Governance isn't just about structure-it's about purpose.
Over the past several months, many of us have participated in Governance Task Force conversations, Leadership Exchange discussions, and conversations among the Small Firm Exchange, Young Architects Forum, National Associates Committee, and College of Fellows.
One theme continues to emerge.
Not every AIA community exists for the same reason.
Some groups exist to advance knowledge. They bring technical expertise, emerging trends, and subject matter leadership that strengthen our profession.
Others exist to represent people. They provide a structured voice for distinct member constituencies and create two-way communication between members and Institute leadership.
Those are different functions.
Both are essential.
The question isn't whether one is more important than the other.
The question is whether our governance structure clearly recognizes and preserves both.
For the Small Firm Exchange, this conversation has never been about claiming a seat. It has always been about ensuring that representation remains intentional rather than incidental.
A Board member may own a small firm.
A Fellow may sit on the Board.
A Young Architect may be elected nationally.
Those are valuable outcomes-but they are not the same as having a structured pathway for the communities they come from to inform governance consistently over time.
Knowledge informs decisions.
Representation legitimizes them.
As governance continues to evolve, I hope we continue designing a system that values both.
I'm grateful to everyone across the Governance Task Force, the Board, Council, Knowledge Communities, NAC, YAF, the College of Fellows, and SFx who has contributed thoughtfully to these conversations. We may not all agree on every recommendation, but I believe we're asking the right questions-and that is how better governance is built.
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Darguin Fortuna, AIA, NCARB, NOMA
2026 Chair, AIA Small Firm Exchange (SFx)
Principal Architect, Flow Design Architects
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