Washington, DC—Gordon E. Mills, FAIA, of Dubuque, IA, was recently elected the 2008-2009 president of the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) at its 89th Annual Meeting and Conference in Pittsburgh, PA. During the past four years, Mills served as the Council’s first vice president, second vice president, and treasurer.

As NCARB president, Mills will continue to guide implementation of the objectives of the Council’s Strategic Plan, especially to maintain the Council’s focus on improving customer service, and align the Intern Development Program (IDP) and Architect Registration Examination® (ARE®) with the 2007 Practice Analysis of Architecture. Mills will lead the Council’s efforts to improve the accreditation process of architectural education by working with the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB) and the other collateral organizations at the 2008 Accreditation Review Conference (ARC) in October. He will take a lead role in NCARB’s discussions with its counterparts from around the world involved in architectural education, training, and examination standards.

In November 2006, Mills retired as chairman and chief executive officer of The Durrant Group, Inc., a 75-year-old multidisciplinary professional services firm based in Dubuque. The firm serves a diverse domestic and international client base with 10 offices located in seven states. Mills previously was managing director of Durrant’s Midwest offices as well as the firm’s secretary-treasurer. Mills joined Durrant in 1967 and helped the firm grow in size, capability, and reach.

From 2002-2004 Mills served as director for NCARB’s Region 4 (Mid-Central States Conference), which comprises Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, and Wisconsin. Mills also was elected regional chair in 2001-2002 and regional vice-chair in 2000-2001.

His service to NCARB includes three years as a volunteer grader for the ARE, which is a multi-division test taken by all U.S. and Canadian candidates seeking architectural registration. Most recently, Mills chaired the Communications Task Force and Regional Chairs Committee. He also served as Board liaison to the ARE Technology Subcommittee and lent his experience and expertise as a member of the Council’s Committee on International Relations and the Building Information Modeling (BIM) Task Force.

From 1996-2005 Mills was appointed to the Iowa Architectural Examiners Board. He was elected board chair in 2001-2002. He also has held a number of leadership roles for the AIA on both the state and national levels. Mills is a co-founder of the Iowa Architectural Foundation, which was established to promote architecture and its positive effects on the quality of life in Iowa.

In 2001, Mills was advanced to the American Institute of Architects’ College of Fellows—the highest honor the AIA bestows on its architect members—in recognition of his longstanding professional contributions. In 2006 he was named a senior fellow in the Design Futures Council, a global network of design community professionals whose mission is to explore trends, changes, and new opportunities in design, architecture, engineering, and building technology. Originally from Watertown, SD, he earned a Bachelor of Architecture degree from Iowa State University in 1965. Mills holds the NCARB Certificate for national reciprocity.

Mills received AIA Iowa’s Gold Medal in recognition of his distinguished service to the profession of architecture in 2002. That same year, he also was recognized by Iowa State University as an alumnus who is “making Iowa greater.” A long time advocate of sustainable design and responsible land use, Mills is a charter member of the 1,000 Friends of Iowa. From 1966 to 1972 Mills served in the U.S. Army Reserve’s 389th Engineering Battalion.