FY15 was an incredible year at NCARB. As treasurer, I take great pride in the enhancements we have made to help our Member Boards and customers reach their goals.

Consider this: we have been able to serve our Members and Record holders for five consecutive years without fee increases; we were able to invest approximately $3 million in our long-term reserve fund, the highest level to date; and our expenses were less than anticipated, resulting in an operating surplus of $2.4 million.

A recovering economy, new systems development, and increased outreach efforts helped boost the number of new intern and NCARB Certificate applications and renewals, as well as the number of Architect Registration Examination® (ARE®) administrations. All of these successes will allow us to invest in added programs and services that benefit our customers—including the new “My IDP” app for Android and the re-launched Mini-Monograph Series.

As we look ahead, several initiatives have been budgeted for FY16. Most notably these include continued development of ARE 5.0, the overhauled Intern Development Program (IDP), enhanced benefits to the NCARB Certificate, and streamlining the path to certification for U.S. and foreign architects.

At the 2015 Annual Business Meeting, Member Boards voted to replace the current Broadly Experienced Foreign Architect (BEFA) Program with a new set of requirements for experience and education. Members also voted on two resolutions related to NCARB’s Bylaws, which you can read about in this section. This section also outlines our staffing organization, recognizing the role of Council employees in advancing these initiatives. This is truly an exciting time to be a part of the NCARB team, and I look forward to enhancing the value of what we can offer our profession.