The Voice for Texas Architecture

Commissions & Committees

The activities of the Texas Society of Architects are largely the result of member volunteers working in partnership with staff.

Commissions & Committees

The activities of the Texas Society of Architects are largely the result of member volunteers working in partnership with staff.

Executive Committee

The various committees and task forces of the Society are organized into five commissions, each of which is led by a member of the Executive Committee.

Derwin Broughton, AIA
President

Jason Puchot, AIA
President-Elect

Steve Wood, AIA
Secretary

Dana Walton, AIA
Treasurer

Catherine Callaway, AIA
Vice President, Advocacy

Samantha Markham, AIA
Vice President, Communications

Gabriella Bermea, AIA
Vice President, Practice and Recognition

Sergio Lainez, AIA
Vice President, Professional Development

Jennifer B. Briggs, CAE
TxA EVP/CEO

Operations Commission

Charge
To oversee and coordinate, in conjunction with the Executive Committee, Board of Directors, and staff, the financial, administrative, and operational activities of the Society.

Commissioner, Operations

Jason Puchot, AIA
President-Elect

Executive Committee
Charge: To handle matters requiring immediate action; to review reports as necessary; ensure directives of the Board are implemented; and to review Board agendas and structure for meaningful discussion and resolution of issues. (Under the purview of the President.)
Chair: Derwin Broughton, AIA

Administrative Policies (APC)
Charge: To annually review and recommend the tenure, salary, benefits, bonuses, and duties of the EVP to the Executive Committee for approval prior to implementation. 
Chair: Nicki Marrone, AIA

Finance
Charge: To review and recommend a budget for the next fiscal year for adoption by the Board of Directors; to study long-term budget needs; to perform other duties as may be assigned by the Executive Committee.
Chair: Dana Walton, AIA

Nominating
Charge: To identify potential board candidates and future association leaders; to propose, six weeks prior to the date of the Annual Business Meeting, a slate of qualified nominees as required and the names of three members of the subsequent Nominating Committee. 
Chair: Nicki Marrone, AIA

Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee
Charge: To champion a culture of equity, diversity, and inclusion within the profession and the Society; to carry out tasks as part of the strategic plan to promote equity, diversity, and inclusion; and to act as an advisory body to the Executive and Nominating Committees in manners of EDI.
Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Resource Page
Chair: Alex Morales, AIA

Advocacy Commission

Charge
To anticipate trends and identify social, economic, and technological forces impacting the profession and to formulate the best legal or political responses to position Texas Architects as leaders; and to represent the profession as its liaison to government agencies, especially those regulating the practice of architecture.

Vice President, Advocacy

Catherine Callaway, AIA

Government Affairs Steering
Charge: To communicate with the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee on initiatives and issues concerning the Texas Legislature and government regulations affecting the practice of architecture; to draft a legislative agenda for Board approval; to assist in improving the regulatory environment in Texas; and to assist coordination of local, state, and national efforts concerning governmental policies and activities. 
Chair: Stephi Motal, AIA

School Safety Subcommittee
Charge: To focus on the role of architects and the built environment in school safety, as well as to contribute to the school safety dialogue through advocating for and identifying resources, leading practices, and sharing knowledge.
Chair: Lauren Brown, AIA

COTE® (Committee on the Environment)
Charge: To work to advance and advocate the design of sustainable, resilient, healthy, and equitable communities through public policy, outreach to the public, and educational opportunities for the building industry. 
Chair: Chris Mundell, AIA

Communications Commission

Charge
To promote and support the overall goals of the Texas Society of Architects and to communicate with members and the public on its activities; communicate any policy positions of the profession and TxA; and promote the role of architects and architectural to society.

Vice President, Communications

Samantha Markham, AIA

Publications
Charge: To assist in strategic planning, formulation of goals, and direction for Texas Architect magazine, and to routinely review and evaluate published and electronic material.
Chair: Pamela da Graça, AIA

Education Outreach
Charge: To support opportunities to promote the role of architecture to young people to develop a pipeline for the profession; and to facilitate an exchange of information and best practices among programs in local chapters that support K-12 initiatives. 
Chair: Paige Russell, AIA

Architect Licensing Advisors (ALAs)
Charge: To promote licensure among students and emerging professionals by providing education, information, and resources about the ARE, Architectural Experience Program (AXP), TBAE, and NCARB.
ALA Advisors: Michael Peterson, Assoc. AIA; and Irma Sifontes Romero, AIA

Practice and Recognition Commission

Charge
To be the liaison between TxA members and the organization by incorporating issues of design, policy, and technology into practice; also recognizing excellence in the profession and contributions to architecture.

Vice President, Practice and Recognition

Gabriella Bermea, AIA

Design and Studio Awards
Charge: To formulate and administer a statewide design awards program that recognizes and publicizes outstanding design which is representative of the work of Texas architects.
Chair: James Adams, AIA

Honor Awards
Charge: To formulate and administer an awards program recognizing individual and organizational contributions to the architectural profession and the quality of the built environment, and to recommend award recipients for confirmation by the Texas Architects Executive Committee and/or Board of Directors.
Chair: Alexis McKinney, AIA

Professional Development Commission

Charge
To provide opportunities for meaningful member education and development for Texas Architects for their own advancement and the advancement of the profession.

Vice President, Professional Development

Sergio Lainez, AIA

Local Conference Committee
Charge: To provide feedback and ideas for programming for the Annual Conference related to the conference host city location; act as ambassadors prior to and during the conference; and assist in promoting the conference. 
Co-Chairs: Krystyn Haecker, AIA; and AJ Sustaita, AIA

Conference Continuing Education
Charge: To review and select professional development session submissions; and to develop and plan the schedule of professional development sessions offered at the Annual Conference and Design Expo.
Chair: Larry Paschall, AIA

Conference Futures
Charge: To identify trends significant to the profession; develop a vision, state long-term goals, and collaborate with the President on the theme for the annual conference; identify and secure keynote speakers; and conduct ongoing evaluations.
Chair: Nicki Marrone, AIA

Design Conference
Charge: To assist in planning the annual Design Conference to inspire new notions and approaches to the making of buildings and places. 
Chairs: Cale Lancaster, AIA; Charles Di Piazza, AIA