VANOMA is incredibly proud to announce that our chapter has been recognized by AIA Virginia and AIA Northern Virginia with 2022 Honors.
The AIA Virginia Honors were officially received on November 4, 2022, at the Visions for Architecture Honors and Awards Gala, recognizing VANOMA as a statewide leader in the advocacy, representation, and success of minority architects in the Commonwealth.
The AIA Northern Virginia Honors were received on October 19, 2022, at their Autumn Social held at the Wilson Hardware Kitchen & Bar in Arlington, Virginia. The award was accepted on behalf of VANOMA by one of our wonderful members, Katherine Williams.
We are so very proud that our Chapter has been honored by our state and local AIA Chapters for the value that we bring to the Virginia design community. Thank you to AIA Virginia and AIA Northern Virginia for this amazing recognition!
Thank you to our board, our membership, and our partners for making these phenomenal achievements possible. And, thank you to the Honors and Awards committees for both AIA Virginia and AIA Northern Virginia for bestowing us with these incredible honors that showcase the fruits of our chapter's great work!
Message from the President
Coming off a successful year in 2021 with NOMA Chapter of the Year, VANOMA continued to demonstrate excellence across the Commonwealth of Virginia in 2022. Throughout the year, many of our members volunteered their time to NOMA initiatives, and other civic and industry organizations that benefit the profession. Our initiatives are designed to benefit the future of our profession with programs such as Project Pipeline and our ARE Series which prepares candidates for licensure in Virginia. Our efforts in professional development programs for emerging professionals and students on Virginia campuses has been recognized with AIA Virginia Honors.
Much of this early success for VANOMA is owed to all our members who are very active in their communities and our initiatives. At the start of 2022, we implemented an Open House Series, which allowed VANOMA leadership to engage with current members/sponsors and form relationships with new members/sponsors. At these events, we were able to share our vision and get valuable feedback which helped us navigate the year ahead.
Using the momentum from the Open Houses, we were able to bring on new board members Willie Cooper, Crystal Miller-Liggon, and Kim Thompson Smith. Our new board members were able to provide specific support to our Project Pipeline efforts and our Member Spotlight Series. Our Member Spotlight Series allowed us to remain committed to NOMA’s national efforts of continuing to empower, educate, and elevate our members. These monthly spotlights allowed our members to showcase their professional journeys. Our series also included Burchell “Burt” Pinnock, FAIA, who has been recognized with the William C. Noland Medal by AIA Virginia for his outstanding career and commitment to historic black communities. Conversations during these spotlights are memorable and inspiring for our membership, which keeps VANOMA excited and determined for great things ahead in the future.
All our endeavors in 2022 remain intact with our 2021–2023 Strategic Plan and have kept members engaged throughout the year. We also provided steady engagement with students and provided mentoring, portfolio reviews, and job opportunities. In closing, VANOMA remains committed to fostering and developing practicing architects, design professionals, and students across the Commonwealth of Virginia. Sincerely,
Ian Vaughan, AIA, NOMA
VANOMA Interim President
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