Meet the AIA-NJ 2015 Officers

July 15, 2014

When serving as past president you automatically become the chairman of the Election Committee. Along with the help of the Past Presidents of each Section it is my pleasure to introduce you to the Executive Committee for AIA-NJ 2015.  As you can see the leadership is in good hands, however I am sure Kim Bunn our 2015 President will be looking for our members to participate on Committees.  If you have interest and would like more information you can contact Kim or Kurt.

Jack A. Purvis, AIA

2015 AIA-New Jersey Officers

President:   Kimberly Bunn, AIA, LEEDap, is principal of Bunn Architecture in Moorestown, NJ, and is licensed in NJ and PA.  She has been an active member of AIA-NJ since 1999, serving on various committees both in her local West Jersey section and AIA New Jersey.  She is currently AIA-NJ President-Elect and Communications Chair, and has over the years been involved with COTE, East Coast Green Committee, Historic Preservation Committee, Legislative & Government Affairs Committee, Membership Committee, Newsletter Committee, Women in Architecture, Public Awareness Committee, Communications Committee, Young Architects and an AIA150 Champion.    As a Past President of AIA West Jersey, she currently the chairs the Photography Competition and is a trustee to the West Jersey board.   In addition in her local community she sits on various boards, leads semi-annual Architectural and Historical Architecture Tours, and has for over 15 years worked with elementary schools to introduce students to architecture.

  President Elect: Justin A. Mihalik, AIA has been involved in the AIA for the last 12 years, starting as a Trustee at AIA Newark & Suburban Architects.  Justin was President of AIA Newark Suburban Architects in 2008, and since has held the positions of Treasurer, 2nd Vice President, and presently as First Vice President for AIA New Jersey.  Justin also serves on the Legislative & Government Affairs Committee, he serves as Membership Chairperson and Vice Chair for the NJ Architects Political Action Committee (NJAPAC).  Justin was recently appointed to the Fundraising Committee of ArchiPAC, the federal PAC for AIA National.  With the rest of his spare time, he acts as Principal of his own architectural practice located in Essex Fells, NJ, which just entered it’s 16th year in business.

First Vice President: Mr. Lee has over 35 years of experience in the field of architecture.  He is a Board Certified Healthcare Architect by the American College of Healthcare Architects. He is Registered Architect in 22 States incl. DC. Registered Professional Planner, Certified Interior Designer, LEED accredit professional, and Mr. Lee also has a Masters Degree in Management. He is a Managing Principal / CFO at NK Architects located in Morristown, NJ and New York City. He is the Principal-in-Charge of the NK Healthcare Design Group and responsible for a staff of 60+ persons. His professional affiliations includes, American College of Healthcare Architects, American Society of Hospital Engineers, American Hospital Association, Healthcare Facilities Management Society of New Jersey, NJ Chapter of American Planning Association, and US Green Building Council LEED accredit professional. His roles in AIA includes: Past President for Architects League of Northern New Jersey, Officers and Board of Trustees at ALNNJ for many years, AIA-NJ L&GA and APAC committees and a Treasurer, a member of American Institute of Architects since 1979, and an AIA150 Champion. Currently he is a Board member of World Impact an urban ministry organization. His prior community involvements include County Committeeman in Passaic County, West Paterson Planning Board, Chinatown Planning Council, Habitat for Humanity and a VISTA volunteer for Architects Renewal Committee in Harlem. He has been an architect in his own architectural practice. Prior to NK Architects his experience includes The Grad Partnership, Welton Becket Associates, Gruzen & Partners, Haines Lundberg & Waehler and Ballou Levy Fellgraff.

  Second Vice President: Verity Frizzell, AIA, LEED AP+ is Principal of Feltz & Frizzell Architects, LLC, located in Point Pleasant, NJ.  She has been working in the Jersey Shore area for 19 years.  She received her BS-Arch from The University of Virginia, and her M-Arch from The University of Texas.  She has been actively involved with AIA both on the local and state levels since she joined in 2003, and was the recipient of the Distinguished Service Award from both her local Section and AIA-New Jersey.  Verity has served as Treasurer, Vice President, President –Elect, President, Past-President and Trustee at AIA-Jersey Shore.  She served as chair of the Committee on the Environment for three years at AIA-NJ, and recently completed serving a two year term as Secretary of AIA-NJ.  Her practice involves both residential and commercial design, with an emphasis on sustainability.  Ms. Frizzell currently serves as Vice-Chair of the Bay Head Planning Board, where she chaired a committee to re-examine the local ordinances in the wake of Superstorm Sandy.

  Treasurer: Steven B. Lazarus, one of the founding principals at Axis Architectural Studio, graduated from Cornell University School Of Architecture, one of the country’s leading architectural schools. Prior to the formation of Axis, Mr. Lazarus was a partner of another New Jersey architectural firm, where he developed his skills as a leader, businessman and an architect. During this period, Mr. Lazarus created successful relationships with The Port Authority of NY & NJ, several large corporations and with many individuals in the private sector. After the formation of Axis Architectural Studio, Mr. Lazarus continued to develop those relationships and expand upon them with the assistance of a strong architectural team. As principal, he provides leadership and direction for all of the staff. His professional skills and excellent design ability are evident by the diversity of successful projects and repeat clients. Mr. Lazarus’ responsibilities focus on business development and management, marketing, initial project programming and design. Mr. Lazarus is also successful at maintaining the strength of the firm’s finances and to ensure a positive, high quality environment for the staff. He believes the strength of the firm is a compilation of all the people who work within it. Mr. Lazarus has been a registered architect since 1986. He is a member in good standing with the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards and has licenses to practice architecture in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Texas and North Carolina. Mr. Lazarus is also a licensed Professional Planner in the State of New Jersey. He is a member of the American Institute of Architecture and is currently the Vice President of The Architects League Of Northern New Jersey. This enables him to dedicate time to the advancement of architecture for Axis Architectural Studio and for the profession as a whole.

Secretary: Judith Anne Donnelly, AIA is the Principal Owner of Donnelly Architecture, LLC. An Architectural firm that works on both residential and commercial projects; the focus of DA, LLC ‘ is project excellence’ with a personal touch.  Judy Donnelly is licensed to practice architecture in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Massachusetts. Judy Donnelly has a B.F.A. (Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Arts-Interior Design) from Kean University and an M.A. (Master’s Degree in Architecture) from New Jersey Institute of Technology.  Judy Donnelly graduated with honors from both schools and received the Henry Adams AIA award (GPA) while at NJIT along with several other awards. Today, Judy Donnelly is proud to be the Secretary of AIA-NJ (The American Institute of Architects-New Jersey Chapter of the AIA). In 2010, Ms. Donnelly was the President of AIANS (The American Institute of Architects-Newark & Suburban Section of the AIA) where she was in charge of the AIA Membership for over 500 Architects in NJ.   Ms. Donnelly served many positions at AIANS including but not limited to: Continuing Education Chairperson, a Delegate to AIANJ, Secretary and President-Elect. She currently serves as the Building Tour Chairperson. Judy Donnelly serves the community with pro-bono architectural services and continues to volunteer her time: she has been a judge many times at the North Jersey Craftsman’s Fair, a guest critique for CCM’s (County College of Morris) Interior Design Program, a guest speaker for Norwescap, a guest workshop instructor at the CCM Teen arts festival.  In 2013 she hosted a Children’s fort building event at Rutherfurd Hall in Allamuchy, NJ. Judy Donnelly was an adjunct teacher at Berkeley College of Business (Bergen County, NJ); here she taught manual drafting and computer aided design for the Interior Design program. Judy Donnelly is a strong believer in ‘sustainable design’ to provide a better, safer, cleaner environment for the future of all living beings and for the world.

Regional Director:  Robert Cozzarelli, AIA, is Principal-In-Charge of Rutherford, NJ based Cozzarelli Cirminiello Architects, LLC, and a Principal of Bertone Cozzarelli Healthcare Architects, LLC, which provides architecture, planning, construction management, design-build, and interior services for various building types: healthcare, educational, institutional, hospitality, retail, office, private residence, and forensic analysis.  Bob is licensed to practice architecture in several states. Since 1998, Bob has served many roles for AIA New Jersey with great pride, honor and respect while representing its membership.  Bob’s roles have included President (2004); Executive Board Member; liaison to the State Board of Architects; Governance Task Force Chair; and Events Task Force Chair; Founding / Permanent Member of the AIA New Jersey Michael Graves Lifetime Achievement Award; Founder and Chairman of the first CANstruction event for AIA New Jersey, and AIA Livable Communities Symposium on School Construction and Brownfield’s coordinated with Congressman Bill Pascrell.  On behalf of AIA National Bob has moderated regional causes (2002) and chaired the Grassroots Leadership Network New Jersey (2005).  Currently serving as AIA National Regional Director -2014-2016, Bob was appointed to the new AIA National Practice and Prosperity Committee.  Additionally, Bob was chosen to speak at AIA National Grassroots & Leadership Conference 2014 – “Survivor: Capital Hill Meeting Your Elected Representative.”  At this year’s Chicago Convention Bob will chair the AIA-New Jersey caucus. Bob’s honors include the following: AIA New Jersey 2005 Distinguish Service Award; AIA New Jersey 2009 Architect-of-the-Year; AIA Newark & Suburban Architects 2006 Herman C. Litwack, FAIA Distinguish Service Award; NJIT 2008 Alumni Association Achievement Honor Roll Medal; John I. Crecco Foundation Community Service Award 2010; The New Jersey Planning Officials’ 2011 Achievement In Planning Award; UNICO 2011 Bloomfield Millie Grazie Award; Columbus Day Celebration 2010 Italian-American Man-Of-The-Year; and Rotary International Paul Harris Fellow Medal – 1997.  Bob’s professional affiliations include being an associate member of The Health Care Association of New Jersey; Construction Specification Institute and has served on the School of Architecture Board of Visitors at NJIT; School of Architecture NJIT Dean’s Council and as an invited member of Congressman Pascrell’s Small Business Advisory Committee. Some of Bob’s published papers include, “To Pro Bono or Not-To-Pro Bono” and “The Importance of Mentoring.” As a newly elected AIA Regional Director Bob said, “Architects are unique and irreplaceable profession and to be able to represent the members of AIA-New Jersey on the national level is the greatest honor of my professional career.  As Regional Director my efforts will continue to communicate to the public the essential role of the architects in society and their professional obligation to the public in the practice of architecture by designing functional, efficient, attractive and safe environments.”  Bob is married to Susan D. Cozzarelli, RN for the past 35 years.  They have two children, Robert Cozzarelli, Jr, who is a Doctor of Physical Therapy and Rebecca who is currently attending veterinary medical school.

Regional Associates Director:  Nicholas Anthony Caravella, Assoc. AIA graduated with a Bachelor of Architecture from New Jersey Institute of Technology i 2012.  His membership in the AIAS and other leadership organizations on campus inspired him to join the AIA after graduation.  His first internship was with Arcari + Iovino Architects, where his mentor, Anthony Iovino, encouraged him to join the AIA-ALNNJ board of trustees.  Nicholas became involved in the planning and organization of events for Emerging Professionals in his area and seeks to continue on this path as the Region Associates Director.  He now works at Kamlesh Shah Designs, Inc. in Cranbury, NJ.

Kurt Kalafsky, AIA

Past President Kurt Kalafsky: “I am very excited about the 2015 slate of officers, they are some of the most dedicated people I know when it comes to advancing the AIA and our profession. I look forward to serving under Kim during her presidency and will do whatever I can to support this fine team”

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