Emerging professional include architecture students, recent graduates, and newly licensed Architects who have been licensed within the last ten years. Emerging Professionals may be referred to as “EPs” as short hand. EP leaders from across the state have joined forces to roll-out the following opportunities to get EPs involved in AIA Tennessee because they are architecture’s next generation!

 EP Statewide Committee

Committee Chair: Tre Yancy, Assoc. AIA (Memphis)
EPFF Award Chair: Sarah Page, AIA (Chattanooga)
TN Rep., National Associates Committee: Dezha McCoy-Overton, Assoc. AIA (Memphis)
TN Rep., National Young Architects Forum: Sarah Page, AIA (Chattanooga)

Do you want to get involved? Contact Molly Craig to join the AIA Tennessee’s EP Committee.

Related Links via AIA National

EP Friendly Firm Awards

Early-Career Professional Firm Friendly Award 2025 Application

For this award, early-career professionals include architecture students, recent graduates, aspiring architects, and newly licensed architects who have been licensed within the last ten years. Early-Career Professionals may be referred to as “EPs” as short hand.

Goals

Early-Career Professionals are critical components to the vitality and growth of AIA and the profession. As such, recruitment and retention of these valued members is critical to our success. AIA Tennessee recognizes firms who offer superior support and opportunities to EPs. We hope this process helps foster dialogue within firms and communities and across the state to create new and innovative policies and opportunities to support and develop the future members of our profession.

Guiding Principles

Foster Value and Retention of EPs

  • Providing unique firm cultures and benefits to encourage recruitment and retention of EPs
  • Providing equitable career opportunities, compensation, and benefits

Provide strong professional development for EPs

  • Mentorship
  • Encouraging and celebrating licensure
  • Providing EPs with a broad and diverse experiences in firm practice
  • Committing to and investing at all phases of their professional development

Promote EP engagement and leadership in the profession and the community

  • Providing leadership opportunities and clear paths for advancement within firm
  • Encouraging EPs to inform firm culture to transform the practice of architecture for the next generation
  • Promoting involvement in the AIA and industry, charitable, and community organizations

How it Works

Upon the evaluation of the following application by an impartial out-of-state jury, we will present the certification of “EcP-Friendly Firm” to applicants who demonstrate consistent accordance with the guiding principles listed above. Firms qualifying for this status may use the AIA TN EcP-Friendly Firm logo on promotional materials to display their commitment to Early-Career Professionals. If a firm exhibits particular excellence, we will award them the “Outstanding EcP-Friendly Firm” award in each category listed below:

Small firm = 10 & under
Medium firm = 11-49
Large firm = 50+

All awards will be presented at the AIA Tennessee Celebration of Architecture during the AIA Tennessee Conference on Architecture. As this recognition is awarded annually, firms are encouraged to participate every year, refining their applications to demonstrate their continued support of EPs. An out-of-state jury will judge applications; firm identities will remain anonymous during evaluation.

Applications are to be submitted through the award jotform by 5:00 PM CST on June 9, 2025.

Apply Now

Past Winners

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