Attending EdSymposium26 in Atlanta, Georgia was a meaningful milestone in my career, made even more memorable by the opportunity to receive the 2026 Past Presidents Professional Development Grant on behalf of SDA and the Past Presidents Council. I submitted my application quietly, hopeful but uncertain, and was honored to learn that I had been selected. Sharing the news with my office made the experience even more special and marked an exciting step forward in my professional journey.

As part of that journey, I also applied to be a Spark presenter, with the goal of sharing the knowledge and experience I've gained at my office with a national audience. Over the past year and a half, I have been intentionally developing my public speaking skills, and this opportunity allowed me to put that growth into practice in a meaningful way.

Preparing for the conference was both energizing and rewarding. I connected with my local San Antonio chapter and had the opportunity to rehearse my Spark presentation with fellow members and friends whose encouragement and insight were invaluable throughout the process. It was equally meaningful to share what I had learned with associates in my office, reinforcing my commitment to continuous learning and professional growth.

It was incredibly fulfilling to share what Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc. (WJE) and the SDA San Antonio Chapter have taught me about being a strong, effective administrator within our industry. The culture of knowledge-sharing and the support I have received have shaped my development and strengthened my determination to continue my path.

The conference sessions were both insightful and thought-provoking. Simon Goodhead's presentation on Strengthening the Business Behind Design and Skot Waldron's session on Leading Organizations Through Influence encouraged deeper reflection on leadership and purpose. Their perspectives prompted me to ask important questions: What kind of leader am I becoming, and what kind of impact do I hope to make? The professional development exercises were especially powerful, providing space to engage honestly with challenges, identify barriers, and articulate both aspirations and fears. Hearing how seasoned professionals approach their work was inspiring and reaffirmed that growth often begins with reflection, resilience, and a willingness to embrace discomfort during the development process.

Traveling with members of my local chapter added another meaningful insight into the experience. It gave me the opportunity to build stronger relationships and gain a deeper understanding of the individuals I learn and grow alongside. The conference setting itself was beautiful, and each day offered memorable opportunities for connection—from shared sessions to dinners with our chapter and fellow SDA members from across the country.

Throughout the experience, I was reminded of how fortunate we are to work in a field that supports both professional development and personal growth. This conference broadened my perspective, deepened my sense of community within SDA, and strengthened my commitment to continued growth and purposeful leadership. It also gave me the opportunity to reflect on how far I have come and to appreciate the direction I am heading. I am proud of the leader I am becoming and approach my professional development with intention, guided by curiosity, resilience, and a focus on continuous growth.

Sabrina De La Rosa works as an Administrative Associate II at WJE in San Antonio, Texas. As a first time attendee to EDS this year Sabrina not only was a PPC grant recipient but also presented as one SDA SPARK speakers at the conference this year.

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.

Meet the 2026–2027 SDA National Secretary: Loretta M. Rodriguez

Nineteen years in A/E/C operations. Ten years in SDA. One leader thinking about where the next chapter begins.

We’re continuing our series introducing SDA’s 2026–2027 National Executive Committee with someone whose professional life is built around the exact discipline her new role demands: Loretta M. Rodriguez, CDFO, Administrative Associate at Kimley-Horn in San Antonio, and SDA’s incoming Secretary.

Loretta joined SDA a decade ago through the San Antonio chapter and has held nearly every seat at the table since. President-Elect in 2019. President in 2020. Past President in 2021. Treasurer from 2023 through 2026. Along the way, she’s served on her chapter’s Bylaws, Certification, Finance, and Nominating committees, and attended every SDA National Convention from the 2021 virtual gathering through Lexington in 2025. That kind of continuous service builds something specific: an instinct for how chapter-level decisions connect to national priorities, and how good documentation makes both work better.

Her day job sharpens the same instinct. At Kimley-Horn, Loretta has spent nineteen years coordinating complex programs for clients like the City of San Antonio and TxDOT, currently serving as project coordinator on TxDOT’s Digital Delivery Program. She schedules executive meetings, drafts minutes, maintains document control across internal and external SharePoint sites, and translates working-group discussions into clear records and action items. The Secretary role at SDA is, in many ways, the work she already does — at scale, for state agencies and major infrastructure programs.

What sets her vision apart is where she’s pointing her attention. While the Secretary role is traditionally inward-facing — records, minutes, governance — Loretta is thinking outward. She wants to see SDA plant the foundation for new chapters in markets the organization hasn’t reached yet. Her priorities for the term: leadership development, certification, and stronger alignment between national initiatives and chapter-level execution. She wants measurable growth in leadership engagement and clearer communication channels between chapters.

“I want to serve SDA at the national level at this time because I can contribute my experience, organizational strengths, and long-term commitment to help guide the organization into its next chapter of growth and impact.”

— Loretta M. Rodriguez, CDFO

That phrase — next chapter — does double work in Loretta’s case. She’s talking about SDA’s next phase as an organization, but she’s also someone who genuinely thinks about where the next physical chapter of SDA might take root. That’s an unusual lens for a Secretary, and a useful one.

Expect Loretta to bring structured documentation, clean meeting records, and a collaborative decision-making style to the Executive Committee — and expect her to keep asking how the work being done at the national level is reaching, and growing, the chapters.

Please join us in welcoming Loretta to her role as Secretary. Connect with her in the SDA Discussion Hub, consider joining a national committee, or simply reach out to say hello. There’s a lot of good work ahead, and it’s the kind of year that’s going to reward showing up.