January 23, 2022

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A Welcome Message from John A Cwikla, AIA, NCARB, American Institute of Architects New Jersey Chapter President for 2022

My Fellow AIA Members,

Welcome to 2022 which unfortunately feels a lot like the start of 2021. As Yogi Berra famously said, “It’s like déjà vu all over again!”. But we adapt. As architects, we’re used to adapting to new challenges, and we at AIA New Jersey have certainly learned to adapt over the past couple of years and will continue to do so.

As I begin my presidency, I’m excited to announce a few programs we will be introducing in 2022:

AIA NJ Mentorship Program – This is a new program born from our 2020 Leadership Meeting, that will be kicking off in 2022. This program will bring members young and old together for the benefit of both parties, and the profession. We at AIA NJ are looking forward to providing this important member benefit and hope our members will find it beneficial. Keep an eye out for a call to action to join as either a mentor or mentee.

AIA NJ Award for Excellence in Environmental Stewardship – This new award, which is another item that grew from our 2020 Leadership Meeting, will allow AIA NJ to align with AIA’s shift of focus to climate and environmental issues. The committee shall annually seek out people, organizations, or projects that are leading the charge in Environmental Stewardship by designing buildings and places, or creating programs that not only advance sustainable development, but serve as a model to decarbonize cities, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and address the impacts of climate change.

AIA NJ Architectural Resource Center (ARC) – I am personally most excited about this new idea that received funding from the AIA NJ board in 2021. The idea is to create a mobile resource center to help us better educate the public, especially the younger generations, about what architects do and why it’s important. It will also help build relationships with colleagues and organizations in related fields and can serve as a showcase for AIA NJ architects’ work. 

I invite and encourage each of you to get involved with the AIA either at the local or state level. Join a committee, attend a meeting, whatever it may be that allows you to take an active part in your organization. Please reach out with ideas for events or programs that you feel may benefit the AIA. Ultimately, it’s on us to make the AIA a better organization. Let’s get there, together.

In closing let me say how honored I am to serve you as AIA NJ President for 2022, and congratulate Joshua Zinder, AIA, on his successful year in 2021. Despite all the challenges we all faced, under Josh’s leadership, the organization was able to put on numerous wonderful events that benefitted our members.

 

Be well,

John A Cwikla, AIA, NCARB

2022 American Institute of Architects, New Jersey Chapter President

 

About John A. Cwikla, AIA, NCARB

                                                          

John A. Cwikla, AIA is a licensed architect and is currently employed as a project architect with Potter Architects, LLC, a third-generation architectural firm in Union, NJ. He has been with the firm since 1995, and during that time has worked on designs for a wide variety of municipal, educational, and public projects. He is also NCARB certified and serves as the firm’s in-house Information Technology Director.

 

Mr. Cwikla graduated from the architecture program at Spring Garden College in Philadelphia, PA, with a Bachelor of Architecture degree in 1992. He joined the AIA in 1997 and has been active ever since. He has held multiple positions and offices at the local, state, and national levels of the AIA.

 

John, his wife, Jennifer, and their son Riley have resided in Springfield, NJ since 2005.

 

About AIA and AIA New Jersey

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Founded in 1857, the American Institute of Architects (AIA) consistently works to create more valuable, healthy, secure, and sustainable buildings, neighborhoods, and communities. Through a dynamic network of more than 250 chapters and more than 95,000 member architects and design professionals, the AIA advocates for public policies that promote economic vitality and public wellbeing. Members adhere to a code of ethics and conduct to ensure the highest professional standards. The AIA provides members with tools and resources to assist them in their careers and business as well as engaging civic and government leaders and the public to find solutions to pressing issues facing our communities, institutions, nation and world. The organization’s local chapter, AIA New Jersey, has served as the voice of the architectural profession in the Garden State since 1900. Based in Trenton, AIA New Jersey has over 2,000 members across six sections. For more information, please visit http://www.aia-nj.org

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By Stacey Ruhle Kliesch, AIA, AIA NJ Advocacy Consultant | Posted in AIA Newark and Suburban, AIA-NJ News | Tagged: #2022, #2022Initiatives, #2022Welcome, #Achievement, #AIA, #AIANJ, #JohnCwiklaAIA, #NJArchitects, #NJArchitecture, #Presidentsmessage, #WelcomeMessage, Architect, leadership, NJArchitect | Comments (0)