Hello Members,

We encourage you all to keep participating in professional events as we weather this economic storm.  We are professionals first, and employees second, and so we should all stick together to learn from or teach each other, to problem solve together and to build each other up.

Did you come to an event, start up a conversation with someone, and forget to exchange business cards?  Do you know someone who doesn't work at your firm anymore?  Please email WIA with your questions or updates to your contact information.




Our re-organized WIA Steering Committee includes 2 new members.  

We are:  

Kim Albritton- interior designer and owner at
Focus Design Services, Lithia

Kelly LS Alio- lighting designer and principal at
Studio Eclairage, Tampa

Susan KlausSmith- architect at Gould Evans, Tampa

Elizabeth Lyon-Hall- landscape architect at
Florida Design Consultants, New Port Richey

Dawn Mages- Executive Director of AIA Tampa Bay

Cathy Svercl- architect and owner at Design Freedom, Clearwater

Christina Wilson- AIA-liaison, architect at
Gresham Smith & Partners, Tampa

Our Networking Luncheons are coming up:  Come together with your local members in Tampa, St Petersburg, Lakeland, Sarasota, and Countryside.

The November Luncheon is an annual event:  During the Great American Teach-In Luncheon, we share strategies on how to teach students about our profession.   Hosted by Women in Architecture, this is open to any and all architects and those in design-related fields.

We are also excited to announce a new Habitat for Humanity date, now that the heat and humidity is retreating.

We hope to see you at one of our events!

UPCOMING EVENTS

Happy 2010 to Our Members!  We are excited to bring you this list of upcoming events.  

Putting Your Best Foot Forward in 2010
Sponsored by Women in Architecture
A series of guest speaker luncheons focused on strengthening your success in 2010

Thanks to everyone who attended our January event "Plan Ahead, Get Ahead...Strengthening Your Financial Foundation".  WIA Member Sherida Ferguson presented ways to make good financial decisions while managing risk and debt.  Thank you Sheri and your associate Jennifer Lorenzo from Principal Financial Group.



Best of Class Business Planning

Friday, February 12, 2010 11:30am-1:00pm
Location: Jan Platt Library, 3910 S Manhattan Ave, Tampa 33611
Cost:  Free to Attend, or $10 for Lunch
Register for this event: Putting your Best Foot Forward in 2010 | Best of Class Business Planning
Guest Speaker: Tom Kort

Learn the steps to developing a solid business plan to propel your business past the competition and create a solid foundation for your future endeavors.  Whether you are starting a business or want to strengthen an existing business, this workshop will guide you through the steps.



"An Informal Affair" Luncheon Series

Informal Networking Events For Women Design Professionals Around the Bay 
All are invited to attend WIA upcoming networking events. Occurring at various locations throughout the Tampa Bay area, these are intended to provide an informal venue to meet and interact with fellow colleagues in the A/E/C community. We are especially interested in meeting our fellow Landscape Architects, Engineers, Interior Designers, Contractors, and Building Officials.

New for 2010:  We will be holding 2 Tampa luncheons, in different locations.  We hope having smaller, more intimate luncheons will help develop relationships among our members.  We encourage our professionals living or working near USF to attend our student-mentoring-oriented luncheons.



WIA Members please RSVP directly to the Email Invitations sent separately.

Thurs Feb 18th 11:30am networking, 12:00pm - 1:00pm lunch
Terrace Grill @ The Terrace Hotel, Lakeland

Fri Feb 19th 11:30am networking, 12:00pm - 1:00pm lunch
Lonjevity, Sarasota

Thurs Feb 25th 11:30am networking, 12:00pm - 1:00pm lunch
400 Beach, St Petersburg

Fri Feb 26th 11:30am networking, 12:00pm - 1:00pm lunch
Mangrove Grill, Bradenton Palmetto

Not Yet Scheduled 11:30am networking, 12:00pm - 1:00pm lunch
Square One Hamburgers, South Tampa

Not Yet Scheduled 11:30am networking, 12:00pm - 1:00pm lunch
Restaurant to be determined, USF/Tampa Campus



Dress for Success

Friday, March 12, 2010 11:30am-1:00pm
Location: Jan Platt Library, 3910 S Manhattan Ave, Tampa 33611
Cost:  Free to Attend, or $10 for Lunch
Register for this event: Putting your Best Foot Forward in 2010 | Dress for Success

Discover the best attire and assemblage of components for success through the image that we project during our business day and various activities that we perform. 



MORE

WIA and Habitat for Humanity

"As girls we played house, As women we build them" (WomenBuild Theme 2007) 
All are invited to contact Kelly LS Alio to join her in planning our next dates for workdays with the different Habitat chapters.  Anyone interested in volunteering for Habitat with other members of WIA please send an email to her.  Kelly LS Alio 813.991.1509 or kalio@studioeclairage.com



Donate Your 2008 and 2009 Architecture Magazines!
To the in-classroom bookshelves at Dunedin HS Academy of Architectural Design & Building Technology
Please contact Cathy Svercl (727.735.9223).  She will coordinate a day and time to pick them up from your office.  We are only looking for recent issues of all architectural, design, and building trade magazines.  Recent reference standards (since 2005) are also welcome.



Events outside of Women in Architecture

Women in Architecture is happy to forward information about events to our members. 



Our Mission Statement
To establish a collaborative group initiative where women architects can gather to foster relationships with other females in the design industry.  Together we will establish a network of peers where career building and job enhancement will be supported as we increase the visibility of women in the field of architecture.

Membership
The WIA group is under the umbrella of the AIA Tampa Bay.  You are not required to be a member of the AIA to join, and there are no dues.  There are over 100 women on the WIA membership list, including architects, interior designers, landscape architects, engineers, contractors, building professionals, and others. 

Stay Up To Date
Please check our website page for updates and events.  
http://www.aiatampabay.com/re_co_wia.html