Exemplary leadership and service define Fran Carrillo’s contributions to the Society for Design Administration (SDA). As Operations Manager at MIG, Inc. in San Diego, Fran has long been recognized for her organizational insight and steady guidance. This year, her dedication earned national recognition with the GEM Award, honoring SDA members who serve as “Guiding Examples to our Members” through their significant contributions to the organization and its mission.

When Fran stepped into the role of Co-Chair of SDA’s Marketing and Communications (MarCom) Committee, she brought a collaborative energy that elevated the organization’s visibility and engagement across multiple platforms. The MarCom Committee oversees SDA’s marketing, public relations, social media, and publications—areas that reflect how SDA connects, informs, and celebrates its members. Through her leadership, Fran helped strengthen SDA’s brand voice and ensured that communications reflected the professionalism and spirit of the AEC community.

The GEM Award celebrates members whose service and influence shine throughout the SDA network, and Fran’s impact certainly fits that description. She first served as MarCom Co-Chair from 2020 to 2022, guiding the committee through a time when digital communication became more vital than ever. Returning to the role again for 2024 to 2025, Fran has continued to foster creative collaboration and consistency in how SDA presents itself to current and prospective members. Her ability to balance strategic vision with hands-on support exemplifies the type of leadership that strengthens the organization from within.

Fran’s professional journey at MIG, Inc. further reflects her commitment to excellence and teamwork. As Operations Manager, she supports a multidisciplinary design and planning firm known for its community-centered projects. Her dual perspective—rooted in both business operations and design collaboration—aligns perfectly with SDA’s mission to empower the professionals who keep AEC firms running smoothly and effectively. Within both her firm and SDA, Fran models the kind of leadership that values communication, mentorship, and shared success.

Her long-standing involvement in SDA highlights the power of professional engagement. Since joining the organization in 2017, Fran has contributed her time and expertise to advancing SDA’s visibility and resources for members. Under her guidance, the MarCom Committee’s initiatives have supported national campaigns, chapter outreach, and publications that spotlight member achievements—strengthening the bridge between local chapters and the national community.

Beyond her committee work, Fran’s influence extends through the connections she builds. Her approach demonstrates that effective communication is not only about messaging—it’s about meaning. She continues to inspire members by showing how thoughtful collaboration and steady commitment can create lasting value within professional organizations like SDA.

SDA National proudly congratulates Fran Carrillo on receiving the GEM Award. Her leadership, dedication, and enthusiasm exemplify what it means to serve as a guiding example for others. Through her efforts, SDA’s message of empowerment and professional excellence reaches farther and resonates deeper—reminding us all that the strength of our community lies in members like her.

Hey, SDA Trailblazers!

We are thrilled to announce the formation of the SDA Innovation in Education Committee (IEC). In conjunction with our national chapters, this committee represents SDA’s commitment to stepping up our learning tools and furthering the professional growth of design firm personnel across the United States and Canada.

Guided by our Committee Leader, Brittany Jamison, CDFA ,and committee members Anne McNeely, CDFA; Penny Nelson, CDFA; Deborah Gill, CPA, FSDA; Emily Moline Meyer, CDFA; and Kimberly Celenza, the IEC will craft enriching content to launch in April. These individuals bring their unique skills and experiences to the committee, contributing to the diversity and richness of the resources provided. Together, they will work towards creating a robust reference system that enables SDA members to navigate challenges and achieve excellence within the A/E/C industry. We aim to provide A|E|C specific education, best management practices, and training on professional standards.

Using the CDFA (Certification in Design Firm Administration) Resource Guide as the stepping-off platform, the IEC will concentrate its efforts on the six focus areas essential for the success and advancement of best practices in design firm management: finance, human resources, marketing, project management, office administration, and leadership and actively curate additional resources for each one.

This concentrated effort ensures SDA members access to a wealth of information and tools to excel in their respective roles, including blogs, white papers, book and article references, infographics, webinars, and other relevant information.

We invite you to join the committee or share any information, resources, or concepts you want to see covered by the IEC. Contact Brittany Jamison (bcharlick@cross2dg.com) and she will be happy to give you all the information you need. 

Stay tuned for more updates as we dive deep into continuing education, best management practices, and training on professional standards. Your growth matters to us, and we’re impressed with your work, participation, and engagement!

#ABL – AlwaysBeLearning
Innovation in Education Committee

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.