Dear AIA Tennessee Members,
It’s hard to believe we’re into the month of July! Let me start by saying, it is an honor to serve as your 70th President of AIA Tennessee. Over the past 7 years of serving on the AIA TN Board, I have come to know firm leaders and Architects from across our state and I continue to be humbled and amazed by the incredible impact our members have on this profession.
The rest of the country continues to look to Tennessee as a model for design excellence, advocacy work, and membership service. None of this could be done without the dedication of our Board, Staff, and the dedicated volunteers who devote their time to delivering the highest quality programming and services. We have made some incredible impacts in the first six months of the year that reflects our commitment to advocacy, engagement and enrichment within our professional community.
Education
Our committees have developed webinars, online courses and AIA TN’s Conference on Architecture designed to keep members at the forefront of the design and construction industry. Our next event, the annual conference and business meeting coming up August 7 – 9, will feature renowned speakers and thought leaders who will share their expertise on a wide range of topics. Join members from across the state in Knoxville to celebrate design, our profession and our members – register today.
Justice Equity Diversity Inclusion
Our committees work together to ensure that AIA TN embodies inclusivity and fairness. Through our Wednesday Warrior social media campaign, to the McKissack & McKissack Endowment Fund that provides scholarships for licensure to underrepresented individuals in our profession, to thought provoking discussions at our Conference – members and leadership are working to create a more diverse and vibrant profession in Tennessee.
Advocacy & Government Relations
The government relations committee and several task force groups are actively engaged in championing the needs of our profession and discussing pressing issues that affect our industry. The government relations committee monitors legislation and work closely with our lobbyists to educate key policymakers and legislators on various policies and legislation. AIA TN has also established a number of task force groups to address and respond to emerging policy matters, ensuring our association remains a strong and effective advocate for our members.
Collaboration
Collaboration is the key to AIA Tennessee’s success. We have strong partnerships with other design and construction organizations, industry leaders, policymakers and our local AIA components. Through these collaborations, we are able to offer members resources, joint events and build a stronger more connected professional community in Tennessee.
Representation at AIA National Conference & Business Meeting
As the AIA TN president, it is my responsibility to attend the AIA Business Meeting. The meeting was held in Washington, D.C. this past June. As the delegate from AIA Tennessee, it was my great honor to cast a vote for our own AIA TN member, Joshua Flowers, FAIA, as he was elected to the office of AIA 2025/2026 Secretary. He is the first member from TN to hold a National Office. Congratulations, Josh!
In addition to casting votes for Illya Azaroff, FAIA, and Matthew Toddy, AIA, I voted on a number of resolutions and/or proposed changes to the bylaws. AIA president, Kimberly Dowdell, also addressed member inquiries into the leadership of the organization. It is my sincere hope that the outcome of this meeting encourages our National Leadership to bring every voice to the table when making structural shifts within our organization.
View the annual business meeting specifics regarding amendments and President Dowdell’s response to member inquires at the national level. On June 11, the AIA Board of Directors released a statement in response to these concerns.
Please know that AIA TN leadership is dedicated to ensuring that our component remains a trusted and reliable environment for all our members, and our leadership is fully committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity and professionalism. We are grateful for your continued support, engagement, and exceptional professionalism.
I want to extend a heartfelt thanks to all of our members for the hard work you put in every day. Tennessee’s built environment is better because of you. As I look ahead to the remainder of my term, I am excited about AIA TN’s Member Meet Ups where I can meet members at the local level. From our conference to educational webinars to networking opportunities, these upcoming months promise to be a time of growth, learning and meaningful connections. I hope to see you around – together we can achieve great things!
Sincerely,
Matthew “Matt” Lyle, AIA | 2024 AIA Tennessee President