CRAN Story Slam! Lessons from the Client Frontlines

Join us for an engaging evening where architects share real-life stories about unique and challenging client experiences—funny, surprising, and insightful moments that reveal the complexities of architectural practice. Through storytelling and discussion, participants will explore strategies for managing client expectations, maintaining professional ethics, and fostering positive relationships. This interactive session emphasizes peer-to-peer learning and reflective discussion, helping architects strengthen their professional competence in project and practice management.

Program Emcee:

Tim Hawkins

Timothy Hawkins, AIA, is a licensed architect with 27 years of experience in architecture and construction. As Senior Project Manager for Power Construction’s Luxury Residence Group, he oversees project execution among Architects, owners, and contractors. His career includes 4+ years as a construction project manager, 5+ years in design-build, and 16+ years practicing architecture. Tim holds a Master of Architecture from UIC and a B.S. in Architecture from Ohio State. He has served four years on AIA Chicago’s CRAN Steering Committee as Co-Chair for the past two years, and mentors Knowlton School students.

Learning Objective #1:
Identify common challenges in client-architect relationships and their impact on project outcomes.

Learning Objective #2:
Analyze real-world scenarios to determine effective strategies for managing client expectations and communication.

Learning Objective #3:
Apply lessons learned from peer experiences to improve conflict resolution and negotiation skills in practice.

Learning Objective #4:
Evaluate the role of professional ethics and boundaries in maintaining successful client relationships.

For AIA Members: AIA Chicago will report your attendance for continuing education credit directly to AIA national. Please ensure your name matches your AIA membership record and your AIA number is correctly entered at the time of registration to receive proper credit. AIA Members cannot self-report courses for AIA CES credit.

For Non-Members: AIA Chicago does not report attendance for non-members. If you would like to request a certificate for proof of participation, please click here.

For Vendor Education Program Attendees (AIA Member and Non-Member): The hosting Vendor will report your attendance for continuing education credit directly to AIA national. Please ensure your name matches your AIA membership record and your AIA number is correctly entered at the time of registration to receive proper credit. To ensure accuracy, please request a certificate of completion from the Vendor.