2025 Call for Board Nominations | Q&A with the Member Advancement Committee

Curious about nominating yourself or a peer for the AIA Seattle Board of Directors? Learn about the impact of board service from members of the Member Advancement Committee!

Alissa Rupp, FAIA | Member Advancement Committee, AIA Seattle Board President, 2018-2019

WHAT MADE YOU WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN AIA SEATTLE + SEATTLE DESIGN FESTIVAL VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES, INCLUDING BOARD SERVICE?
Our profession is more than just all of us in our firms or cubicles or home offices, having meetings and meeting deadlines. If we think of it as a project in itself, then it needs attention: management, direction, purpose, vision. Participating in AIA Seattle or the Design Festival is an opportunity to guide and impact the profession, and to help ensure that we use our powers for good. Architects, putting their heads together, have more power than we know. These are places for us to put our heads together.

WHAT IS/ARE YOUR FAVORITE MEMORY OR MEMORIES OF YOUR BOARD SERVICE?
One of the early events in the Center for Architecture and Design was a reception to honor newly licensed architects. I was President Elect at the time, so I got to speak to those assembled about the expansion of our ranks, and the hard work that those newly minted architects had done to reach that milestone. It was joyful and celebratory, and it made me so optimistic about the future of our region.

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO OTHERS TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO JOIN THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS?
Serving on the Board is a whole new way of interacting with your peers; you meet colleagues, competitors, collaborators and consultants, and work toward common goals and a shared vision. It is a neutral space, in the best way, for networking and connecting the dots across the region, and if your service is anything like mine was, you will realize that you are in the company of some of the smartest people you are likely to meet! It’s a different lens on our jobs (small “j”) and on our Work (capital W) that is hard to find elsewhere.

Heather Skeehan, AIA | Member Advancement Committee, AIA Seattle + Seattle Design Festival Board President, 2022-2023

WHAT MADE YOU WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN AIA SEATTLE + SEATTLE DESIGN FESTIVAL VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES, INCLUDING BOARD SERVICE?
Expanding my network of AEC professionals outside of the people I worked directly with was the biggest reason. When I learned that there is a network of 2600 architects and firms and allied professionals it hit me how small of a percentage of that group I had met and worked with. In particular, it has particularly provided huge insight and connections within the small firms!

WHAT IS/ARE YOUR FAVORITE MEMORY OR MEMORIES OF YOUR BOARD SERVICE?
The active, deep, and sometimes emotional discussions that we had as a board as we developed our imperatives, especially around JEDI. We all pushed each other to not just sit back and let these things happen from other industries, but dug into how we as architects and makers of space can drive change and impact JEDI. The passion in the room (virtual though it was) was inspiring and has stayed in my mind since.

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO OTHERS TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO JOIN THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS?
Serving on a board, particularly one that is so directly tied to your profession, can be deeply challenging and incredibly rewarding. You meet people, you build relationships (in an environment that works DELIBERATELY to be respectful and make space for diverse people and opinions), you impact peers and colleagues, and you can be a voice in the room driving decisions and investments that can improve the profession and the region.

Michele M. Hill, AIA | Member Advancement Committee, AIA Seattle + Seattle Design Festival Board President, 2023-2024

WHAT MADE YOU WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN AIA SEATTLE + SEATTLE DESIGN FESTIVAL VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES, INCLUDING BOARD SERVICE?
I’ve long appreciated that AIA Seattle leads our profession and our institute by example, first on climate and more recently on equity. Seattle Design Festival has accessibility at the heart of its mission, working to bring all kinds of design to the public and engaging all people in improving our built environment. Both organizations convene passionate individuals, empowering them to make real change in our community and act as stewards of a better world.

WHAT IS/ARE YOUR FAVORITE MEMORY OR MEMORIES OF YOUR BOARD SERVICE?
Riding the ferry across Puget Sound to my very first board event, I was immediately approached by the then President-Elect and engaged in a long conversation about my life outside of architecture. I felt so very welcomed into the board space and made to feel like I belonged there. Since then, I’ve worked hard to continue that legacy of welcoming to our new leaders, enabling them to show up as their best selves and lend their talents to our two organizations.

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO OTHERS TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO JOIN THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS?
Don’t wait for someone else to recognize how awesome you are – nominate yourself! When I first put in my name to be considered for the board, I never dreamed I’d eventually be invited to serve as President of both AIA Seattle and Seattle Design Festival. I have met the most wonderful, engaged, passionate, and creative people during my board service, and we always love to welcome new faces. Come join us!

The deadline for the 2025 cycle of AIA Seattle board nominations is Friday, February 7th. Nominate yourself or a peer today!