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Celeste Allen Novak, AIA; LEED AP

From running blueprints as the daughter of an architect to years of practice, I am passionate about great design and its effect on individuals, communities and the environment. I have lived, practiced architecture and taught in Michigan most of my life. I want to contribute to the national dialog on cities, diversity, our profession and architectural knowledge. I want to share the contributions of Michigan architects as the next regional director.

An associate architect with SmithGroup, I am practicing environmental design, mixed use, brownfields and community design.

I have served AIA at many levels (current Past-President of AIA Michigan, member of the livable communities). Results of my efforts include collaborative Excom planning, a focus on livable communities, and the expanded marketing of architects through public awareness initiatives.

I practice, teach and speak out about sustainability, historic preservation, LEED, green design, masonry, women in architecture and good planning. Currently a member of two state boards studying smart growth, I sit on my local planning Commission.

Park Smith, AIA

Park Smith, AIA is a graduate of Beloit College with a B.A. in Economics and the University of Idaho with a Bachelor of Architecture. He was commissioned in the United States Air Force. He has worked in several architectural firms in the Flint area and is now a sole practitioner.

Park has been active in the Flint community, the arts, and AIA Michigan. He is chairman of the Flint Historic District Commission, has been a member of the Flint Institute of Arts, and served on the AIA Michigan Board of Directors from 1993-99 and was president in 1998.

1. Are you prepared to make the definite commitment required by this position related to time and cost?

Celeste Allen Novak

I just finished the book which Governor Jennifer Granholm refers to when talking about "cool" cities. In the Rise of the Creative Class Richard Florida describes a class of people who "balance financial considerations against the ability to be ourselves, set our own schedules, do challenging work and live in communities that reflect our values and priorities." I recognize many architects in this description and I recognize my own commitment to AIA. I am prepared to make the definite commitment required by this position because I care about the future of the profession and know that I will be able to successfully balance my time and commitments.

Park Smith

I am prepared to spend as much time as it takes to be a good representative of AIA Michigan. I expect to attend meetings of both the Michigan Board of Directors and the AIA National Board plus any time required for committee and local meetings.

2. Are you prepared to visit the 10 Chapters in Michigan annually?

Celeste Allen Novak

Yes, I intend to use this time to continue to gather data on livable communities to bring to the National Board as well as other issues important to the Chapters. I am excited about visiting the chapters annually and I plan to meet as many members as possible.

Park Smith

I plan on visiting all Michigan chapters and look forward to attending each one.

3. How familiar are you with the critical issues at AIA Michigan? What are they?

Celeste Allen Novak

As current past - president of AIA Michigan, I am very familiar with the Critical issues in our State. We have created a multi-year planning system focusing on Livable Communities, some of our main issues include:

•Advocacy: The board through the government affairs committee has been involved with Certificate of Merit (limits of Insurance liability) the State Contract, support for local, state and national legislators, and livable Communities initiatives: Detroit Permit Task Force, involvement with the governor's land use task force

•Sustainability: The board created a new livable communities task force which responds to information requests, attends state meetings, and has initiated meetings with AGC, ACEC, and Michigan planners. The board is also supporting the green web committee and the development of a state committee on the environment.

•Public Awareness: The board is supporting local chapter initiatives for articles on great places, a new radio program on Michigan Talk Radio, a University of Michigan Public television documentary, starting with the Flint Cultural Center, the Support of chapter architectural guides and has recently appointed a new editor for Place magazine in order to renew this state publication.

•Communications: The board is concerned with continued communications to all members, those not on the web, interns, and associates. Through electronic communications members are alerted of events and urgent legislative issues. Providing services for all members is important to the board.

•Budget and staffing: The board is charged with maintaining fiscal responsibility, and is paying down the debt by restructuring agreements with MAF. The board reviews staffing needs and is creating a five year plan to provide continued and expanded services to members.

Park Smith

The most important issues facing Michigan are those facing the profession across the nation. Over the ten years of my association with AIA Michigan I appreciate the scope of our challenges. While not presently serving AIA Michigan's board, I'm still a director of AIA Flint and continue to take an active part in public awareness campaigns.

4. How familiar are you with the critical issues at national AIA? What are they?

Celeste Allen Novak

Critical issues at AIA national include a focus on Knowledge, Advocacy and Communications/Organization.

•Knowledge:
The board is actively engaged in making the knowledge communities more accessible to individual members. Resources and research into design and practice will provide data for the practice of architecture by all members.

•Advocacy:
The board is supporting the advertisement of architects through branding, governmental advocacy and the strengthening of affiliations with other professional organizations. Recent issues include practice certifications, interior design legislation, and NCARB certification.

•Communications and Organization:
-Finance:
The board now has a finance committee in place and the Institute is monitoring its reserves which may mean more funding for member services.

-Governance:
The size of the Board is an issue. Should the board be expanded to include more regional directors, and could an expanded EXCOM handle more of the Board's business? What makes sense for the component organization.

-Strategic Planning:
The board has focused on multiple-year planning and issues which include livable communities, knowledge generation, communication and the development of new public policies relating to architectural education.

An important issue which AIA Michigan would like addressed is the multiple databases required to maintain TIMMs, registration delays and the delayed revenue stream from membership. Another important issue is that number of interns who become registered seems to be dropping since the "new" exam went into effect. This not only affects us as professionals, but also impacts the AIA revenue stream. How can AIA encourage young professionals?

Park Smith

The most important issue at AIA National never changes: to assure that the institute provides the greatest benefit of the members for their dues. It is the responsibility of a board of directors to oversee and guide an organization. I have served on several boards of directors or trustees in both the business and non profit sectors and have experience as a director.

5. How active have you been or will you be in the state and national PAC's?

Celeste Allen Novak

I have attended PAC meetings for COTE, Design, and the Urban Planning PIA. I completed the AIA Leadership Institute at Georgetown University last fall, which introduced me to a network of AIA leaders, many committed to change in the profession. I intend to continue to be active in the state livable communities task force using state issues, such as the Cool Cities program, to feed initiatives at the national level.

Park Smith

I have supported Archpact and was Vice President of AIA Michigan when the V.P. was responsible for fund raising for our PAC. I have been active in local politics and will support national candidates when appropriate.

6. As an elected representative of the Michigan region and as a member of the national Board of Directors, it is not unusual to find yourself in a position where there appears to be a conflict of interest. How would you resolve this issue and deal with it when you are required to cast your vote.

Celeste Allen Novak

As members of the AIA National Board of Directors, the Regional Directors are responsible for setting policy, controlling the Institute's property, authorizing expenditures, safeguarding the financial resources of the Institute, and assessing the performance of AIA's management.

As a member of this board, I will ask three questions: What is best for the profession? What is best for the individual member? What is best for Michigan? I believe that I will be able to support our state by supporting the profession and each individual member.

Park Smith

Small projects usually do not generate conflicts of interest, but I have served on several boards and commissions which have dealt with construction projects or firms with which I've been associated. I have always made it clear and on the record what my relationship is and then abstained on any pertinent vote. This practice has served well and I'll continue to do it.

7. Why are you the best candidate for the position of AIA Michigan Regional Director?

Celeste Allen Novak

I have a passion for architecture and the architectural profession. I am the daughter of an architect and I have practiced as an architect from New York to Michigan. I have worked for large international firms, owned my own practice, partnered with my brother in a small firm, was an officer in a design firm and now have experience with a large, national architectural firm. I have taught Architecture -in Studio, Sustainable Design and Historic Preservation and mentored countless students. I am a member of my township planning commission, have my LEED certification and have written extensively on green design, construction and the arts and crafts.

Park Smith

This election is to chose who is to sit in Michigan's seat on the national board of directors. My background has trained me in three very different styles of leadership. The Air Force model is simple and effective: give orders/follow orders; the business model is for change and uncertainty: set a goal, then be as flexible as necessary to achieve it; and an architectural model that plans a solution and then builds a consensus to achieve success. While I'm accustomed to working in each method, I 'm also aware that organizations have unique leadership and decision making cultures A good board of directors is a balance of leadership styles. Directors must guide the organization without over managing and stifling the staff while they do their jobs.

I have lived in Michigan most of my life. I want to contribute to the national dialog on cities, diversity, our profession and architectural knowledge. I want to share the contributions of Michigan Architects as the next regional director.

8. Why should I vote for you?

Celeste Allen Novak

You should vote for me because I will listen to your concerns and issues. I will actively "connect" our ideas for change to opportunities for change. I will communicate National issues and decisions back to our state for your response.

Park Smith

If elected, the work of the AIA will be my top priority. I will work hard to represent Michigan at the national board meetings and to bring back to you, the members, what is said at those meetings.

9. How would you approach the concern that AIA National may take action to combine AIA Michigan with Ohio, Indiana, etc. to reduce the number of regional directors at national meetings?

Celeste Allen Novak

I do not believe that the number of regional directors should be limited and I would express this at Board meetings. If the cost of the meetings is the problem, perhaps cost sharing from board members might be the solution rather than a cap on membership. From my experience at the Leadership Institute, I met several architects from states which do not have a regional director. I think that a large state should have an independent voice and that the Institute is only stronger, by having a representative Board.

Park Smith

The best and simplest solution is to vote for the resolution to enlarge the board of directors when it comes to the floor at this year's business meeting If that fails I would argue that to create a new region of AIA/Michigan, Indiana and Ohio would not solve the problem. This new region would have more than 4% of the total AIA membership and so would be entitled to two directors.

10. We have enjoyed a seat at the large state chapter round table. How would you approach the thought that we might be considered too small to qualify in the future?

Celeste Allen Novak

Large states have qualities beyond numbers. Michigan is a large industrial state with a diverse population. I believe that it should be part of the large state round table, because we share qualities of our membership that are similar to those in other large states. Over the past several years, Michigan has contributed a lot of expertise having to do with non-dues revenue, programming, and communications. More states should have the opportunity to share within a state network, rather than excluding Michigan.

Park Smith

AIA Michigan was one of the founding members of the large chapter round table. I attended the second meeting in Austin, Texas the year I was AIA Michigan President . There are two ways to increase our standing and we must pursue both. First, recruit more members and encourage more interns to become licensed to grow our chapter. The second is to do even more of the things we do well so that it is obvious AIA Michigan is innovative and creative far beyond our size.