Kaley Fought, AIA
AIA Oregon President
Hello, and Happy New Year! I’m so thrilled to be starting the year as your 2022-24 AIAO President.
For those of you who don’t know me, a brief introduction. Originally from Northern California, I came to Oregon to attend the University of Oregon, where I received my Bachelor of Architecture. I moved to Salem to join CBTWO Architects in 2012, where I am currently an Associate. I have been involved with AIA almost as long, starting out as an Associate Director for the Salem Chapter at the encouragement of my firm and colleagues. My background is in commercial architecture, with a focus on community non-profit and healthcare.
Within AIA, I have been actively involved at both the local and state level, always with a focus on increasing engagement and elevating the voice of architects in our communities. As President of AIA Salem, I led our chapter through the transition to a single AIA Oregon, collaborating with the other chapter leaders around the state to organize a framework for equitable and meaningful programming, a unified legislative voice, and camaraderie. This merged seamlessly with my role as Chair of the Oregon Design Conference: Shift19, where we aimed to center the conversation around increasing diversity in architecture, and embracing the benefits of expanding our network to allied professions. We heard from speakers such as Nkenge Harmon-Johnson, CEO of the Urban League of Portland; Barbara Bouza, then Managing Director with Gensler; Built by Civilization; and Alan Tse, an emerging talent based in San Francisco. Following this I served as AIAO Treasurer for two years prior to moving into the role of President-Elect.
As we begin yet another year of strange conditions with the pandemic, restructured work/life balance, and near constant volatility in the construction market, I am struck by the adaptability and open-mindedness of our profession and our organization. Under Amy’s leadership during the last two years, AIAO has drastically expanded our digital content, facilitating our reach across the sections to provide programming and opportunities for social engagement. Although we began discussions of how to implement state-wide programming several years ago, the rapid shift of our interaction to a digital platform expedited the effort in an incredible way. I’m inspired by the guidance and logistical acumen of Heather and our amazing staff that has kept AIAO running successfully through the challenges, and eager to continue the effort with our new board!
I hope each of you will find a way to get involved this year, whether by mentoring an emerging professional, attending ODC next Spring, participating in a committee, or joining a section happy hour to connect with colleagues. Strengthening and maintaining links with each other and our communities will facilitate our participation in conversations around resiliency, houselessness, and equity and diversity within the built environment. We have some exciting programming planned for the year, and planning for the Design Conference is in full swing. Please feel free to reach out to me anytime, and I look forward to seeing all of you in the next year! Thank you!