Member Board Relation

Member Board Relations

Through collaboration with our Members Boards, we have been able to agree on national
standards related to education,NCARB’S MEMBERS● 50 States● District of Columbia● Guam● Puerto Rico● U.S. Virgin Islands experience, and examination that have facilitated reciprocal registration among the U.S. jurisdictions. Because the boards maintain individual rules and regulations, staying connected to what is happening in each jurisdiction is beneficial to both the boards and the Council. It allows us to stay on top of rules and regulations that many states have in common and find ways to further assist our Members.

In FY13, we had the following opportunities to collaborate and assist our Member Boards:

Member Board Outreach: On the Road

In FY13, NCARB CEO Michael J. Armstrong, Council Relations Director Katherine E. Hillegas, and other members of NCARB staff and the Board of Directors have visited 15 Member Boards as part of our outreach initiative. Visits are designed to address specific areas of interest and concern relative to the jurisdiction, to develop stronger relationships through face-to-face visits to jurisdictional board meetings, and to identify common issues. It is Armstrong’s goal to visit all 54 Members within four years. Since the initiative began in FY12, he has visited 26 jurisdictions.

“These visits are also a chance for other board members, who don’t get to attend NCARB meetings, to have an opportunity to ask questions and get a better sense of NCARB’s mission and goals, and how boards interact with NCARB,” said FY13 Board of Directors’ MBE Director Jan Simpson.

Member Board Relations: Compiling our Resources

Three years ago, NCARB expanded its services to Member Boards by creating a special department within the Council Relations Directorate to focus on assisting boards with individual issues. Led by Council Relations Director Katherine E. Hillegas, CAE, and Member Board Relations Assistant Director Derek Haese, the team assists boards with everything from reviewing proposed legislation, to conducting research related to best practices, to writing letters of support for board positions.

Over the last year, the team has collaborated with several boards on a variety of issues—from adopting continuing education rules to supplying public comments on proposed regulation changes.

In March 2013, the Council partnered with the Illinois Board to contact interns in Illinois—and those thinking about earning their initial license in Illinois—to communicate legislation passed in 2005 that will require a degree from a NAAB-accredited program beginning 1 January 2014, which was then extended one year. “NCARB has resources that the boards do not and can target applicants who are on the track for licensure as an architect in individual jurisdictions,” said M. David Brim, Member Board Executive, Illinois Board.

The DC and Rhode Island Boards contacted the Council when their states were reviewing the structure and necessity of their respective boards. In both cases, the Member Board Relations team reviewed the proposed regulations and offered supporting documents to provide to governing bodies.

“The NCARB staff was responsive and professional. Having a nationwide knowledge base at your fingertips is helpful in putting local issues in context,” said DC Board Chair Ronnie McGhee, AIA, LEED AP. “It fomented a more thoughtful discussion of the issues and a deeper and broader understanding of the ramifications of any decision that might be under consideration.”

Since many jurisdictions are examining several of the same issues, the Council has created a research library for all Member Boards to reference in the secure section of the NCARB website. This information can be used to glean best practices and includes topics such as electronic seals and signatures, incidental practice, and emeritus status.

2012 Member Board Executive Workshop

In November 2012, 33 executives representing U.S. jurisdictions traveled to Boston, MA, for the Member Board Executive (MBE) Workshop. The Workshop is an opportunity for executives to meet their counterparts in other jurisdictions, share best practices, and discuss the issues related to regulating architectural licensure.

The Tasks Ahead

The meeting began with Nevada Executive and NCARB’s MBE Committee Chair Gina Spaulding giving an overview of the committee’s charges and goals for the year, which included topics such as electronic seals and signatures, a definition of welfare, and incidental practice.

Strategic Thinking

Attendees heard from NCARB President Ronald B. Blitch, FAIA, NCARB, FACHA; CEO Michael J. Armstrong; and the Board of Directors’ MBE Director Jan Simpson on important issues the Council is currently working on.

The Board recently worked on an update to the Strategic Plan to sharpen its focus and reflect current progress. “An annual review and update is a natural progression to keep a strategic plan relevant to emerging issues. At the same time, we were able to consolidate and clarify objectives included in the original version of the plan,” said Blitch.

“We are instilling a culture of planning in the organization,” said Armstrong. “Now, we are working to stay ahead of issues.”

Shared Resources

No matter the jurisdiction, all executives have similar duties and responsibilities to their boards and registrants. The workshop focused on how the executives can be resources for each other on several topics such as meeting and board member management, strategic thinking, and disseminating information. The second part of the meeting focused on how the Council can facilitate larger conversations and serve as a resource on national issues. A full recap of the workshop can be found here.

2012 Member Board Chairs/Member
Board Executive Conference

NCARB President Ronald B. Blitch, FAIA, NCARB, FACHA, welcomed representatives from 42 of its member registration boards to Boston for the organization’s two-day Member Board Chairs/Member Board Executive Conference in early November 2012. The biennial conference is an opportunity for chairs and the executives to give their input on major strategic initiatives and discuss common legislative issues.

Reviewing the Strategic Plan

The conference kicked off with a review of a proposed update to the organization’s Strategic Plan by President Blitch and consultant Jay Younger from McKinley Advisors, Inc. The current plan was developed with input gathered from Member Boards at various meetings in 2010, and then approved by the Board of Directors in January 2011. It has informed Council activities over the last two years, including development of a continuing education standard and increased engagement with architectural collateral organizations.

“The Strategic Plan was designed to be a living, breathing document,” said Blitch. “We intend to make annual updates in order to remain agile in responding to emerging issues.”

“NCARB is doing a lot of things right today,” said Younger. “Our job is to preserve what is working about the plan and sharpen its focus while still allowing breadth to incorporate blue-sky ideas.”

The draft of the updated plan identifies common themes of agility, service, and financial stability that are the core tenants of how the Council does its work. It also condensed the Council’s goals to facilitating licensure, fostering collaboration, and centralizing credential data. Attendees were asked for their feedback on the revisions, which McKinley Advisors Inc. took to the Board for final approval in December 2012.

Topical Conversations

On day two, attendees discussed several topics related to the regulation of architecture and the future of the profession.

● Second Vice President Dale McKinney, FAIA, NCARB, reviewed the current model law definition of “welfare” and presented options for revision.

● First Vice President Blake Dunn, AIA, NCARB, led a discussion about different states’ authority related to investigating and disciplining licensed and unlicensed registrants.

● President Ronald B. Blitch, FAIA, FACHA, NCARB, discussed unlicensed practice and moral character.

● CEO Armstrong asked attendees for their insights on the future of architecture.

Read a full recap of the conference here.

2013 NCARB Annual Meeting

94th Annual Meeting, San Diego, CA

The 2013 Annual Meeting was held 20-22 June 2013, in San Diego, CA. Throughout the three-day conference, delegates attended workshops, heard from NCARB officers, received a review of the Council’s financial status, and voted on resolutions.

Attendees:

● 136 Member Board Members (MBMs) were present

o 50 boards were eligible to vote on Saturday

● 40 Member Board Executives (MBEs) were present

● Between MBMs and MBEs, all 54 Members Boards were represented

● 8 Past Presidents were present

● There were a total of 329 attendees, which included collateral representatives, NCARB staff, and Member guests

DAY 1: 20 June 2013 Full Recap

● Announcement of ARE 5.0 | Learn more

● Candidate speeches from First Vice President Candidate Dale McKinney, Second Vice President Candidate
Dennis S. Ward, Treasurer Candidate Margo P. Jones, and Secretary Candidate Kristine A. Harding

● Delegates had the option to attend four workshops:

o ARE Future Directors: Deeper Dive

o Best Practices for Creating an Effective Enforcement Model

o A Blueprint for Regulation

o Case Study: Successfully Updating a Practice Act in a Multidisciplinary Board Setting

DAY 2: 21 June 2013 Full Recap

● Speech of President Ronald B. Blitch | Recap | Watch

● Speech of CEO Michael J. Armstrong | Recap | Watch

● NCARB Award Recipients: Savannah College of Art and Design | Learn more

● Update on the 2013 NAAB Accreditation Review Process from NAAB President-elect Linda Kiisk
Read NCARB’s contribution

● Release of the full 2012 NCARB Practice Analysis of Architecture findings | Learn more

DAY 3: 22 June 2013 Full Recap