Get Involved! Join a Committee
Email our Executive Director Tara Rizzi at tararizzi@aiasb.com with your committee of interest
Advocacy
Purpose: The AIA Santa Barbara Advocacy Committee is focused on three areas of interest: representing members in professional matters within our local community; interfacing with AIA advocacy at the state and national level; and understanding how architects can contribute to the quality-of-life issues in our city.
Committee Chairs: Ellen Bildsten, AIA and Detty Peikert, AIA
Committee: Clay Aurell, AIA; Tracey Burnell; John Campanella; Adam Grosshans, AIA; Steve Fort; Erica Obertelli, AIA; Paul Poirier, AIA; Paul Rupp, AIA; Rachel Raynor; Rachel Albritton
Advocacy Committee meets every Monday from 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm
ArchitecTours
Purpose: To organize and execute a successful annual tour event through community participation.
Goals: To hold a successful and profitable fundraising tour of local architecture.
Chair: Liz Hughes, AIA
Meeting Schedule: Monthly
Committee on the Environment
Click here to see the Committee on the Environment
Chair: Natasha Elliott, LEED
Committee: Dee Carawan, AIA; Cash Upton
Design Awards
Purpose: To recognize & promote excellence in the design of our chapter’s members by implementing an annual design awards program and exhibits.
Goals: Promote and encourage local architects and firms to submit their work for consideration that meet the awards criteria. Broaden program participation by recruiting entries from members who have not previously submitted; Continue to recruit a well-qualified, diverse jury; Increase involvement; Increase focus on sustainability
Chair: Clay Aurell, AIA
Committee: John Margolis, AIA; Keith Rivera, AIA; Paul Poirier, AIA; Jolie Wah, AIA; Jose Luis Esparza, AIA; Bob Kupiec, AIA; Dan Weber, AIA
Staff Support: Tara Rizzi
Meeting Schedule: Monthly
Executive Committee
Purpose: Executive Committee meets between Board Meetings to review issues facing the organization, weighing pros and cons and making preliminary decisions, to be ratified by the board as a whole at the actual board meeting.
This includes: corporate structure, bylaws, policies, legal, budgets/ finances, governance, a presidential citation
Goals: Improve the Chapter’s financial stability by increasing & diversifying revenue sources, improve committee communications/interactions to ensure they achieve their 2020 goals.
Chair: Amy Tripp, AIA
Vice Chair: Matt Gries, AIA
Committee: Robert Ooley, FAIA; Erica Obertelli, AIA; Jolie Wah, AIA Tara Rizzi Hon. AIASB
Meeting Schedule: Monthly
Emerging Professionals
Purpose: Provide emerging professionals (anyone unlicensed or with less than 5 years of licensure) with ARE preparation assistance, networking opportunities, and mentorship within the Santa Barbara architectural community.
Goals: Increase the success rate of members taking their licensure exams; Establish a community of support for emerging professionals
Chair: Chris Richards, AIA
Committee: Nishat Subah Peau, Assoc. AIA
ARE Study Group meets bi-weekly for ARE exam preparation. Please email info@aiasb.com if you’d like to join.
Fellowship Committee
Purpose: To raise the awareness and importance of AIA Fellowship, to encourage others to apply for Fellowship, to celebrate AIA Fellowship.
Goals: Increase the number of AIASB Fellowship applications & Fellows
Chair: Robert Ooley, FAIA
Committee: Michael Holliday, FAIA; Cass Ensberg, FAIA; Dennis Thompson, FAIA; Ken Radtkey, FAIA; & Bill Mahan, FAIA
Membership Committee
Purpose: Encourage participation, foster connections and promote purposeful involvement that will benefit our members and our community.
Goals: Grow chapter membership at all levels. Facilitate programs that provide the most benefit to current membership and encourage new members to join the chapter.
Chair: Amy Tripp, AIA
Committee: Jolie Wah, AIA and Alayna Fraser, AIA
Meeting Schedule: Monthly
Past presidents Circle, Emeriti
Purpose: To re-engage members with the substantial collective knowledge and past service to the chapter.
Goals: Increase Past President/ Emeriti participation in AIASB committees & activities
Chair: Jolie Wah, AIA
Committee: Past Presidents
PR/Outreach
Purpose: To add value to our organization by organizing, creating and publicizing the identity of our chapter and its actions.
Goals: Become the central point of contact for the chapter’s & committee’s PR efforts; Produce PR document templates for use by committees.
Finance/Sponsorship Committee
Purpose: To raise funds to support the chapter’s events and operations.
Goals: The goal of the AIASB’s Sponsorship Committee is to raise sufficient funds to support the chapter’s events and operations.
Chair: Robert Ooley, FAIA
Members: Amy Tripp, AIA; Matt Gries, AIA; Erica Obertelli, AIA; Jolie Wah; AIA Tara Rizzi Hon. AIASB
Governance
Purpose: The Governance Committee will provide oversight of Chapter governing documents, exempt status, and operations.
Goals: Update Bylaws to reflect actual chapter practice, implement electronic voting, and manage the electoral process.
Chair: Robert Ooley, FAIA
Committee Members: Robert Ooley, FAIA and Alayna Fraser, AIA
Women in Architecture Conversation Group
Women’s Conversation Group
Purpose: Provide a space for women in the design community in Santa Barbara to gather and discuss issues that affect them professionally and are relevant to our area.
Chair: Ellen Bildsten. AIA and Jennifer Lewis, AIA
Committee: Rachel Lijana, Assoc. AIA
1st Tuesday of every month (except February 13th) at local venues.
Email info@aiasb.com if you are interested in participating.