From February 28-March 1, NCARB regions comprised of the U.S. architectural licensing boards gathered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, for the 2025 Regional Summit. The annual summit provides a forum for NCARB’s regions to weigh in on national initiatives, discuss regional issues, and elect leadership for the year ahead. This year’s summit was hosted by NCARB’s Region 2, which is comprised of licensing boards in the mid-Atlantic area of the U.S.

The summit’s agenda is planned each year by NCARB’s Regional Leadership Committee, which includes the chair, vice chair, and executive of each region. The 2025 Regional Summit kicked off on Friday with an overview of NCARB’s ongoing Pathways to Practice effort and an update from President Kenneth R. Van Tine, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP. In addition, Secretary/Treasurer Sylvia Kwan, FAIA, NCARB, LEED AP, reviewed the draft resolutions up for a membership vote at this year’s Annual Business Meeting in June—including new international agreements and potential changes to NCARB’s Certification Guidelines.

Throughout the summit, attendees met as regions to conduct regional business, including regional budgets, conferences, and leadership. During regional meetings, attendees heard presentations on potential future licensure models, artificial intelligence and regulation, and NCARB’s international reciprocity agreements. In addition, they had the opportunity to engage with candidates running for positions on NCARB’s FY26 Board of Directors.

On Saturday, attendees head a keynote presentation from Dr. Patrice Buckner Jackson on disrupting burnout and managing change. To end the summit, the chairs of each region shared the outcomes of their regional discussion, as well as each region’s nominated candidate for regional director on the FY26 Board of Directors:

  • Region 1: Thomas D. Lonardo, RA, NCARB (Rhode Island)
  • Region 2: Edward W. Tucker, FAIA, NCARB (West Virginia)
  • Region 3: Cathy Morrison, NCARB, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, NOMA (North Carolina)
  • Region 4: Linda Alfson Schemmel, AIA, NCARB (Iowa)
  • Region 5: James Devine, NCARB, AIA, LEED AP (North Dakota)
  • Region 6: Tian A. Feng, FAIA, FCSI (California)

Regional directors will be elected by NCARB’s full membership at the Annual Business Meeting in June.