Leaders, staff, and members from AIA Potomac Valley joined colleagues from across Maryland and around the globe in Washington, DC, February 11–14, 2026, for the AIA Leadership Summit. The Summit is the premier advocacy and leadership training event for AIA chapter leaders—offering a powerful platform to sharpen leadership skills, strengthen association management practices, and engage directly with policymakers.
Throughout the four-day event, our delegation focused on aligning leadership and advocacy for greater impact—ensuring that the voice of architects in the Potomac Valley is heard clearly and effectively at the national level.
Highlights from This Year’s Summit
A Transformative Keynote
Futurist and author April Rinne delivered a compelling keynote based on her book Flux, introducing the “Flux Mindset.” Her message challenged leaders to embrace change, rethink traditional definitions of success, and transform uncertainty into opportunity, growth, and innovation.
Capitol Hill Advocacy
One of the Summit’s most impactful components was direct engagement with members of Congress. AIA Potomac Valley leaders participated in Capitol Hill visits, advocating on issues critical to the architecture profession, our members, and the communities we serve. These conversations reinforced the importance of architects as essential voices in shaping policies related to education and careers, preservation, the built environment, sustainability, housing, infrastructure, and economic development.
Excellence in Board Leadership
Executive directors, presidents, and presidents-elect participated in a focused half-day session on governance and strategy. This intensive workshop emphasized best practices in board leadership, succession planning, strategic alignment, and performance excellence—strengthening the foundation for chapter success.
National Leadership Perspective
Attendees heard directly from Carole Wedge, FAIA, AIA’s new EVP/CEO, who shared insights into AIA’s strategic priorities and future direction. Her remarks underscored the Institute’s commitment to advocacy, member value, innovation, and advancing the profession in a rapidly changing world.
Curated Learning & Connection
Participants engaged in curated continuing education tracks focused on association management, leadership development, advocacy strategy, chapter innovation, and member engagement. In addition, Summit attendees had opportunities for direct engagement with AIA national staff across departments—gaining practical insights and building relationships that will benefit our chapter throughout the year.
Perhaps most importantly, the Summit fostered meaningful networking and community among hundreds of like-minded peers. Ideas were shared, challenges were discussed, and new partnerships were formed—strengthening the collective impact of AIA chapters nationwide.
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AIA Potomac Valley returns from the 2026 Leadership Summit energized and equipped with new tools, fresh perspectives, and strengthened connections. By investing in leadership development and advocacy, we continue to elevate our chapter, amplify our members’ voices, and influence the policies shaping the future of our profession and communities.
View our photo album
Photo courtesy of Jaclyn G. Faulkner, MSIS, MBA
Front row (L-R): Nia Anthony, Lauren Bostic Hill, Assoc. AIA, Rishon Seaborn, Assoc. AIA, NOMA, M.A., Lori Apfel Cardeli, AIA, NCARB, and Marcus Monroe, Assoc. AIA
Second row (L-R): Michael Vesely, AIA, Kelly Valin, AIA, Lori Wood Lessem, AIA, NCIDQ, NCARB, Emily Lally, AIA, NCARB, CPHC, Caitlin Smith, AIA, David Iams, Camille Cimino, and Chan Park, Assoc. AIA
