AIA Dallas EL Meeting – September 17

The seminar was held at the Trinity River Audubon Center, a flagship Center for Audubon’s education and conservation initiatives in Texas. Education programs address the need for students to improve and strengthen their science and critical thinking skills while aligning with the TEKS state-mandated curriculum. The Center, designed by architect Antoine Predock, 2006 AIA Gold Medalist, provides direct access to a myriad of opportunities for the citizens of Dallas: nature viewing, hiking, picnicking. In the Dallas Trails Master Plan, the numerous citywide trail systems are designed to connect to the Trinity River Audubon Center, providing a premier trail destination location. Once this happens, individuals and families from all over the Metroplex may ride, blade, run, or walk to the Center.

The panel included several members from the architectural community and allied disciplines. The focus of the discussion centered on leadership in sustainability and strategies that have helped the panelists in their careers.

Steve Saunders is the CEO of TexEnergy Solutions, US Eco Logic and Tempo Mechanical Services. All three companies are owned by the employees and operate with a philosophy of “Servant Leadership”. They aggressively pursue process improvements to meet the company’s stated purpose of providing outstanding career opportunities for the people who own and operate the companies.

TexEnergy was founded in 2002 to concentrate on understan

ding and improving the energy performance of new and existing buildings. Since 2002, TexEnergy has certified over 36,000 ENERGY STAR Homes and Apartments.

U.S. Eco Logic was founded in 2008 to help provide guidance and verification of sustainable (green) buildings for LEED, Green Built Texas and the National Green Building Standard from ICC and the NAHB.

Tempo is a mechanical contracting firm specializing in service replacement and installation of HVAC systems in single-family homes, multi-family and small commercial buildings. Since 1966, the Tempo Partners have installed and commissioned over 275,000 heating and air conditioning systems.

TexEnergy Solutions has been recognized by the E.P.A as the “EPA Energy Star 2006 Partner of the Year” and in 2004 – 2010 with the Energy Star’s “Outstanding Achievement Award”. TexEnergy is a RESNET Provider and Training Provider, a LEED for Homes Provider, a Commissioning Authority and a participant in the EPA’s ENERGY STAR for High Rise Pilot.

Tempo is a three time National Residential HVAC Contracto

r of the Year (2003- Contracting Business Magazine, 2001 – Air Conditioning Contractors of America and 2000 – the Excellence Alliance). Two-time Southwest Regional HVAC Contractor of the Year (1999-2000 – the Excellence Alliance). Tempo has also been named “The best company to work for” in the HVAC business – by the ACHR NEWS – February 2000, a site visit finalist for the Texas Award for Performance Excellence and a 1995 winner of the National Carrier Distinguished Dealer
Award.

Steve is on the Board of Directors for Texas HERO (serves as Chairman), the Better Business Bureau of North Texas (Serves as Chair of the Audit Committee), the Board of the Service Roundtable and the Green Jobs Council for the State of Texas. He is on the Advisory Board for Contractor Business Magazine. He has degrees from Texas Christian University (History) and the University of Illinois (Finance).

Katie Jensen, LEED AP BD+C, has nearly ten years of

green building experience and has been a LEED Accredited Professional (LEED AP) since February 2004 and Project Management Professional (PMP) since June 2009. Katie’s past experience includes redeveloping both the Commercial Green Building Rating System and Multifamily Green Building Rating System for Austin Energy Green Building, Austin, TX, which were designed to accelerate market transformation of green building practices and technologies throughout the region. Her experience also includes presenting at local, national, and international conferences; the coordination of a monthly seminar series for building professionals; development of program marketing materials; and construction documentation reviews and onsite inspections. Though Katie has been involved in a wide variety of residential and commercial developments, the majority of her work has been with multifamily and mixed-use developments. Katie’s most significant accomplishments include delivering over 7,000 living units that together have saved 3,800 MWh of energy, 10 million gallons of water, and 33,000 tons of construction debris from going to the landfill.

Currently, Katie is responsible for the administration of Oncor’s Solar Water Heating Program and Home Performance with ENERGY STAR®, a part

of their five-year, $100 million DSM/Energy Efficiency Commitment. She also supports the Commercial Energy Audit and Targeted Industrial Program which are also a part of Oncor’s commitment.

Michael A. Kawecki, LEED AP+, GA-C, with eleven years of experience in design and construction, Michael Kawecki has performed various roles on multiple projects including architect, own

er, contractor and consultant. Throughout his career he has had the opportunity to pursue sustainability both in his ‘day’ job as an employee of multiple firms pursuing sustainability and also in his ‘night’ job in a volunteer role in the local USGBC Chapter. Michael found that one of the things he most enjoyed most educating the community and helping move the industry further by sharing lessons learned on past projects, both his and others.

As the Founder of Axiom Sustainable Consulting, LLC, he is a LEED Accredited Professional, Green Advantage Certified, the 2007 Chair of the North Texas Chapter of the US Green Building
Council, and the 2008 Chair of the USGBC South Central Regional Council.

Michael was the Project Manager for the first LEED Certified project in the City of Dallas and was also the LEED Consultant for the first LEED for Schools Certified project in the State of Texas. Michael is proud to be one of the founders of the USGBC North Texas Chapter and to have had the opportunity to contribute to the knowledge of thousands of individuals over the last eight years.

Sean Garman, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP BD+C, is a licensed architect and the Sustainable Design Leader for the Dallas office of Perkins+Will. For the past 12 years Sean has focused his career in the Higher Education market sector with a specialty in Science Planning and Laboratory Design. Sean has furthered his laboratory expertise by completing the “Guidelines of Laboratory Design” certificate program at Harvard School of Public Health.

Sean’s passion for sustainability is rooted in his education at Montana State University where he received both his Bachelor and Master of Architecture degrees. Sean has just recently served a two year term as Chair of the Events & Education Committee for the US Green Building Council – North Texas Chapter and is still active on the committee today. Sean also sits on the Board of the Dallas Architecture Forum.

Sean has presented topics of sustainability in general terms, specific market trends, as well as in Higher Education in particular, to a wide variety of audiences such as:

Building Professional’s Institute Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE), Society of College and University Planning (SCUP), American Association of Community Colleges (AACC), Dallas Chamber of Commerce Dallas chapter of the American Institute of Architects (D/AIA), International Interior Design Association (IIDA), University of Texas at Arlington (UTA), Texas Christian University (TCU), Richland College

This year will mark the completion of two recent Higher Education projects, both tracking LEED Platinum; the Sabine Science Building at Richland College and the Student Services building at UT-Dallas.

Deborah Fuller, RID, IIDA, LEED® AP BD+C, is the Sustainable Knowledge Leader for the Dallas HOK office, Board Member for the North Texas Chapter of the USGBC, Associate Editor of Sustainability for the Network publication, and is part of the Collin College Sustainable Design Advisory Committee. Deborah has 28 years of experience in the design industry with the last 9 years focusing primarily on sustainability. Deborah has participated and documented over 24 LEED projects and has assisted HOK, the GSA, the City of Dallas and the USGBC on the creation of educational training materials. She was part of the core curriculum team that created the USGBC LEED CI 2.0 exam. In addition to being a LEED AP, Deborah is also certified by Green Advantage and is part of Green Advantage faculty.

Ms. Fuller attended Texas Tech University and has a BFA in Interior Design. She works closely with clients, consultants, contractors and vendors and consults both architectural and interior teams on sustainability.

AIA Dallas EL Meeting – August 13

Our meeting was held in the community room at the historic 511 N. Akard building in Dallas.

The building is the first of its kind in Dallas and is one of the largest nonprofit projects in the state of Texas. The vertical housing complex has 200 high-quality affordable residences for low-income workers, 50 of which are reserved for the formerly homeless. The building is modeled after such projects in Seattle, New York, and Houston, all of which have experienced a high level of success in their respected communities.

511 North Akard is headquarters to both Central Dallas Community Development Corporation and Central Dallas Ministries. The ground-floor will house retail, the second-floor has multiple office spaces for lease, and located on the top floor are 6 condos that have already been sold.

Purchased in 2006, the building has undergone a massive transformation from being a former vacated 15-story office tower into becoming multiple residences, shops, and offices. Refurbished back to it’s 1950’s original luster, it boasts many unique features such as marble-walled lobbies, original intact flooring, the third-floor Hexagonal Community Room and exterior patio deck, stainless steel fixtures, as well as, community rooms located on each floor for tenant use.

Our First speaker was Mary K. Suhm, Dallas City Manager.

Mrs. Suhm is serving her fifth year as city manager for the City of Dallas. As city manager, Suhm is responsible for the daily operations of the municipal organization. She manages a staff of approximately 14,000 employees and a budget of nearly 3 billion. She was appointed city manager in June 2005, by the Dallas City Council. Prior to her appointment as city manager, Suhm served as interim city manager, first assistant city manager, assistant city manager, executive assistant director of Dallas Police, director of courts, assistant to the Mayor, and branch library manager for the City of Dallas.

During her three decades in municipal government, Mary Suhm has earned a national reputation among public administrators for creativity and innovation. Suhm, who earned master of business administration and master of library science degrees from the University of North Texas, has introduced performance measurement, customer service, benchmarking, strategic planning and other common business practices into municipal management operations to assure that Dallas city government runs efficiently, economically, and effectively. She received praise from all levels of government and the community for her leadership during Hurricanes Katrina and Rita after managing a large scale evacuation effort by establishing and operating two major shelters and a Disaster Recovery Center in Dallas.

Staring out the widow at the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge, currently under construction, Mrs. Suhm sought to impress on our group the notion of patience in leadership. Having been one of her greatest passions, the bridge was originally approved by voters in 1999, but has faced an enormous amount of subsequent obstacles to this point. “Find your passion and you’ll make it work…it may take 25 years, but it will happen.”

When asked if she and other city staff looked to other cities as models for achievement, Mrs. Suhm responded “Dallas is a city that is very sure of itself. It doesn’t aspire to be a Chicago or New York.” She went on to discuss the role of the city and it’s interaction with people outside of it. “Often the perception within the city is that the public thinks we are too stupid, crooked or lazy to work in the private sector, and that can lead to a defensive posture.” When the city becomes involved in projects “you need to engage with the city. You would be surprised how many people who work for the city do so because they want to help with their community.” It is an interesting perspective, especially contrasted against the ususal persepective many in our profession have after less than ideal dealing with staff in any municipality. “The city can figure out how to do almost anything, you just have to engage them properly.”

We then asked Mrs. Suhm to elaborate on working with groups who sought to help change communities, both from inside and out. To her, the key is working with individuals, “you are not going to get to the global good without solving the interests of individuals.” Making note of several projects that had been intended for the betterment of a community but experienced a great deal of local opposition, she explained that far too many architects and developers think in a big picture that individuals, to whom this will affect, are not concerned with.

Speaking on some of her greatest challenges as city manager, Mrs. Suhm relayed a story of when several thousand Katrina evacuees where scheduled to be sent to Dallas and that she had 24 hours to organize a room, board and medical facilities for the individuals. “There are a lot of people and resources at the City. With enough of them, you can accomplish anything.” Though most of the people she contacted to help organize the effort where themselves overwhelmed with the reality of it initially, they found ways to make it work, and the effort succeeded. Now those who faced an almost impossible task and succeeded “have higher expectations and more confidence” as a result.

Our second speaker was Brent A. Brown, AIA, LEED AP.

Brent Brown is an architect working to bring design thinking to all communities. He is the Founding Director of the Dallas based community design center, buildingcommunity WORKSHOP, where his work has been recognized locally and nationally. Recently, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, in conjunction with the American Institute for Architects, awarded his Congo Street Green Initiative the 2010 National AIA/HUD Secretary Award for “Community-Informed Design.”

In October 2009, Brent was named the Director of the newly established Dallas CityDesign Studio. The Studio is an office of the City of Dallas, in partnership with the Trinity Trust Foundation, and works daily to connect all of Dallas through thoughtful urban design. This past November, Brent represented the southwest region as part of the President’s Forum on Clean Energy and Public Health at the White House. Joining Administrator Lisa Jackson of the Environmental Protection Agency and Secretary Kathleen Sebelius of the Department Health & Human Services the forum discussed linkages between clean energy to immediate and lasting public health benefits and the role of community design toward the promotion of healthier lifestyles.

Brent has had a long history of utilizing his professional expertise for the betterment of communities “as an architect, I have an ethic simply because of my profession.” Brent sees the profession of architecture, itself, as a natural role for leadership in communities. He spoke at length about how architects have a unique capacity for creating change “we synthesize information into a collection of opportunities.” With this skill set, and the moral imperative of the profession, he strongly believes that “we cannot just work in the abstract realm, but have to make something real.”

In his dual role, both as a private practitioner and a consultant to the city, Brent sees a role to help cities create a framework to facilitate successful development that transcends the bean counter in a office with a checklist. Because nearly 80% of the realm the city is in control of is public streets, Brent notes “The city should be an advocate for the street edge because the R.O.W. is one of the few places the city can impact development.” This then is the realm in which he works, helping the city and “liberating” the bean counters from their lists by offering new ways to think about projects from within the city itself. “Most people are not critical thinkers,” he notes, continuing to elaborate on the many assets and architect brings to the table, as well as out visualizations skills “Visualization is a tool of negotiation.”

In addition to our objective skills, Brent went on to speak of abstract leadership skills an architect has, offering the experience that many of us have had “how many times at a party have you been introduced to some one and they say ‘I thought about being an architect’? Admiration for architects is huge, and that can become an asset.”

AIA Dallas EL Meeting – July 16

This month’s ELP was focused on the topic of Project Leadership. The guests included

“I’m trying to build the city I want to grow old in.”

“You can do a lot by just showing up. Very few actually do, and every person multiplies good ideas.”

Jason Roberts is a community organizer, IT consultant, and musician living in the Oak Cliff region of South Dallas with his wife and two small children. Jason formed the non-profit organization, Oak Cliff Transit Authority in 2006 to revive the Dallas streetcar system; and in 2010 won a $23 Million dollar TIGER stimulus grant from the FTA to help reintroduce a modern rail system to Dallas. In 2008, Jason co-founded Bike Friendly Oak Cliff, a bicycle advocacy organization, whose model has been replicated throughout North Texas, and organized the ten day Cyclesomatic festival earning a City of Dallas proclamation. In April, Jason organized the “Better Block” project, taking a blighted block with vacant properties in South Dallas and converted it into a temporary walk able district with pop-up businesses, bike lanes, cafe seating, and kids’ art studios. The project was showcased at TEDx in Washington DC, and featured on GOOD magazine’s blog. Jason is co-founder of Art Conspiracy, past president of the Historic Texas Theatre Renovation, and member of the Congress for New Urbanism. He is passionate about community building, place making, and taking time out to perform in the indie pop band, the Happy Bullets.

“If you care about things, you are a political person.”

Betsy Del Monte, AIA, LEED AP, is Director of Sustainability and a principal in the architecture group at Beck, and has been focusing on issues of sustainability in commercially successful projects for many years. She is also an adjunct faculty member at the Lyle School of Engineering at SMU where she teaches a graduate program in sustainability.

Betsy was 2007 President of AIA Dallas and 2006 chair of the North Texas Green Building Council and has been named a Senior Fellow by the Design Futures Council. She frequently speaks at regional and national conferences on the subjects of green construction and sustainable building design.

Betsy received her Bachelor of Science degree in architecture from the University of Virginia, and a Master of Architecture degree from Rice University. Her experience includes work at architecture firms in Atlanta and Houston, as well as nine years with Philip Johnson and John Burgee in New York.

“In the workplace there are a lot of dynamics you have to deal with, but you can’t forget your goal.”

“Architects are visionaries, they see things that others don’t see. They know what the future needs to be.”

Clyde Porter, FAIA, IIDA, NCARB, NOMA is the Associate Vice Chancellor of Facilities Management and Planning/District Architect for the Dallas County Community College District, an organization that administrates and supports the traditional approach to design and construction contracting for the seven campuses, one institute and two administrative facilities of the community college system, serving over 100,000 students and faculty annually. During his tenure, he has completed over $700 million of district-wide new construction renovation and expansion projects, i.e. student centers, classrooms, administrative and infrastructure improvements. Presently, he is directing the DCCCD eight-year, long-range master plan $500 million program. Prior to that he served as the chief architect for the Dallas Area Rapid Transit $2.9 billion transportation project, where he completed 10 transit center designs and set the regional architectural vernacular for the DART rail and bus transit center program. In addition to being on the leading edge of introducing rapid transit to the Dallas region, he directed facilities design for the office products and business services division of the Xerox Corporation, southwest region.

Previously he served 11 years as facilities architect for the world-wide headquarters of the Army and Air Force Exchange Service, Dallas, Texas, where he was awarded an excellence award for improving the quality and cost-effectiveness of construction projects. Prior to this he served as a city planner for the City of Corpus Christi, Texas. Prior to the City of Corpus Christi, he served as a Captain in the US Army Corps of Engineers (combat), earning the US Army bronze star, US Army air medal, and the US Army commendation medal for heroism, and others. His tours of duty included Ft. Belvoir, Virginia; Fort Hood, Texas; Vietnam; and Oklahoma State University as assistant professor of military science, where he received a certificate of achievement for improved procedures that greatly enhanced ROTC operational efficiency. Clyde Porter has a B.S. in Industrial Arts Education and a Master of Architecture degree from Prairie View A & M University. He is a registered professional architect and registered professional interior designer in the State of Texas. He also holds a National Council of Architectural Registration Board certification. Throughout his career he has managed more than $ 5 billion in design and construction.

Clyde Porter is also active in the community. He is a regular guest lecturer at several area high schools, Dallas Independent School District middle schools and Prairie View A & M University School of Architecture, where he enhances student knowledge on architecture and engineering as a career choice. He also serves on the Dallas City Central TIF Board and is a Board member for the National ACE Mentor program. Mr. Porter is also active in several professional organizations and serves on the board of directors for the Dallas Architectural Foundation, former chairman of the Dallas AIA Minority Resource Committee and a member of the National Organization of Minority Architects. In 2002, Mr. Porter was awarded the Dallas chapter of American Institute of Architects citation of honor award and in 1999 awarded the outstanding man of minority business development by the Minority Business News for Dallas and Fort Worth

In 2003, he was also the first architect in the history of Texas to be honored by Governor Perry with the highest award Texas can bestow, a commissioned admiral in the Texas Navy, for his outstanding contribution to the State. This was preceded by honors from both the Texas House of Representatives and Texas Senate by resolution for his outstanding contribution in architecture as a premier public architect. He is also a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects. One of the highest honors the AIA can bestow upon a member. Again, he was honored by the State of Texas in 2007 by resolution for this achievement. In addition Mr. Porter, FAIA has been awarded the 2009 Whitney M. Young Jr. Award by the National AIA Board of Directors.

AIA Dallas EL Meeting - June 18

The meeting took place at the ALA’s [Architectural Lighting Associates] facility in the design district of Dallas.Architectural Lighting is a full-service manufacturer’s representative, currently representing over 80 of the lighting industry’s top architectural and commodity lines. Our knowledgeable sales staff prides itself on providing the local A&D community, lighting solutions for any and all, indoor and outdoor, commercial and industrial applications. Architectural Lighting supports the IESNA.

The topic this month was Project leadership. To take on the pervasive and nuanced facet of the profession, we assembled the broadest panel to date. All seven members have had extensive experience in archtiecture and allied fields, and brought a rare chance to engage with scuh a broad wealth of professional knowledge.

Michel E. Borg, AIA, LEED AP
HKS

Michel Borg is an award-winning architect with over 26 years of experience with a widerange of building types. His training as both an architect and interior designer has assisted clients on numerous corporate, institutional, educational, healthcare and hospitality projects. His leadership approach is to actively orchestrate the design through a highlycollaborative team development process, knitting together all the professional disciplines. This approach enables the team to discover the most creative and useful solutions to each of the client’s pragmatic needs and facilitates a consistency in the execution of design through all aspects of the building process.

Chuck Armstrong, AIA
Corgan Associates, Inc.

Chuck Armstrong serves as Design Director for Corgan Associates, Inc. With over two decades of architectural experience, he has developed an impressive portfolio of healthcare, corporate, retail and institutional projects worldwide. As one of the firm’s most talented designers, Chuck has led design teams on a variety of complex projects and garnered more than forty awards throughout his career. Recent projects include the New Parkland Hospital Campus, DFW International Terminal D, Exxon Mobil Headquarters, Blue Cross Blue Shield, One Arts Plaza, and Sacramento International Airport, Love Field Terminal Modernization, and Wise County Replacement Hospital.

Carl Malcolm
JHP

Carl is most appreciated around the offi ce for his unique ability to multi-task. He manages simultaneously many of the firm’s higher density, mixed-use, and senior housing projects. In addition to his project management responsibilities, Carl provides quality control and project scheduling oversight of all projects through the design development phase of work. His varied experience, strong design sensibilities, and creative spirit make him a valuable member of the JHP development team..

Kent Mendenhall, ASLA, Associate AIA
TGB

A Principal in TGB’s Dallas office, Kent Mendenhall’s involvement with initial project conception results in significant character development leading to efficient and effective project actualization. Kent draws from extensive international experience and a respect for historical forms to create a context for design finalized with contemporary details. Recognizing that landscape is the tangible connection between people and architecture, Kent creates landscapes that provide stimulus for mvoement within spaces. Kent mentors team members, encouraging the development of a creative but pragmatic design aesthetic.

Judy Pesek, IIDA, LEED AP
Gensler

As the Managing Director for the Dallas office, and a Founding Member of Gensler’s Workplace Taskforce, Judy Pesek has over 30 years of experience in all aspects of interior architecture from initial strategic facilities planning, conceptual design, furniture and materials implementation, interior construction, and contract administration. Judy’s impeccable client service is reflected in her long-term relationships as demonstrated with such clients as Marathon Oil Company, Duke Energy, and EDS. Some of these relationships date back over 25 years. She has continued to advise corporate clients such as these with their day-to-day requirements and interacts with their facilities management staff with regard to strategic planning issues and real estate utilization.

David M. Goodson P.E., SECB
RLG

Mr. Goodson founded the Structural Engineering department at RLG in 1981 based on a philosophy of using experience and talent to provide practical and efficient structures with an emphasis on personal service. Using experience and practical analysis early in the design of projects has led to long lasting client relationships. The combination of excellence in design, clear communication, practical and constructable solutions, and easily read construction documents has resulted in multi-decade long relationships with architects, contractors, and owners. His talents and skills have been recognized with awards for design excellence from the AIA, AISC, American Subcontractors Association and PSA Architects.

The discussion began with a straightforward panel, answering questions and elaborating on the varied aspects of project management, in the field of architecture, but also in the allied disciplines of landscape and mechanical and structural design. Many of the questions asked dealt with the economy and how to deal with teams and project management within the context of the current recession. The perspectives were understandably as diverse at the speakers themselves, with designers and managers approaching the topics from their personal viewpoint, as well as that translated through environment of their individual firms.

We then broke out into smaller groups, about three to four people so that more intimate discussions could take place. It was an illuminating forum in which questioning was more fluid and could become more targeted and personal. While the participants were able to glean quite a bit of good information from their queries, is was also interesting how each of the speakers took it as an opportunity to interview the Emerging Leaders themselves, and to understand more about their companies as well.

Following the panel discussion, Pete lead us in an exercise on leadership and communication. in small groups, we play acted a scene in which two competing interests seemingly sought a specific product for an humane purpose that was at odds with one another. However, through careful discussion and communication, we found that the interests, though linked, were complimentary, and a negotiation could be easily navigated once we understood and trusted one another.

AIA Dallas EL Meeting - March 12

The Knoll furniture showroom at One Arts Plaza was gracious enough to allow us to use their conference room for the 2nd 2010 Emerging Leaders meeting.

The topic was “Firm Leadership” and the panelists were very qualified to speak on the subject. Our guests included Mark Wolf, AIA, principal with JHP, Nunzio De Santis, FAIA, LEEP AP, principal with HKS and Ron Wommack, FAIA, president of RWA. The guests fielded questions and discussed the topic of Leadership and its role in architecture, notably its impact on the respective size of their individual firms.

Leadership is… “Being effective, innovative, responsible, accountable and able to respond to tough situations.”

“A Leader must have a fearless attitude, be able to listen and communicate succinctly.”

“Leaders must be risk takers and be investigative and curious.”

The speakers shared stories of how they arrived at their current leadership positions while giving insight into their deep rooted passion for architecture.

After our panel discussion the floor was turned over to Pete DeLisle for another informative talk on Situational Leadership Theory. The Emerging Leaders were asked to fill out a questionnaire with a series of business situations and were asked to select the most appropriate action to be taken based off of a series of prewritten responses. These responses were then compared to a chart that categorized the responses to a specific behavioral leadership style. The responses were analyzed and grouped into low to high Task or relationship based behaviors. High Task/Low Relationship behavior exhibits the ability to define and solve problems independently while focusing on the task with less importance on group interaction, also known as S-1 Leadership style. High Task/High Relationship tries to put more emphasis on achieving goals but also in a team environment, known as S-2. Low Task/High Relationship leaders are good using their relationships with others to agree on a common goal and will not make decisions until all are in agreement, S-3 . Low Task/Low Relationship leaders are more comfortable with traditional methods and focus on tasks that are well defined with clear rules, S-4.

This exercise was very inciteful as everyone gained a new awareness about their behavioral leadership style.

AIA Dallas EL Meeting - Feb 12

The meeting took place in the historic Turtle Creek Pump House amidst a wintery day where Dallas saw one of the largest amounts of snowfall in the region’s history. The speaker this day was the notable businessman and public servant Walter J. Humann.

Walter J. “Walt” Humann (MIT ‘59) has had two simultaneously successful careers in Dallas. One is in business, and the other is in public service. He heads his own firm, WJH Corporation, and has held top management positions in several corporations as well as serving on both corporate and non-profit boards.

In his public service career, Mr. Humann has the quiet tenacity and perceptive vision to develop private/public partnerships to address pressing urban problems. He has spearheaded significant community improvements in the areas of transportation—reconstruction of North Central Expressway, and creation and implementation of DART (Dallas Area Rapid Transit)—education, community and race relations, government reorganization, and urban planning, design and beautification. He has applied his considerable skills and finesse to develop consensus on complex transportation issues among groups with diverse opinions.

Walt Humann has received numerous civic awards, including the prestigious Linz Award in 1997 for his leadership in bringing North Central Expressway and DART to fruition.

For over 30 years, Mr. Humann has had an ongoing, positive influence on the quality of life in Dallas and North Texas by facilitating improvements in the transportation infrastructure.

Mr. Humann spoke on the qualities of leadership and emphasized the important of becoming involved locally to make things happen. He graced us with stories where leadership succeeded, as in the implementation of the DART rail system and the Jubilee Park community outreach, as well as the failures like the unsuccessful bid for Dallas to attract the new Cowboys stadium to Fair Park.

The second portion of the session was lead by Pete DeLisle and was an interactive discussion in to the spectrum of 'Cognitive Climates' that companies organize themselves into and the 'Organizational Fit' each employee feels comfortable with. The theory, developed by Michael Kirton, a renowned British psychologist, is intended provides managers with a useful tools to investigate business cycles, product cycles, and more importantly, the rise and fall of both established and new entrepreneurial companies.

Team collaboration and the reduction of conflict figure largely in any person’s life. To have an efficient team you need the people within it to expend the greatest effort on the problems in hand - rather than spending a great amount of time & effort on problems raised in collaborating.

Each of us participated in answering questions on the KAI (Kirton Adaption–Innovation) inventory questionnaire which gave us a score from 32-160. The lower on the scale you were the more "Adaptive Creative" you were, the higher on the scale the more "Innovative Creative" you were. The test emphasizes that neither side of the spectrum is better, there is no wrong or right place, but in particular situations, different degrees of adaptation or innovation can be judged to be more appropriate.

Between two people with differing style preferences, 0-10 point difference is considered the 'same' style, 11-20 point difference is considered of 'similar' style, and 20 or more point difference a signifier of a 'different' style which can also be referred to as a Cognitive Gap.

Those who do not fall at the extremes of the scale, but float in the middle, are considered "bridgers" and are useful members of teams that included adaptives and innovatives because they can alleviate managerial tensions between the two extremes.