The Emerging Professionals Committee promotes career and professional development, advocates for emerging professionals within the work environment, offers student mentorship and university outreach, as well as helps young professionals prepare for A.R.E. exams, complete their IDP credit and build relationships with fellow emerging architects.
Additional Resources
Emerging Professionals Committee
2024 Friendly Firm Program
ARE Study Materials
Ben Brewer Award
Chair
Clint Stanford, AIA
Staff Liaison
Aleks Savitski
aleks@aiahouston.org
2024 Friendly Firm Program
Overview
The Emerging Professional Friendly Firm initiative is an award-based program aimed at celebrating firms that create nurturing environments and professional development opportunities for emerging professionals. Interested firms submit one application, completed by both a principal / senior leader and an emerging professional employee. The application includes survey questions intended to facilitate a discussion within the firm and provide a catalyst for future conversations between emerging professionals and firm leaders regarding the working environment at the firm. Initiatives, policies and opportunities that the firm offers improve the experience and success of emerging professionals, with potential to increase employee retention rates, firm exposure and talent recruitment.
The program is open to firms with one or more employees (recognition will not be given to sole practitioners). The program is designed to facilitate recognition to firms of all sizes.
Neighboring Unstaffed Chapters – The AIA Houston extends an invitation to our neighboring unstaffed Texas chapters to apply as an EP Friendly Firm. Firms that apply from chapters other than AIA Houston will be evaluated within their own category.
Allied Programs:
AIA Central States
AIA New England
AIA Pennsylvania
AIA Tennessee
Applications are due SEPTEMBER 30, 2024
CLICK HERE TO BEGIN YOUR ONLINE APPLICATION
Application Materials & Survey
The application is in a survey form.
The survey must be completed in a joint manner between a member of firm leadership and an emerging professional employed by the firm. The submitting team will need to provide their contact information for corroboration by AIA Houston and follow up by the jurors. It is recommended HR professionals do not fill out the survey, though they may be consulted during the process. To ensure the process is easier, please take a look at the preview of the materials and prepare your answers ahead of time.
There is no fee to apply, only your firm’s dedication to this effort.
You may preview the materials HERE.
Evaluations & Results
Firms will be evaluated by scoring the questionnaire. T
his year’s jurors are – Javier E. Guerrero, Assoc. AIA, Amaya Labrador, AIA, and Brian Malarkey. FAIA.
Results will be published in an aggregate manner on the AIA Houston website. It is suggested that results be reviewed by submitting firms in order to identify possible areas of improvement.
Recognition Categories
Firms that meet the threshold for recognition as an EP Friendly Firm will be recognized at the AIA Houston Annual Meeting on October 22, 2024 and on the AIA Houston’s program webpage.
EPIC Firm will be awarded to the highest performing firms. These firms have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to developing their emerging professional staff. At juror’s discretion.
Contact
Aleks Savitski, AIA Staff at aleks@aiahouston.org
Clint Stanford, AIA Houston Emerging Professionals Committee – Chair 2024
Javier E. Guerrero, Assoc. AIA – AIA Houston Board of Directors
Frequently Asked Questions
“What is an Emerging Professional?” – a diverse group of individuals who are recently licensed or moving along various points on the path to licensure. This includes students, recent graduates, candidates on the path of licensure, and architects licensed 10 years or less.
“Which employees qualify as emerging professionals?” – Includes full-time, part-time and current temporary staff such as interns.
“What types of firms are eligible to participate?” – The program is open to firms with one or more employees. Studios located in Houston that are part of larger firms are welcome to apply.
“What area does this program cover?” – The program encompasses the geographic region for AIA Houston. We invite our neighboring unstaffed Texas chapters to apply as an EP Friendly Firm.
