Not Your Grandfather's AIA
In a game of Follow the Leader, it's a good idea to be the person fortunate enough to follow some great leaders who have come before you. Two years ago, Cori Cassidy, AIA Cincinnati President 2014, set the bar at a new level never before seen at AIA Cincinnati. She brought allied professional groups together and, for the Dunhumby lecture, we had 120 people in attendance. Cori also developed the idea of the 2X4 lecture series, and they have been hugely popular. In the world of 30 second sound bites, you get to see 8 projects in under an hour with a glass of wine or beer in your hand. Life is good!
Jeffrey Sackenheim, AIA Cincinnati President 2015, kept the momentum going by moving the CDA Awards (the Oscars of the Greater Cincinnati design world and AIA Cincinnati) to the Woodward Theater in OTR. Gone are the days of coats and ties and sitting quietly around 8-person dining tables in a fussy hotel ballroom. This venue was very cool! 250 of Cincinnati's best designers must have agreed, for we had standing room only for the night.
The question we hear most frequently about joining the AIA is, "What is your value proposition as far as I'm concerned?"....a legitimate question to be certain. Well, we are striving to offer strong(er) programs which will, in turn, develop a strong(er) membership base. Due to the financial support of our 12 Title Sponsors, we can offer most of our programs for FREE to our members. So come to an event that aligns with your interests and check us out in 2016. You might be surprised to find that we are not your grandfather's AIA, but a Chapter that is focusing on the well-being of its membership and, in particular, the Emerging Professionals who are indeed our future.
Hope to see you this year.
Best,
Rick Koehler, AIA
2016 AIA Cincinnati President
