Fridays After 5 Featuring

SDA National President Karen Roman

SDA’s member spotlight Fridays After 5 showcases the varied creative, fun, adventurous, or interesting achievements our members accomplish after business hours.  

Today's Fridays After 5 features Karen Roman. Karen is Business Manager of Intergroup Architects headquartered in Littleton, Colorado, and is the 2020-2021 National SDA President. With the stresses of running a national organization as well as managing the finances of a highly successful architecture firm, a creative outlet is just the ticket for a mental break.

For Karen, that creative outlet is creating vivid shimmering works of art using a technique called diamond drill painting or diamond painting. The “diamonds” are tiny resin rhinestones applied one at a time.

If this mesmerizing craft is unlike anything you have seen before that’s likely because it was only introduced to North America and Europe in 2017.  News sources report that the popularity of diamond painting is exploding due to the endless variety of options, the calming effect of placing the diamonds, and the ease of getting started to name a few. 

Karen paused recently to share some insider information on her favorite craft. Our Q&A is below. 

Do you have a favorite craft or meditative outlet? Let us know! Drop a line to admin@sdanational.org using the  subject line “Fridays After 5”. 

Diamond Painting Q&A with Karen Roman

What is diamond painting? It's a bit of a cross between paint by number and cross stitching. You have a canvas with a pattern on it, marked off in tiny grids with symbols. The canvas is sticky in areas where you apply (using a tool dipped in wax) very small multi-faceted plastic drills, matching the drill color to the symbol on the grid.2.

When did you discover diamond painting? I saw advertisements on Facebook last February. I mentioned it to a co-worker who told me her daughter did diamond painting and loved it, so I decided to give it a try.

How difficult is diamond painting? Are the kits expensive? It's not hard, you just need a lot of patience. It's very affordable, most kits are under $15.00 for a 12 x 16 canvas. It can take a long time to complete if you only do it sporadically. I usually work on two or three projects at the same time, alternating between them. I typically finish at least two each month.

What do you enjoy most about the process? It's very relaxing to me, and I like that I can listen to books or shows at the same time. Plus it's fun to see the print take shape

Do you share your art or do it mainly for yourself? Mainly for myself, although I have given several as gifts. In addition to canvases, you can also make greeting cards and ornaments, so I do that as well. Because I've done, and continue to do so many, I hope when the pandemic is behind us that I can offer some of my framed pieces to a senior living home for people who perhaps don't have anything to brighten the walls of their rooms.

Any advice for SDA members who want to give it a try? Go to my favorite shopping site, Amazon, and search diamond drill painting. You'll need a light table (not expensive) and that's about it. Be sure to use the SDA Amazon site!

The SDA National Certification Committee’s purpose is to administer and oversee SDA’s certification program: Certified Design Firm Administrator (CDFA).  The CDFA is the industry standard in evaluating and promoting A/E/C business professionals. The committee is tasked with advancing the CDFA program, conveying its value, maintaining and updating the test resource guide, and ensuring compliance with the CEU requirements for all CDFAs. 

Our current committee members are:

Co-Chairs:

• Nikki Pierce, CDFA, LEED BD+C, Clark Nexsen, Member-at-Large
• Nancy DeLoatch, CDFA, Wendel, Atlanta Chapter

Members:

• Jessica Berlier, CDFA, Gensler, Member-at-Large
• Drucilla Brookshire, CDFA, CCCA, Retired, Member-at-Large
• Deborah Gill, CPA, FSDA, Profit by Design, Hampton Roads Chapter
• Vincent Lafitte, CDFA, Steven & Wilkens, Atlanta Chapter
• Pat Leyden, CDFA, Retired, New York Chapter       
• Stacy Rowland, CDFA, Berger Partnership, Seattle Chapter
• Annette Scott, CDFA, Clark Nexsen, Member-at-Large
• Kurt Wong, CDFA, Studio Meng Strazzara, Seattle Chapter

ExCom Liaison:

• Anne McNeely, CDFA, Fentress Architects, Denver Chapter

 Why Should Someone Pursue Certification?

• The CDFA is a symbol of professional achievement
• The CDFA signifies your commitment to the design profession and continued proficiency in administration within the A/E/C field
• Validation of expertise in A/E/C firm administration
• Enhanced self-confidence and self-esteem
• Enhanced marketability and ability to compete in the job market
• Increased personal and professional recognition and respect
• Increased opportunities for upward mobility
• Increased level of competency to manage an A/E/C firm office
• A sense of empowerment, accomplishment, and pride
  

What Does the Certification Committee Do?

• Maintain, edit, and update the Resource Guide--laws, policies, technology, etc. all change constantly and quickly; the Resource Guide needs to be an accurate and up-to-date source of information for the design firm professional
• Attend monthly conference calls to discuss ongoing tasks
• Update the exam so applicants are being tested on the most current material
• Create, update, and maintain relevant study materials for CDFA candidates
• Create content to promote the CDFA program and encourage people to apply
• Oversee audit process to confirm compliance with the required 18 hours of CEUs
• Oversee the CDFA testing
• Answer questions from exam applicants on the CDFA-yoU forum
• And the fun part: presenting new CDFAs with their CDFA pin at EDSymposium!
  

How Do You Get Certified?

Look for more information on the SDA website under Certification or ask around in your chapter. 

How Do You Get Involved?

If you’re already certified, perhaps now is the time to mentoring someone else through the process of certification, or start a study group in your chapter or firm.  Consider joining the Certification committee to help others obtain their certification. Contact Nancy DeLoatch, CDFA or Nikki Pierce, CDFA for more information.

The application period for SDA Fellows is now open and ends October 31. Earlier in the month we shared the results of interviews with our fellows and the four surprising benefits of earning the FSDA.

But the surprises didn’t stop there. Again and again, Fellows identified the FSDA application as a road map not only to Fellowship, but to career advancement and personal satisfaction. And, most notably, you don’t need to be ready to apply to become a Fellow to reap the benefits immediately. It’s an easy path to follow for career growth and professional development today.

Road Marker #1 - Fill in the Gaps to Advance at Work

It could be that you don’t meet all of the Fellows criteria right now, but have a personal goal of one day achieving Fellow status. Sarah Wallace says “consider using the application to augment your annual review and ask for assistance from firm leaders to help achieve any of the missing areas.”  It could be something like getting involved in your local SDA, AIA or other AEC industry professional organizations or making a presentation at one of their monthly programs. “Doing this will not only benefit your growth and achievement, but will also help your firm through increased marketing and networking exposure,” says Wallace.  In addition, these activities will help you stand out in your firm.

Road Marker #2 -  Self Motivation

Accomplishing the goal of becoming a Fellow requires self motivation. “The mere act of identifying a goal and mastering your motivation, meaning you identify the outcomes you want, break them down into realistic accomplishments for today and tomorrow, and the next day, and see your plan through is a skill that every person should strive to acquire”, states Deborah Gill. Setting and achieving goals can be applied to many parts of your life, especially your career path. “Right now, for example, everyone is in a virtual world with so many more distractions vying for their time and energy that they can feel overwhelmed,” Gill notes. “If you can develop the path to Fellow for yourself – motivation, goals, tasks – this skillset can be applied to any aspect of your career.”

Road Marker #3 - Visibility in the Office and in the A/E/C Profession

SDA members are knowledgeable in many subject areas. Now is the time to become known as the subject matter expert in your firm.  “Visibility is key, so speaking and writing allows you to gain visibility and credibility, and thus, grow in your career,” said Gill.

It could be that you had to do a lot of research for some effort in your firm. Take the next step and write an article or white paper with an executive summary and submit it to SDA for publication. Or, make a presentation on the topic to your executive team and consider doing the same for your chapter or during a national roundtable discussion. These are great next steps that increase your personal knowledge, advance your firm, and keep you moving toward the ultimate goal of becoming a Fellow. As a result, you will see your value rise in your firm.

Becoming a Fellow is a great way to recognize knowledgeable and veteran members “for their continued and sustained involvement in SDA and contribution to the industry” said Betsy Nickless.  “Once we’ve been through the full cycle of chapter leadership and national leadership, it’s an opportunity to continue to further the organization.” 

The visibility earned with FSDA extends beyond SDA and your firm. Said Debra Ellis “I think that the word Fellow seems to hold a higher “prestige” in the A/E world and that could help to elevate your career.”  

Road Marker #4 - Roads Less Traveled are Terrific Career Paths

Too often we hear from SDA members claiming to be “just” an administrator or “just” (insert your personal “just” statement here). Truth is, now more than ever, administrators are primed to rule the A/E/C world. Need proof? “Just” listen to Simon Goodhead’s EDConnect20 presentation “Why Administrators Just Might Rule the World”. 

But where to begin? Start with the FSDA application. The Fellowship criteria can be an impactful first step on a path that you might not have considered taking, but one that will lead you to a brighter, more satisfying, secure and higher paid future.  Judy Beebe shared “I think the Fellow criteria alone can set you on a career path that you might not have taken to begin with. I think if you’re just starting out in the A/E/C industry, you can use the criteria as additional goals to meet, while you’re learning and gaining more experience on the job.”

Road Marker #5 - A Sense of Accomplishment

When you reach a big goal that you have set out to accomplish, there is a tremendous, earned sense of pride. “I think SDA members will find the Fellowship application process to be the next natural progression on their personal and professional development journey,” said Beebe. “The initial step of becoming a CDFA shows you know and understand the industry’s practices; becoming a Fellow shows you’ve put yourself out there to also share your knowledge and skills with others outside of your firm and outside of your SDA chapter.” Beebe continued, “for me, becoming a Fellow was another accomplishment in my career – one that felt right.”

On the path of life or the career path “it’s never too late to be who you might have been.” (George Eliot) The Fellows of SDA invite you to come along in what could be the road trip of your career life. Just follow the signs. Here’s your first stop. Learn more here.