Pillars Leadership Program
AIA Kansas City's Pillars Leadership Program is a training program that prepares a representative cross section of the chapter’s emerging leaders for their role in shaping the future of both the architectural profession and the greater Kansas City metropolitan area. The training program includes active participation in programs and exposure to community leaders and issues. Applications are accepted for the program once each year. Criteria for acceptance include proven career success and community involvement. The benefits of the program include: development of relationship skills, skill development, team performance, and chapter and community leadership.
Topics that will be discussed throughout the year include: politics and advocacy, academia and mentorship, business and legal issues, project delivery and partnership, communication methodologies, outreach, industry trends and economic development.
2024 - 2025 PILLARS CLASS
Caleb Bertels, AIA - Hoefer Welker
Steve Burton, AIA - BRR Architecture
Rachel Dumsky, AIA - NSPJ Architects
Andra Eglitis, AIA - SFS Architecture
Allison Kelly, Assoc. AIA - Pulse Design Group
Phillip Perkins, AIA - HNTB
Bruno Rodriguez Escobedo, Assoc. AIA - Populous
Claire Ryan, AIA - Black & Veatch
Tanvi Sanghvi, AIA - Helix Architecture + Design
Keegan Thompson, Assoc. AIA - DLR Group
Melissa Watson, Assoc. AIA - HOK
Kathryn Eckhoff - Wallace Design Collective
Travis Kingsley - 5BY5 Engineers
Kate Moeder - Hufft
Wesley Morris - Garver
Zach Russell - PMA Engineering
Pillars March 2025 Overview
A week after making up the February session due to a weather delay, the March session started at the Kansas City Art Institute (KCAI). At KCAI the Pillars group learned how to better incorporate art into the built environment. Randy Williams, Associate Vice President of Corporate and Community Partnerships at KCAI, lead an engaging discussion about how designers, developers, and building owners can work with local art students and art institutions to incorporate their work into the design process. Randy was joined by fellow arts advocates: Dana Knapp, President & CEO of ArtsKC; Ashley Hand, current AIA KC President and former Director of Strategic Communications with the County administration for the Unifi ed Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, KS (UG); and Joshua Rizer, the Community Story Teller for the UG. This brilliant group helped this year’s Pillars class to better understand the arts environment that exists in the Kansas City metro and how we as designers can use our skills to work with local artists. The panel concluded leaving the group with fresh perspectives to ponder while we toured the facilities in use by students at KCAI.
