As we continue our CDFA Spotlight series, we’ve been thrilled by the positive feedback and engagement from our community. Each story has highlighted the dedication and hard work it takes to achieve the Certified Design Firm Administrator designation. We’re excited to keep bringing you more of these inspiring journeys. This week, we’re featuring Sarah Hoyle, CDFA, Executive Assistant with Perkins & Will in Dallas, TX. Her insights on the personal satisfaction of passing her exam are sure to inspire!

What motivated you to earn your CDFA certification?

It was a personal goal.

Did you have any concerns, or fears, about taking the exam? If so, how did you address or overcome them?

I have always had test anxiety and that was my only concern about taking the exam.

What study tools did you find most useful (study group, CDFA-yoU materials, flash cards, other?)

CDFA-yoU and Marathon Training material that is shared.

Did you learn anything new, or surprising, while preparing for the exam?

Learning about other areas of work that I do not normally do in my day to day was interesting.

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

Finance.

Did you have a CDFA mentor help you with the material? If so, tell us about that experience.

My chapter answered any questions I had.

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

It gives me personal gratification on my accomplishment.

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

Announcement to the office when I passed, and it was included in our yearly office meeting.

What has obtaining your CDFA meant to you?

I was very proud of myself, and it gave me a boost to continue learning outside of my current position at work.

Feeling inspired by our CDFA Spotlight features? If you're ready to elevate your career and join the ranks of Certified Design Firm Administrators, now is the perfect time to take the next step. The CDFA designation not only strengthens your skills but also positions you as a leader in our industry. Visit our certification page to learn more about the application process and how you can start your journey today!

As we continue our CDFA Spotlight series, we’ve been thrilled by the positive feedback and engagement from our community. Each story has highlighted the dedication and hard work it takes to achieve the Certified Design Firm Administrator designation. We’re excited to keep bringing you more of these inspiring journeys. This week, we’re featuring Terri Blackert, CDFA, Senior Administrative Assistant with DLR Group in Phoenix, AZ. Her insights on learning all aspects of the industry are sure to inspire!

What motivated you to earn your CDFA certification?

A couple other Admins in our firm have earned their CDFA so I talked to them and found out that it is essentially the only certification related to a design firm we can get as an Admin.

Did you have any concerns, or fears, about taking the exam? If so, how did you address or overcome them?

I have held about four different Admin positions with DLR Group, so at first, I thought, "I got this!" But then as I started looking over the study material, I wasn't sure if I really knew what I was getting into. I decided to just take one section at a time.

What study tools did you find most useful (study group, CDFA-yoU materials, flash cards, other?)

CDFA materials - I put them in a binder and made a tab for each section so I could go through it and highlight sections. Flash cards were great for quick at a glance items.

Did you learn anything new, or surprising, while preparing for the exam?

It has taught me that I know more than I thought I did in areas like Marketing, which I do not normally work in.

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

Financial Section

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

It has taught me that I know more than I thought I did in areas like Marketing, which I do not normally help with.

Was your employer supportive of your CDFA goals and accomplishment? If so, please share how they demonstrated that support.

Yes, they pay for my SDA membership and encouraged me to set aside time during the week to study prior to the exam.

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

Give yourself plenty of time to organize the materials and study. Do not try to cram right before the exam.

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

They posted it on our internal knowledge sharing platform. People sent congratulations across the firm.

What has obtaining your CDFA meant to you?

It means a lot to me to know that I have a well-rounded knowledge of the different aspects of a design firm and hold a certification for it as an Administrative Assistant.

Feeling inspired by our CDFA Spotlight features? If you're ready to elevate your career and join the ranks of Certified Design Firm Administrators, now is the perfect time to take the next step. The CDFA designation not only strengthens your skills but also positions you as a leader in our industry. Visit our certification page to learn more about the application process and how you can start your journey today!

Welcome back to our CDFA Spotlight series! After a brief hiatus, we're excited to return with fresh stories and insights from our members who have recently achieved their Certified Design Firm Administrator designation. Our time away has been spent gathering some truly inspiring interviews, and we’re eager to share them with you. This week, we’re proud to feature Lindsay Durden, CDFA,  Office Manager with PES Structural Engineers in Atlanta, GA

What motivated you to earn your CDFA certification?

I wanted to expand my general knowledge of new and different aspects of the AEC industry and what it fully takes to help run a firm smoothly.

Did you have any concerns, or fears, about taking the exam? If so, how did you address or overcome them?

I have never been a great test-taker. I tend to second guess myself with each answer which usually leads to changing a correct answer for the worst. I strived to be confident in the answer before me, knowing I do not need to second guess...I have this!

What study tools did you find most useful (study group, CDFA-yoU materials, flash cards, other?)

The CDFA-yoU materials were very helpful! I would read a section and highlight key points, watch the associated video while taking notes on the handouts, re-write my notes from the resource guide along with my handout notes in a separate notebook, create flash cards, and go through the example questions.

Did you learn anything new, or surprising, while preparing for the exam?

I do not handle the HR, financial, or marketing aspects in my firm. The resource guide was very informative on these subjects for me and now I feel that I have a better understanding in these areas.

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

I would say the financial section was the most difficult for me. Lots of information, spreadsheets, and formulas there!

Did you have a CDFA mentor help you with the material? If so, tell us about that experience.

No, but I had many people offer assistance if it was needed. Great cheerleaders!

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

Completing my CDFA has made me more confident in my career. I have been in the industry for 10 years, but there is still so much more to learn and apply. I look forward to gaining knowledge in all aspects and sharing those points that our firm can use to keep us up-to-date and relevant in the AEC industry.

Was your employer supportive of your CDFA goals and accomplishment? If so, please share how they demonstrated that support.

Yes, my firm was very supportive! They encourage professional development and were more than happy to help me along the way by sending me to EDSymposium23 (and future conferences to come)!

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

My top tip would be to not get overwhelmed by the size of the resource guide and accompanying materials. There is a lot of information there, but it becomes very manageable when broken down and you focus on one section at a time.

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

My firm celebrated by posting on our social media pages and through our internal Teams "Weekly Wins" post. I celebrated with a big glass of wine!

What has obtaining your CDFA meant to you?

Obtaining my CDFA has shown me that I can still learn and retain new information. When you have been out of school for a while, trying to get back in a study/memorization habit can be difficult...but it can be done!

Feeling inspired by our CDFA Spotlight features? If you're ready to elevate your career and join the ranks of Certified Design Firm Administrators, now is the perfect time to take the next step. The CDFA designation not only strengthens your skills but also positions you as a leader in our industry. Visit our certification page to learn more about the application process and how you can start your journey today!