member, Renewed Position, Term Ending 2027
Read Sara’s Bio
DIRECTOR
Lori Day, AIA
JGMA
Existing Board Member, Current Position, Term Ending 2025
Read Lori’s Bio
DIRECTOR
Fred Grier, AIA
LBBA
New Board Member, New Position, Term Ending 2027
Fred Grier is a Senior Project Architect at LBBA, where he currently manages several mixed-income and affordable housing projects in Chicago and the Midwest. His career includes work in luxury commercial design at Jahn and UHA London to Krueck Sexton Partners, SCB and working independently before landing at LBBA. His commitment to design excellence and improving communities gives Fred a unique perspective and understanding for how architecture can help improve our world. Fred is a past-president of the UK Chapter, and a founding co-chair of the AIA Chicago LGBTQIA+ Alliance.
DIRECTOR
Jessie LaFree, AIA
SPACE Architects + Planners
Existing Board Member, Current Position, Term Ending 2026
Read Jessie’s Bio
DIRECTOR
Candace Small, AIA
Mortenson
New Board Member, New Position, Term Ending 2025
Candace Small, AIA, serves as a Senior Design Phase Manager and Healthcare Market Leader at Mortenson. Throughout her career, she has consistently focused on healthcare, beginning as a healthcare architect before transitioning to construction management. In her current role, she collaborates with owners and design teams to guide projects from initial concepts through to construction. A strong advocate for continuous learning, Candace mentors younger staff, and champions high school youth entering the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction industries, and previously led the AIA Healthcare Knowledge Community.
DIRECTOR
Neil Sondgeroth, AIA
OKW Architects
New Board Member, New Position, Term Ending 2027
Neil Sondgeroth, AIA, is Director of Architecture and Planning at OKW Architects, where he specializes in large-scale private development planning and design. After receiving degrees from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the Yale University School of Architecture, Neil joined HBRA Architects where he made significant contributions to academic and institutional projects for several public and private clients. During his career he has performed as a lead on a variety of projects, which range from in-depth design studies to managing the construction administration of major renovations and large-scale public projects.
DIRECTOR
Ashlen Williams, AIA, NOMA
KOO
Existing Board Member, Current Position, Term Ending 2026
Read Ashlen’s Bio
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR
Noor Ain, Assoc. AIA
Gardiner and Theobald
Existing Board Member, Current Position, Term Ending 2027
Read Noor’s Bio
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR
Eve Fineman, Assoc. AIA
Chicago Architecture Center
Existing Board Member, Current Position, Term Ending 2025
Read Eve’s Bio
AFFILIATE DIRECTOR
Albert Mena, Affil. AIA Chicago
TYLin | Silman Structural Solutions
Existing Board Member, Current Position, Term Ending 2026
Read Albert’s Bio
AFFILIATE DIRECTOR
Eric Singer, Affil. AIA Chicago
Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP
Existing Board Member, Current Position, Term Ending 2025
Read Eric’s Bio
STUDENT DIRECTOR
Amelia Fager, Student AIA Chicago
School of the Art Institute of Chicago
Existing Board Member, Current Position, Term Ending July 2025
Read Amelia’s Bio
STUDENT DIRECTOR
Tom Godinez, Student AIA Chicago
University of Illinois Chicago
Existing Board Member, Current Position, Term Ending July 2025
Read Tom’s Bio
STUDENT DIRECTOR
Caleb Kwok, Student AIA Chicago
Illinois Institute of Technology
Existing Board Member, Current Position, Term Ending July 2025
Read Caleb’s Bio
The AIA Chicago Board also includes three delegates from the AIA Illinois Board of Directors. These individuals are appointed by AIA Illinois and are not voted on by AIA Chicago’s membership.
AIA ILLINOIS CHICAGO REPRESENTATIVE
Alzira Maldonado Protsishin, AIA
EXP
Read Alzira’s Bio
AIA ILLINOIS CHICAGO REPRESENTATIVE
Robert Natke, AIA
UrbanWorks, Ltd.
Rob is Managing Principal at Chicago-based UrbanWorks, Ltd. Born and raised in Illinois, he has over 35 years of architectural experience, including roles as a facility planner with a Fortune 500 company, and in the construction and planning department of several universities.
He earned an MBA and a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Illinois Chicago. At UrbanWorks, Rob is responsible for business operations including development, staffing, quality assurance, sustainability and construction administration.
Rob’s passion for developing the next generation of architects includes his work as an educator at the Illinois Institute of Technology where he teaches a 5th year architecture studio. He lives in Evanston with his wife (UrbanWorks’ President Patricia Saldaña Natke, FAIA), and is a classic car enthusiast.
AIA ILLINOIS CHICAGO REPRESENTATIVE
Cesar Santoy, AIA
Studio ARQ
Read Cesar’s Bio
