Misti Nelmes, AIA
AIAO Secretary
Have you felt a shift?
Hi, I’m Misti Nelmes, Board Secretary, Architect, and member with AIA Oregon going on two years. After a career of 17 years, half practicing architecture, half in a parallel industry, I decided in 2021 to get involved with AIA, and I’m thrilled I did. I’d like to tell you why.
Shortly after graduating from the University of Oregon in 2003, I moved to Bend where my career in architecture predominantly existed. I moved there during the pre-recession boom and was fortunate to stay employed through the downturn. It was rewarding to live in a small town yet still have the opportunity to work on fulfilling projects, often within walking distance of my office and with a high focus on sustainability. Mentorship came from my boss and peers at the small office where I worked, which was great. However, as I started to prepare for the AREs, I first felt the void of not being connected to a larger professional network. At the time, there was no AIA chapter in Bend, and I just couldn’t see the value in paying fees to an organization that didn’t have a presence in my community. I also didn’t see access to resources that would help me prepare for the ARE’s, which even despite the lack of a local network, could have been provided through the internet (Bend isn’t that remote). So, I borrowed ARE study manuals, buckled down, asked questions from a few peers that recently tested, and drove myself across the mountains 10 times to take the exams – since the only testing locations were in Portland or Eugene. It worked, but I felt, wouldn’t it be nice if there were more support for emerging professionals in regional areas?
That experience wasn’t necessarily negative, it just didn’t label the AIA in my mind as a valuable resource. As I continued practicing, I found that continued to be true. As a practicing architect, I found that though eligible CEU’s were provided through AIA, I had to pay for them on top of paying the annual membership and they weren’t any easier to access, or interesting, than finding free online courses myself. The potential additional value of having access to a broader network was there, but clunky; Bend members at the time would be joined with the Eugene chapter (130 miles away) and while there were efforts to connect these groups which I supported, the divide was still felt. The small firm I was employed at didn’t have resources to cover employee membership fees. Again, I was left questioning whether that easily recognizable acronym on my signature line was worth the cost and effort to reap the value that I needed.
The restructuring of the AIA in Oregon entirely reset my perception, and the follow through since then has solidified my trust in the value of being an AIA Oregon member. Not only are resources funneled to my local network, but members have an opportunity to shape what AIA Oregon is, and leadership is listening. I have felt through the pandemic and social awakening our country has grappled with over the last year, that AIA Oregon has been a valued resource and voice of its members. From national to local issues of housing affordability, homelessness, and wildfires, AIA Oregon has “stepped up” to be part of the solution by supporting members in engaging with our local communities and providing education on state and national issues. The multitude of virtual trainings hosted by AIA Oregon during the pandemic have kept many of us on track for licensure renewals, for free. And the recent member survey aims at additional continued improvement. I am inspired by the support and connection, during a time of crisis, that I have seen come from being an AIA Oregon member.
“Something good comes out of every crisis.” rings true. I do believe we’ve seen shifts in AIA Oregon that have solidified trust during a time of crisis and unveiled opportunities that will remain lasting. Have you felt the shift? Have you or your firm been positively impacted by AIA Oregon through the last difficult year? I’d love to hear - feel free to email me.