Rounding out our 2025 National Executive Committee spotlight series is Kim Celenza, Past President of SDA and Marketing Manager at JFK&M Consulting Group in New York. A longtime leader and advocate for SDA, Kim brings a wealth of experience, a sharp strategic eye, and a deep passion for the profession. As Past President, she continues to play an essential role in mentoring leadership, guiding big-picture strategy, and championing the growth of SDA across the A/E/C industry.d reinforcing our reputation as the go-to resource for best practices in the A/E/C industry.

Serving as SDA’s National President was both an honor and a responsibility I embraced with dedication. I’m proud of the progress we made together—advancing key initiatives, strengthening our member value, and reinforcing SDA’s role as the voice for business operations professionals in the A/E/C industry.

Now, as Past President, I remain committed to supporting the organization’s continued success. I look forward to mentoring new leaders, offering historical perspective when helpful, and contributing to strategic conversations that shape our future. It’s an exciting time for SDA, and I’m confident the path forward is bright.

Kim’s passion for growth and excellence continues to shape SDA’s future. Her commitment to clarity, collaboration, and high standards sets a powerful tone for our organization. Inspired by her vision? Help us grow the SDA network—talk about it, share what it’s done for you, and bring a colleague into the fold. Together, we can build something even stronger.

Next in our series spotlighting SDA’s 2025 National Executive Committee is Fran Carrillo, Vice President of SDA and Project Accountant/Senior Project Administrator at MIG in San Diego, CA. With a strong foundation in project accounting and firm operations, Fran brings a detail-oriented, get-it-done approach to her leadership role. Her commitment to collaboration and process improvement is already making an impact as she helps move SDA forward.

As Vice President, I aim to make meaningful progress in two areas I care deeply about: growing our membership and increasing our organization’s visibility within the industry. These have been key focuses of the MARCOM committee throughout my involvement, but I believe that serving on the board will open up new opportunities to collaborate across committees and advance these goals more strategically.

I see membership growth and industry presence as deeply connected. As a board member, I want to help align all committee efforts around this shared objective. That means setting clear membership targets, analyzing what’s worked in the past, partnering with MARCOM on outreach, and developing a sustainable 3–5 year membership growth plan.

While I’ve primarily served in Treasurer roles, my leadership experience goes well beyond finances. I’ve been part of several Executive Committees, giving me a strong understanding of board responsibilities and the confidence to step into this role with clarity and purpose.

One area I’m especially excited about is the Chapter Guidelines Handbook. I look forward to reviewing it, offering improvements, and supporting local chapters—because strong chapter engagement is essential to our organization’s overall success.

My commitment to visibility, communication, and member growth makes me well-suited to serve as Vice President and Liaison to the Membership Committee. With my MARCOM experience and passion for connecting people to our mission, I’m confident I can make a meaningful impact in this role.

Fran’s perspective is rooted in experience, teamwork, and action. As she steps into her national leadership role, she’s focused on building stronger connections and making sure SDA continues to deliver real value to members across the country. If you're ready to roll up your sleeves and be part of the progress, jump into the conversation or find a way to get involved—you don’t have to do it alone, and your voice matters.

In our continuing series introducing SDA’s 2025 National Executive Committee, we’re excited to spotlight Vincent Lafitte, CDFA, HR Analyst and Senior Associate at SSOE Group in Atlanta, GA, and SDA’s newly elected President Elect. With two decades of HR leadership experience and a deep commitment to SDA’s mission, Vincent brings thoughtful perspective, strategic insight, and a collaborative mindset to his role. His focus? Re-centering SDA around its core strength: the business of running a design firm—and doing it well.

As President Elect, I believe it’s time for the SDA to return to its roots—our strength lies in the interwoven elements that drive excellence in managing a design firm. That’s where we excel, and I see the next 1–5 years as a time to refocus on that core mission.

I’ve been actively involved in our organization since 2014 and haven’t looked back. With 20 years of experience in Human Resources and a background in both large and small firms, I’m skilled at bringing together diverse perspectives and translating them into a unified, strategic path forward.

While the President Elect is often seen as the President’s right hand, I believe the role is more dynamic than that. It’s about stepping back to see the bigger picture, challenging ideas when necessary, and knowing when to help pull back so we maintain balance. I look forward to engaging in thoughtful, healthy discourse throughout the year.

For me, collaboration and communication are all about using the right tools—and using them well. I’ve learned a great deal from my time in the SDA, and I’m excited to help move us toward meaningful, healthy goals.

Ultimately, the President Elect role is about learning, growing, and preparing to lead. Much like in HR, it starts with listening and observing. I’m ready for the challenge and look forward to what this coming term will bring.

Vincent’s vision for SDA is grounded, practical, and refreshingly real. His focus on strategic clarity, communication, and collaboration sets a strong tone for the year ahead. If his message resonates with you, we invite you to lean in—share your insights, get involved, or join the conversation in the SDA Discussion Hub. It’s going to be a great year to listen, learn, and lead together.