Meet the 2026–2027 SDA National Past President: Gretchen Renz

Thirty-three years at one firm. A full term as SDA National President. A quieter role ahead—and an essential one.

We’re closing our series introducing SDA’s 2026–2027 National Executive Committee with a familiar name and a steady hand: Gretchen Renz, FSDA, CDFO, Managing Director of Operations & Finance at Bernardo Wills Architects in Spokane, Washington, and SDA’s incoming Past President.

Gretchen’s path at Bernardo Wills reads like a textbook in design firm operations—because in many ways, she wrote it. She joined the firm in 1991 as Office Administrator and has moved through every operational seat since: Office Manager, Business Manager, and now Managing Director leading a seven-person team responsible for finance, HR, project administration, systems, and firmwide strategy. Every project the firm touches passes through her team’s work. That kind of vantage point—three decades watching how design firms actually function, day after day—is rare, and it’s exactly what she brings back to SDA.

As Past President, Gretchen sees the role clearly: stewardship, not spotlight. She’s focused on providing institutional memory and counsel to the President and Board, mentoring emerging leaders, supporting volunteer sustainability, and keeping SDA practical and responsive to the real challenges firms face. She believes the best thing a Past President can do is preserve momentum without crowding the people building it.

“The Past President role is one of stewardship and mentorship—preserving momentum, supporting emerging leaders, and ensuring SDA continues to deliver meaningful value to members at every career stage.”

— Gretchen Renz, FSDA, CDFO

That framing tells you a lot about how Gretchen leads. She’s not interested in legacy for its own sake. She’s interested in whether the systems, people, and pathways she helped build will still be standing—and still serving members—long after the title comes off her name badge.

Expect a Past President who shows up, listens carefully, asks the question others haven’t thought to ask, and then steps back to let the current leadership do their work. Her colleagues describe her style as calm and practical—the kind of leader who turns good intentions into durable systems. That’s the gift she’s bringing to this transition year.

Please join us in welcoming Gretchen to the role of Past President. Connect with her on the SDA Discussion Hub, consider where her mentorship and committee work might intersect with your own goals, and reach out—she’s exactly the kind of leader who’ll make time. With this team in place, the year ahead is built on continuity, care, and a shared commitment to what comes next.