WID: Navigating Your Career Through a Recession
This is the first session in the 2021 Business of Architecture series presented by AIA Seattle’s Women in Design Committee.
Date/Time: March 25, 4:30-6:30
Class Credit : 2 LU
Event Price: Free
COURSE DESCRIPTION
In this time of financial and public health uncertainty many design professionals are asking questions about how to manage their careers through a recession. This event includes a panel and small group discussions aimed at providing design professionals and business leaders with strategies and resources for navigating a financial recession. Panelists will present on a range of topics including how career stage, firm size, and market sector influence an individual’s or firm’s experience with a recession. We encourage participation from everyone of any demographic and career stage. The more diverse voices participating, the better discussions we will have.
REGISTRATION
Join us online March 25, 2021 for Navigating Your Career Through a Recession. Information regarding online event access is provided upon registration.
SPECIAL THANKS:
Broderick Architects, CallisonRTKL, CBRE, Coughlin Porter Lundeen, PAE, Johnston Architects, Bassetti Architects, and Schemata Workshop
Click here to view a full recording of the program.
Learning Objectives
- Review business strategies for remaining financially solvent during a recession.
- Discuss how firm size and market sector impact how to prepare and respond to a recession.
- Discuss how recessions impact individuals differently depending on their career stage.
- Explore strategies for an individual to reenter the profession following a recession.
MODERATOR
ANNA LEACH – AIA, NCARB, LEED GREEN ASSOCIATE
Anna is a licensed architect with 10+ years of experience. She is an associate principal at CallisonRTKL in Seattle where she leads project teams to deliver retail environments both nationally and internationally for major and emerging brands, specializing in the implementation of new brand concepts and the creation of scalable prototype designs for roll out. Anna co-founded the Equity Roundtable at CallisonRTKL in late 2017 and worked closely with the AIA Women in Design committee to develop the Conversations Towards an Equitable Practice series for the broader Seattle-based architecture community.
PANELISTS
NOMI COOPER
Nomi Cooper is a Designer in the specialty retail studio at CallisonRTKL’s Seattle office. She is interested in designing human centric spaces for a variety of uses, across scales, and with a focus on adaptive re-use. She was awarded a full scholarship to the Illinois Institute of Technology where she earned her Bachelor of Architecture in 2009. After a decade of navigating a career outside the profession, she joined CallisonRTKL in 2019 to pursue her true passion. Currently, she works to bring a touch of hospitality to healthcare primary practices in major markets across the US; focusing on space planning and schematic design services.
AMY DIMARCO – AIA, RDI
Amy works as a senior project manager at CBRE. Previously, she practiced as a licensed architect at CallisonRTKL where she worked with major retail clients for 20 years. In 2013, Amy joined ZGF to work on sustainable, mixed use and higher education projects. She returned to CallisonRTKL in 2015 as an Associate Vice Principal and was instrumental in coordinating the design for Nordstrom’s flagship stores in Manhattan. In addition to being an AIA member for over 20 years, Amy recently served two years as the Vice President of the Pacific Northwest Chapter of the Retail Design Institute, managing educational and networking events for the local retail design community and influencers. She continues to serve on the RDI board as Event Chair.
MICHELE M. HILL – AIA, NCARB, SEED
Michele is a licensed architect at Broderick Architects with over 10 years of experience in architecture and urban planning. Prior to joining Broderick Architects, she completed her internships across a variety of large and small firms in Washington State and New Jersey. Michele holds a Master of Urban Planning degree with an environmental planning specialization from the University of Washington, and a Bachelor of Architecture degree from Virginia Tech with minors in public & urban affairs and French. With her architectural work varied among commercial, institutional, ecclesiastical, and residential architecture, Michele enjoys making functional and beautiful spaces that improve people’s daily lives.
CORY HITZEMANN – P.E., S.E., LEEP AP
Cory is a principal at Coughlin Porter Lundeen. He manages a large number of both public and private projects spanning the PreK-12, higher education, office, multi-unit residential, and municipal construction markets. His LEED accreditation ensures he brings passion for sustainability to every engagement, and his more than 20 years of experience with clients like Facebook, Nintendo, University of Washington and Seattle Public Schools allows him to design unique, modern solutions.
GRACE H. KIM – FAIA
Grace H. Kim is an architect and co-founding principal of Schemata Workshop, a Seattle-based architectural practice with a keen focus on building community and social equity. Her clients include a range of public housing authorities, non-profit housing developers, and social service providers. Her work is deeply rooted in race, equity and inclusion – and she seeks to include the voices and cultures of people of color and marginalized populations through her projects. Grace is also the founder of Capitol Hill Urban Cohousing, a collaborative residential community which includes her street level office and a rooftop urban farm. Grace serves on the Seattle Planning Commission and on the Board of Directors for the Housing Development Consortium – a membership organization that advocates for housing policy at the local and state levels.
