Washington, DC—Twelve individuals have been awarded the National Council of Architectural Registration Board’s (NCARB) highest honor, the President’s Medal for Distinguished Service. The medals were bestowed by 2018-2019 President David L. Hoffman, FAIA, NCARB, Hon. FCARM, at the organization’s 2019 Centennial Annual Business Meeting. President Hoffman commended each of this year’s recipients for their commitment to architectural regulation and NCARB’s mission to protect the public’s health, safety, and welfare.
2019 Recipients
Robert A. Boynton, FAIA, of Richmond, Virginia, was recognized for nearly 30 years of service to the Council, Region 2, and 18 years of service to the Virginia Board for Architects, Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, Certified Interior Designers, and Landscape Architects. In addition to serving in various leadership positions on the NCARB Board of Directors and Virginia Board, Boynton was appointed to the NAAB Board of Directors and the AIA National Ethics Council. As NCARB president in 2004, Boynton led efforts to update the ARE’s content areas and expand international practice through the Tri-National Council and APEC Architect Project Steering Committee. Since the early-1990s, Boynton has volunteered for over a dozen initiatives, including the Education, Examination, Broadly Experienced Architect, and Professional Conduct committees. Boynton also provided his insights and institutional knowledge as a valuable member of the Centennial Advisory Committee.
Ann R. Chaintreuil, FAIA, NCARB, of Rochester, New York, was recognized for over 30 years of service to the Council and New York State Board for Architecture, serving in several leadership positions on the NCARB Board of Directors, Region 2, and various exam-related committees. Serving as the first female president of NCARB in 1998, Chaintreuil spearheaded efforts to refresh NCARB’s Strategic Plan and customer service capabilities. In addition to chairing the ARE Research and Development Subcommittee—which helped develop the first computer-based examination—Chaintreuil volunteered her expertise to the Intern Development Program and International Relations committees while also representing NCARB on a NAAB Visiting Team. Most recently, Chaintreuil provided her insights and institutional knowledge as a valuable member of the Centennial Advisory Committee.
Gregory L. Erny, FAIA, NCARB, Hon. FCARM, of Reno, Nevada, was recognized for over two decades of service to the Council and the Nevada State Board of Architecture, Interior Design, and Residential Design, serving in several leadership positions on the NCARB Board of Directors, Region 6, and the Regional Leadership Committee. During his presidency in 2018, Erny helped evolve the Council’s core programs by steering efforts to evaluate interior architecture programs and their impact on Member Boards' ability to protect the public, implementing recommendations from the Ethics Task Force, and strengthening relationships with both our regulatory cohorts and international mutual recognition partners. As a dedicated member of the Research and Development Committee and Licensure Task Force, Erny contributed to the evolution of the ARE and IPAL programs, respectively. In addition to his leadership within the Council, Erny served as president of both AIA Northern Nevada and AIA Nevada.
Jeanne M. Jackson, FAIA, NCARB, LEED AP, of Salt Lake City, Utah, was recognized for over 15 years of service to the Council, Utah Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing, and leadership of Region 6. Jackson was an influential member of the Utah Board for nearly a decade, where she served multiple terms as chair. During her time with the Council, she has been a valuable member of the Model Law Task Force, International Evaluation Committee, ARE Grading and Item Writing committees, and seven NAAB Visiting Teams. She has also led the Experience, Experience Advisory, Policy Advisory, and Regional Chairs committees. In addition to her leadership within the Council, Jackson chaired the AIA National Committee on Architecture for Education and served as 2015 AIA Utah president. In 2018, she was selected to serve on the NAAB Board of Directors after her nomination from NCARB. Her enthusiasm and expertise have been instrumental in improving the Council’s programs and services.
Vincent Mancini Jr., NCARB, of Sublette, Kansas, was recognized for his many years of service to the Council and leadership of the Kansas State Board of Technical Professions for Engineering, Architecture, Geology, Landscape Architecture, and Land Surveying. Mancini was first appointed to the Kansas Board in 2006, going on to serve three terms in leadership positions, including secretary, vice chair, and chair. Throughout his time at NCARB, Mancini has volunteered for the ARE 4.0 Forms Assembly Task Force and various item development subcommittees. Mancini’s experience on a multidisciplinary board has been invaluable to the Model Law Task Force, highlighting the important role allied professions can play in ensuring the public’s health, safety, and welfare. In addition, Mancini served on the AIA Kansas Board of Directors, including a term as president in 1997.
Richard H. McNeel, AIA, NCARB, IIDA, LEED AP, of Jackson, Mississippi, was recognized for over a decade of service to the Council, including leadership positions on the Mississippi State Board of Architecture and Region 3. McNeel has served as chair of the Interior Architecture Work Group since its inception in 2017, exploring how interior architecture degree programs may impact Member Boards’ ability to protect the public. In 2004, he was appointed to the Mississippi Board of Architecture, serving multiple terms as chair, treasurer, and secretary. McNeel has volunteered 13 years of expertise to the Examination Committee, Test Specification Task Force, several ARE subcommittees, and as an NCARB representative on multiple NAAB Visiting Teams. In addition to his service with NCARB, McNeel was president of AIA Mississippi and the Mississippi Architects Foundation, and he currently serves as chair of the MSU School of Architecture Advisory Council.
Kate R. Nosbisch, Hon. AIA, of Richmond, Virginia, was recognized for her many years of service to the Council and Virginia Board for Architects, Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, Certified Interior Designers, and Landscape Architects. Nosbisch became the board executive of the Virginia Board in 2008 and was elected to the NCARB Board of Directors in 2013 as the Member Board Executive director. Her passion for professional, best-practice approaches to governance has influenced her peers nationally as well as the NCARB culture. Throughout her service to NCARB, she has been a dedicated volunteer on the Audit, Member Board Executives, and Policy Advisory committees, as well as the Model Law Task Force. For the past decade, Nosbisch has served as a voice for her constituents and played a vital role in improving the effectiveness of the Council’s services for Member Boards.
Jim Oschwald, NCARB, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, of Albuquerque, New Mexico, was recognized for over a decade of service to the Council, including leadership positions on the New Mexico Board of Examiners for Architects and Region 6. Oschwald has been a valuable member of the New Mexico Board since 2004, where he served terms as vice chair and chair before being elected to the NCARB Board of Directors as the director of Region 6. Throughout his service to NCARB, Oschwald developed a strategic plan for Region 6 and chaired the Broadly Experienced Architect and Education committees for two terms. He also dedicated his time and expertise to the Resiliency Work Group, ARE 5.0 Mapping Task Force, and Regional Leadership Committee, as well as several terms on the Policy Advisory Committee.
Harry G. Robinson III, FAIA, AICP, of Washington, DC, was recognized for his many years of service to the Council and District of Columbia Board of Architecture, Interior Design, and Landscape Architecture, as well as advancing architectural education. As president in 1993, Robinson represented the Council in negotiations for international reciprocity between Canada, Mexico, and the United States. In addition to serving in various leadership positions on the NCARB Board of Directors and District of Columbia Board, Robinson was appointed to the NAAB Board of Directors in 1996. As Dean Emeritus of Howard University’s School of Architecture and Design, Robinson founded the Career Discovery Program in Architecture and the African American Architect Initiative. Most recently, Robinson provided his insights and institutional knowledge as a valuable member of the Centennial Advisory Committee.
Earl Baine, of Arlington, Virginia, was recognized for 50 years of service to the Council—providing staff continuity and historic perspective for a remarkable half of the Council’s history—furthering its mission to protect the public’s health, safety, and welfare. As Support Center Supervisor, and the organization’s longest-serving employee, Baine oversaw the Council’s mailings in the early-1970s—a massive job for the pre-digital organization that included customer renewals, transmittals, Member Board communications, and more. As technology evolved, Baine took on other important roles in the organization, including digitizing NCARB Records, improving meeting setup, and providing administrative support. His commitment to providing unparalleled support to office visitors, Member Boards, customers, and staff continues to help the Council go further.
Joshua Batkin, of Washington, DC, was recognized for his leadership of the Council Relations Department, including his emphasis on new approaches to promoting reasonable regulation while providing unwavering support to the 55 architectural licensing boards. As Vice President of Council Relations, Batkin has deepened NCARB’s commitment to helping Member Boards fulfill their mission through leading initiatives promoting proactive outreach, effective utilization and management of data, and advocacy efforts. Batkin has guided efforts to reinvent the role and scope of the Credentials and Member Board Executives committees, supported the Regional Leadership Committee, and provided critical staff support to the Model Law Task Force. During his tenure at NCARB, Batkin and his team have helped strengthen the Council’s ability to champion reasonable regulation through leading rapid responses to jurisdictional legislation and presentations at national conferences—arming both Member Boards and the Council with the tools needed to support new and ongoing opportunities.
Vanessa Williamson, CAE, of Washington, DC, was recognized for her service to the Council Board of Directors, Administration Department, and her commitment to advancing NCARB’s mission through effective coordination and policy. As Assistant Vice President of Administration, Williamson has provided invaluable assistance to the Board of Directors and the Council. In addition to supporting the Board secretary and managing Board meeting logistics, she has been the driving force behind the evolution of NCARB’s meeting and event planning, organizing many of the Council’s Centennial-related celebrations. In addition to helping launch and oversee the Council’s Approved Test Prep Provider Program, Williamson has guided the Policy Advisory Committee for several years, including their work in shepherding recent updates to the NCARB Bylaws and Rules of Conduct. Her dedication to ensuring the Council’s official documents continue to evolve with the profession underpins and furthers the work of the Council and its Member Boards.
About NCARB
The National Council of Architectural Registration Boards’ membership is made up of the architectural licensing boards of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. NCARB, in collaboration with these boards, facilitates the licensure and credentialing of architects to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the public.
To achieve these goals, NCARB works with its Member Boards and volunteers to develop and facilitate standards for licensure, including the national examination and experience program. NCARB also recommends regulatory guidelines for licensing boards and helps architects expand their professional reach through the NCARB Certificate.
