From March 1-2, members of the U.S. architectural licensing boards gathered in Savannah, Georgia, for the 2024 Regional Summit. The annual summit provides a forum for NCARB’s regions to explore key national initiatives, discuss regional issues, and elect leadership for the year ahead. This year’s summit was hosted by NCARB’s Region 3, which is comprised of licensing boards in the southeastern U.S.

The summit’s agenda is planned each year by NCARB’s Regional Leadership Committee, which includes the chair, vice chair, and executive of each region. The 2024 Regional Summit kicked off on Friday with an overview of national initiatives, including an update from President Jon Alan Baker, FAIA, NCARB, LEED AP.

Next, Secretary Sylvia Kwan, FAIA, NCARB, LEED AP, reviewed the draft resolutions up for a membership vote at this year’s Annual Business Meeting in June—including a potential resolution that would realign NCARB’s regional structure. Attendees also heard from candidates running for positions on NCARB’s FY25 Board of Directors. This includes individuals running for NCARB’s new at-large director positions, which will be added to the Board of Directors for the first time in the coming fiscal year.

Attendees then met as regions to discuss these national topics, as well as region-specific topics like regional budgets, conferences, and leadership. On Friday afternoon, attendees had the opportunity to attend one of two workshops on either incidental practice or the potential evolution of the path to licensure.

On Saturday, attendees head a keynote presentation from architect George Guida, RIBA, LEED AP BD+C, exploring opportunities to incorporate artificial intelligence during various stages of the design process, as well as how regulators can continue to ensure public protection as use of AI grows. Next, attendees split into breakout groups to discuss takeaways from the workshops and keynote presentations, before joining their regions again to conclude their regional business.

To end the summit, the chairs of each region shared the outcomes of their regional discussion, as well as each region’s nominated candidate for regional director on the FY25 Board of Directors:

  • Region 1: Jennifer Arbuckle, NCARB, AIA, LEED AP (Vermont)
  • Region 2: Edward W. Tucker, FAIA, NCARB (West Virginia)
  • Region 3: Miguel A. Rodriguez, FAIA, NCARB, NOMA (Florida)
  • Region 4: Linda Alfson Schemmel, AIA, NCARB (Iowa)
  • Region 5: James Devine, NCARB, AIA, LEED AP (North Dakota)
  • Region 6: Scott E. Harm, AIA, NCARB (Washington)

Regional directors will be elected by NCARB’s full membership at the Annual Business Meeting in June.