A partner at Mirador Group and TxA’s 2025 president-elect, Krystyn Haecker, AIA, is a dedicated early-career professional whose leadership has significantly shaped AIA Houston. She co-founded the Women in Architecture Houston committee, serving as chair in 2018 when it received the TxA Mentorship Award. As co-chair of the 2024 TxA Conference Committee, she led efforts to organize 28 tours and a Pecha Kucha event reflecting Houston’s architectural diversity. A 2018–2019 Christopher Kelly Leadership Program alumna and 2025 AIA Houston Ben Brewer Award recipient, Haecker continues to champion mentorship and inclusive engagement in the profession.

A principal at Rhotenberry Wellen Architects, Cale Lancaster, AIA, is a design leader whose humility and dedication have made a lasting impact on his community and the profession. He has led his AIA West Texas chapter as president, served as a TxA director, and chaired the TxA Design Conference Committee. Lancaster is recognized for promoting the value of AIA membership and inspiring others through his commitment and passion. A thoughtful mentor who shares his time and talent generously, he models the value of engagement, showing that architects can lead with purpose from anywhere in the world.

Samantha Markham, AIA, is a standout early-career professional whose 11 years in practice—and nine as a licensed architect—are marked by remarkable intensity and impact. She is an exceptional designer, serving as a senior associate and K–12 market sector leader at Stantec. Deeply dedicated to mentoring the next generation, she has also created a global intern development program at her firm. Markham’s leadership within AIA spans local to national levels, with her vision for supporting emerging professionals having transformed AIA Dallas’s Women in Architecture committee and Empowering conference, and informed roles including VP of communications for TxA and member of AIA’s Young Architects Forum.