Rapid City, South Dakota met expectations as a small and charming city, but surprised with an efficiency and nimbleness that set the tone for an enriching 72 hours of "doing big things" at the EDSymposium22. Networking was an easy and natural start thanks to a shared hotel shuttle ride with a fellow SDA member of the Atlanta Chapter. Networking became exploration as we set off in a Jeep to discover Rapid City and visit the iconic Mt. Rushmore. As hairpin turns took us up and down the Black Hills, our conversation wove through personal histories; our passion for our administrative career; and the meaningful opportunities, like this one, available to SDA members. Like a networking amuse bouche, the insight and knowledge we shared made me hungry to meet and learn from the many other SDA members that would be arriving in the coming days.

Day1

As nervous as I was flying in, the collective energy of so many peer professionals in one place created a warm and welcoming environment that targeted outsiders, new members, and infrequent attendees in the best way - fostering camaraderie and relationship-building designed to quickly break the ice and ease nerves. By the time I chose my seat for the Leadership Workshops, I knew at least a third of the group.

Danielle Kennedy (founder and CEO at Kadima Leadership) oversaw the entire day of the Leadership Workshop Sessions and wasted not a single minute sharing her experience, wisdom, and downright brilliance with us. Her honesty, authenticity, and transparency leaves you certain that following her lead will make your wobbly wheel perfectly round in no time. If you don't know about the wobbly wheel, I recommend reaching out to Danielle because that exercise is exactly what your staff needs to break down barriers to communication and connecting, while balancing out both life and professional goals. The major takeaway for me was the idea of using "non-work-life" problem solving at work (and vice versa). Walking alongside us like a colleague and friend, Danielle shared tool after tool for tackling anything from everyday miscommunications to tense conversations about salaries for GenZ-ers. I left feeling as though my dream of becoming a COO is no longer a fantasy of my unconscious mind, but rather a finish line banner waving just off in the distance.

Everyone radiated professional confidence as we strolled over to the Journey Museum to share our thoughts on the day's sessions over a glass of wine and local I PAs. The Journey Museum helped us get to know Rapid City a little better, showing us how their community worked together to rebuild a flood­ devastated city. The correlation between being citizens of a town and members of a tight-knit professional society was not lost on us. After one day of learning and growing with these administrators, I already knew that if my career became flooded with difficulties, I could count on this group of knowledgeable and driven people to help me piece it back together.

Day2

Day two began with a fascinating dive into burgeoning technologies for architects and engineers, key performance indicators for success, and more noteworthy information from Simon Good head and Brian Flynn than I could quickly scribble down. Thank goodness my notes are supplemented with video recordings for multiple rewatches to catch every last crumb of expert advice.

Later, city-planners Sarah Hanzel and Garth Wadsworth provided a closer look at plans to grow Rapid City and connect its people through landscape, community building, and new ways of adapting to the area's unique needs. Following their inspirational session, Scott Butcher, a consultant with Stambaugh Ness, pushed the boundaries of "what we know" with "what's coming," during his A/E/C marketing session. I learned various ways to track market fluctuations and how to shift generational gears to better appeal to future consumers. I also learned that "geriatric millennial" (conveniently applicable to my birth ­year) is an actual term in chronology, used in marketing. Then, an in-depth panel-discussion on contracts helped me feel more comfortable with the contractual process and ready to step into those conversations at work. The legal jargon, industry-specific problems and solutions, and specialized terminology in this world of contracts originally made me feel as though I'm in over my head. By session's end, however, I somehow feel less intimidated. This panel of professionals share so much expertise that I'm motivated to investigate opportunities to become more involved in the contractual process at my own company.

Day3

How do we, as administrators, take all of this critical information and motivation and act on it to do big things? To answer that, I think back to what my peers shared in the "Where do we go from here?" session during our final day of the conference. This panel of three of my peers volunteered to share with the group what they're most excited for and next steps for them. When I think of them on stage, bravely opening up to the rest of us, I know the answer is that we do big things with the support of one another. I clapped and cheered, welled up with pride, and even wiped away a few tears out of appreciation for this group's honest thoughts, the lessons we all learned, and the inspiration we gave one another in three short days.

During the last evening of the conference, members gathered to celebrate at an awards banquet. Never missing an opportunity to share, learn, and grow, conversations about the symposium, our unique roles at work, and advice for how to achieve more continue to flow between us. Awards are given out, CDFA recipients are congratulated, and the best of SDA are acknowledged for all of the hard work and time they put into creating events like this one. I too take the time to appreciate each person I encounter there, because it was here I was encouraged to hone my skill to speak up, be bold, inspire others, and balance professional creativity with modes of efficiency and efficacy. It was these people who helped equip me with new ways of looking at my profession. It is the end of the conference, but the beginning of so many big things to come.

Wolfgang Umana, CDFA,  is the Office Manager and an Associate at GGN Landscape Architecture Ltd., based in Seattle, WA. He's worked at GGN's Washington DC studio since 2016 and oversees administration at both the DC and Seattle offices. Wolfgang holds a B.S. in Environmental Science and Public Policy and obtained his CDFA in November '21 after joining the SDA in September '21.

CDFA Spotlight - Joan Silva, CDFA

SDA is committed to encouraging and supporting personal growth, and professional development of individuals working in the AEC Industry. One way SDA delivers on this commitment is offering the CDFA credential. Reaching CDFA status includes passing an exam that covers five core areas of the AEC Industry business: project management, marketing, finance, office administration and human resources.  SDA's Certification Committee works diligently to provide study materials and resources that will aid in preparing for the exam. However, it still takes commitment and effort on the part of each individual. To acknowledge those who have reached CDFA status, and to inspire others to follow in their footsteps, the Certification Committee is pleased to spotlight these accomplished individuals.

What motivated you to earn your CDFA certification?

 

I wanted to go above and beyond what was listed on my career ladder. Getting my CDFA accomplished that!

 

Did you have any concerns, or fears, about taking the exam?

 

Yes, I haven't been in school or taken an exam in many years so doubt was in the back of my mind.

 

What study tools did you find most useful?

 

I used the CDFA-yoU study guide the most. I learn best by reading repetition, so the study guide and practice tests were helpful.

 

What section of the exam was the most difficult for you?

 

Finance was the section I studied the most.

 

Did you have a CDFA mentor help you with the material?

 

Loretta Rodriguez in the San Antonio Chapter is AMAZING!!!! She was always an email, text, or phone call away with any questions I had.

 

What role, if any, has CDFA played in advancing your professional or personal development, growth, network, or career?

 

Since getting my CDFA, I have been able to mentor the administrators in our other offices in hopes of encouraging them to get their certification as well.

 

Was your employer supportive of your CDFA goals and accomplishments?

 

Pfluger Architects is very supportive. They covered all of the financial aspects for the application and testing.

 

How did you, and your firm, celebrate your achievement?

 

Our HR representative sent a company-wide email, so I got a congratulations from all.

 

What is your top tip to someone considering the pursuit of a CDFA designation?

 

Don't be nervous to take the first step and apply!

SDA MarCom Committee

The SDA Marketing and Communications (MarCom) Committee's responsibility is to maintain and protect the SDA brand globally, to create resources/tools to support the brand in a positive manner, and to manage the national social media platforms, aligning all media to the goals of the SDA organization.

For the third year, the MarCom team is led by co-chairs Fran Carrillo and Liz Harris. Joining the dynamic duo are Kim Celenza, Mary Jacobs, Stephanie Kirschner, Penny Nelson, Chelsea Sloan, and Marie Tomala. Before this, the committee was dormant for a few years. 

This team has a blast together and frequently goes beyond their prescribed duties to bring more fun, more joy, and more celebration to SDA membership. Who can forget the apres-2021-virtual-EDSymposium cocktail party with Fran as cocktail maestro and Liz thousands of miles away as her punch puppet? Or those Quick-in-30 sessions aimed at giving members big impact tips in a short session? Or most recently the SDA Holiday Social dedicated to loving on the nice and naughty members alike. 

Alongside the shenanigans, the MarCom team is dedicated to getting stuff done in an atmosphere of continuous improvement. Each member is encouraged to grow and develop new skills in a supportive environment. 

“I love our team. The biggest limiter to what we can accomplish is people power.  We are always on the lookout for new team members who are open to sharing their time and creativity,” says Fran. “Desire is more important than skill. Our team is more than willing to train interested members in the tools we use to write, design, and share our content.”

Notes Liz, “this is a committee where you can have a blast, earn national experience, and build your portfolio of skills. It’s truly a win-win. If a member is looking to make themselves recession resistant, learning the skills we use, can directly increase your value to the firm.”

SDA members interested in helping out the MarCom team are invited to reach out to co-chair Fran Carrillo at fran@mwsteele.com or Liz Harris at eharris@kevinharrisarchitect.com.