Stephi Motal, AIA, guides Austin-based, Black + Motal Architecture and Urban Design (formerly Black + Vernooy) as managing partner. She began working with long-time University of Texas, School of Architecture professors, Sinclair Black, FAIA, and Andrew Vernooy, FAIA, in 1996, as a sixteen-year-old high-school junior considering a career in architecture. She quickly oriented herself with every aspect of the firm, gaining invaluable knowledge in the business-side of the practice. Through her organizing efforts, she became the institutional memory for all of the firm’s past projects, many of them older than herself. In addition, her high school course work and ULI competition proved beneficial in implementing drafting standards as the firm made the transition to computer aided drafting.

Becoming a mother at just 18, she continued her path, completing the Bachelor of Architecture program at University of Texas at Austin, while continuing to work part-time. She officially joined the firm as a full-time designer after completing her degree in 2004.

Two months after graduation, Stephi received a client call notifying her of a tragedy at one of their projects and an impending lawsuit. Stephi served as Sinclair’s right-hand during the nine-year process of litigating and appealing the case—all while also taking on an ever-increasing role in the firm’s design projects, implementing lessons learned from the lawsuit, and quickly moving into a leadership role within the firm. The position was codified in 2022 with the renaming of the firm. Stephi frequently makes presentations on lessons learned from the case at UT Austin, various conferences, and firm visits.

Stephi was an active mom while raising her two sons, Trenton (28) and Weston (19), serving frequently as PTA president, homeroom parent, baseball team mom, and a member of the Hays CISD School Board Facilities and Bond Oversight Committee.

Her efforts have been recognized with various honor awards, including AIA Austin’s John Nyfeler Award for Community Service in 2018, and Emerging Professional Award in 2022, as well as TxA’s Award for Early Career Professional Achievement, also in 2022.

Stephi has served the profession through a range of committees and leadership roles at AIA Austin, including AIA Austin’s the Urban Design Committee and Land Development Code Committee, multiple board of director positions, and ultimately as chapter president in 2021.

At TxA, Stephi has served on the board as Austin chapter director and chair of the Government Affairs Steering Committee, which led her to testify at several hearings at the Capitol during the 2025 legislative session. Stephi looks forward to continuing to advocate for architects across the state in her role as 2026 president-elect and 2027 president, during the next legislative session.