Itzel Lozada, AIA

Vice President/President Elect (3 Year Term)

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With over 25 years of combined experience as designer, architect and project manager, I’ve had the privilege to work on many projects throughout the state of Florida. I’m initially from South Florida where I began my studies and career as a young architect, then moved to West Palm Beach after completing my Master of Architecture from FIU, before residing permanently in Orlando with my family. These opportunities have afforded me the ability to work in different settings with many diverse groups to create uniquely adaptable spaces; with the shared goal that each would impact its users and participants in special and positive ways. In 2021, I joined Bermello Ajamil & Partners (BA & Partners) as Senior Project Manager to run their healthcare projects with the end goal of helping grow the Orlando office and healthcare market presence. I am fortunate to have found my passion in healthcare architecture even though my initial journey exposed me to other market sectors like; residential, education, and aviation, maritime, financial, and corporate institutions. It is incredibly gratifying to help change and shape the healing environment for patients in the healthcare realm with ever changing technology and systems. Outside of architecture, I am the proud mom of a 20-year-old daughter that will be graduating from UCF this year. I married my high school sweetheart and life-long partner whom co-owns a traveling agency and is also an educator. Collectively, the three of us enjoy traveling, shopping, dancing, and spending time with family & friends. On the other hand, they are not fans of my favorite hobby which is doing home renovations and DIY projects.

 

Why and describe: I have now served on the AIA Board of Directors for over three years as Director At Large and most recently Treasurer. I am also the Chair of the Planning Committee and proud to announce that this year I helped champion our first FAPAC Fundraiser Event successfully, thereby being the Florida Chapter with the highest total contribution to FAPAC. I am most proud of this accomplishment for the mere reason that through advocacy is that we can tackle the challenges and opportunities that our profession faces yearly. As Vice President/President Elect, I will continue to strive for this mission and elevate our profession in unique ways to enhance the value that the chapter and organization bring to its members and the community at large. 

 

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Gabriel Auffant, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP BD+C

Secretary (2 Year Term)

 

I was born and raised in Central Florida, and I am very happy and proud to call it home. I am a registered Architect in the State of Florida. I am a graduate of the University of Florida College of Design, Construction and Planning with a Bachelor of Design in Architecture and a Master of Architecture. My 15 years of experience have been dedicated to healthcare design and creation of healing environments within the health continuum of care.

 

Why and describe: I would like to serve as Secretary on the Board of AIA Orlando to provide ongoing support to the Executive Board. I see this as an opportunity to give back/reach out to our member organization, local design community and provide a touch point for young people seeking to enter the profession. I am a registered architect and member of the AIA. Throughout my career in Central Florida, I have participated in many AIA events and supported many colleagues as they took their turn holding various positions within AIA Orlando. This past year I served the on the Board as Director at Large and volunteered on the Golf and Mini Golf planning committees. Nationally, I co-chaired the AIA/AAH 2022 PDC Summit Student Design Challenge in New Orleans, Louisiana and participated in the AIA AAH/ACHA Summer Leadership Summit. In the past I have participated in YAF, volunteered during several Design Award events, and led tours of local projects during AIA Conference 2017. In my career as an Architect, I have led many teams on various projects. I have learned that effective timely communication with members of my team and clients led to successful outcomes. As we know projects typically emerge as an idea and thru communication become habitable environments. Communication is also the lifeblood of member organizations; member outreach, community outreach, calls for sponsorship, defending/promoting our profession, etc. I look forward to the opportunity to continue my participation on the Board of AIA Orlando as Secretary and support the vision of our incoming president.

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Lindsey Piant Perez, AIA

State Director (2 Year Term)

 

Lindsey Perez is an architect with nearly twenty years of experience. After spending 17 years with DLR Group, she recently moved to Amazon Fresh as a Senior Sustainability Architect working in the Standards and Concepts team infusing sustainability into Amazon Fresh stores across the country towards the Climate Pledge. Lindsey is a resource for sustainable and resilient design thinking and as a LEED Fellow has worked on a variety of third-party certified projects both private and public sector work.

 

Why and describe: I am interested in serving on the AIA Orlando board as it’s been several years since I have last served on the board. I have recently completed a two-year term on the AIA Florida Board as Vice President as the chair of the Resilience committee. I would like to continue my professional service more locally. As a State Director, I can continue my past state committee work, but have a deeper connection back to Orlando by bridging local and state efforts.

 

 

Ken Linehan, AIA

Director At Large (2 Year Term)

 

Ken Linehan is a Managing Principal at FK Architects in Winter Park. He has worked nationally and internationally on housing and hospitality projects. Along with numerous locations in Florida, his current projects take him to Las Vegas, Phoenix, and multiple parts of Texas. He has been on the Orange County Developers Advisory Board and at the State Level a participant in the Governmental Affairs Board and part of the selection committee for the Citizen Architect nominees. Ken holds a B. Arch from New York Institute of Technology and an MBA from Rollins College.

 

Why and describe: I have always been in the background to being involved with the AIA via being on conference calls, email threads, and I think it is time to interact instead of being a voice without a face. Being a partner at FK since 2003, I have seen the ebbs and flows of the profession locally (Great Recession, COVID, material shortages, staff shortages) and I would like to keep a better pulse on the industry.

 

 

Lisa Rovner, AIA

Director At Large (2 Year Term)

 

Lisa Rovner is a licensed architect, in both New York and Vermont with over 35 years of experience in the fields of architecture, interiors, building information modeling and computer-aided design. This includes architecture projects that span the breadth of commercial, institutional, healthcare, corporate interiors, urban design, programming and planning. She holds a B.S. in Architecture from the University of Virginia and an M. Arch. from Carnegie Mellon University. Lisa is thrilled to be a Sr. Project Architect with RLF, specializing in healthcare planning, design and construction. Previously, she was the owner of Rovner Architectural Designs, PLC, of South Burlington, VT for 26 years, which provided consulting services to local architecture firms and clients in the area. She served as President of AIA Vermont in 2015, where she focused on bringing the issues of resiliency in architecture to the public domain. Lisa enjoys all aspects of the architectural process and continues to practice, creating places and elegant solutions that delight, heal, stimulate and enhance the human experience, while at the same time are socially responsible, innovative, sustainable and resilient in their design. In her spare time, Lisa loves traveling, running, playing volleyball, hiking, painting, jewelry design, photography, knitting, gardening and reading a good novel.

 

Why and describe: I wish to serve on the AIA Orlando Board because throughout my career, I've always been involved with the organization locally. I became an Associate Member of the SF Chapter right out of graduate school in 1986, joined the NYC Chapter in 1989, became a full member after obtaining my NYC license in 1992. Then when I moved to Vermont I became a member of that board in 1993. I made my way to the presidency in 2015 and stayed on the board until I move back to NYC in 2018, where I rejoined the NYC Chapter. In Vermont, I gained experience organizing their various social events, golf tournament and annual conference, the New England Meeting, and attending the National Conference in 2015, representing my chapter as their president. Since I moved to the Orlando area months ago, I've joined AIA Orlando and wish to continue my participation here. Thank you for your consideration, Lisa Rovner, RA, AIA

 

 

Alexander Straughn, AIA, NCARB

Director At Large (2 Year Term)

 

Alexander Straughn, an Associate at SchenkelShultz Architecture, is an alumnus of the Orlando-based 2+2+2 program and ultimately received his Master of Architecture from the University of Florida - CityLab. He also earned his Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Central Florida and Associate of Arts from Valencia College as part of the program. Alexander began his career at SchenkelShultz as an intern and joined full-time four years ago. Throughout his tenure at the firm, he has garnered a specialization in aviation design and master planning for large transportation infrastructure, as well as becoming a Florida Registered Architect in 2021. Alexander now serves as a peer mentor advocating for resources and sharing his knowledge to support others in the firm who are pursuing licensure. In addition to his career as an architect, Alexander has continued to foster his passion for academics and giving back. He is currently an Adjunct Professor at Valencia State College. His studio classes prioritize design with the unique added value of forecasting what the real-world profession looks like. With his mindset of professional engagement as the cornerstone to success, Alexander has participated in the Orlando Chapter of the Young Architects Forum (YAF). During that time, he supported the planning of annual events and specific initiatives, such as the building code planning effort done in conjunction with CityLab and Orange County to address the affordable housing crisis. He even worked with a team to enter a submission to the AIA Film Challenge as a result of that effort. He also has led SchenkelShultz’s CANstruction fundraising efforts engaging with peers to give back to his local community and support causes that make a difference.

 

Why and describe: It is my pleasure to respectfully request a position on the AIA Orlando Board. Involvement in professional and community service is a core principle of my personal growth philosophy. I have garnered management and leadership experience through many of the extra-curricular activities noted in my bio and active projects in professional practice. In that experience, I found a passion for interpersonal communication through peer engagement, team building, representing group consensus at larger area levels, presentations, forums, and board facilitation. In many of these experiences, the technical skills required were similar to that expected of AIA executive members. I would simultaneously host virtual and in-person formats, create an agenda, publish minutes, delegate tasks, engage in fundraising, and review finances, and inventory materials to offer a myriad of examples. I am seeking a position on the AIA Orlando Board to be of service to our profession and better myself as a community architect.

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Amy Neumann

Allied Director (1 Year Term)

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I believe as an Interior Designer and manufacturer Rep that supporting Architects is our key initiative. The more involved at all levels, the more successful we all are!

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Wayne Allred

Allied Director (1 Year Term)

 

I have been in the Orlando area for the last 25 years. I have been an electrical engineer with TLC for the entire time. During my time in Orlando I have had the privilege of working with many architects in the area and on many significant projects in the area. I currently lead a group of MEP engineers focused on commercial, education, hospitality, mixed-use, and energy services.

 

Why and describe: I have had the pleasure of serving on the AIA Board the previous few months and have thoroughly enjoyed working with the current board. I am at a point in my career that I want to give back my time to support the profession that improves our quality of life as a region. I look forward to continuing in the position and to get the Allied Membership growing.

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Bob Eckes

Allied Director (1 Year Term)

 

19 Years as a manufacturer rep & 20 Years as FF&E dealerships and currently Architectural Product Project Executive at SHIFTT Interiors. Working with General Contractors, A&D and end users to provide turnkey solutions for interior buildout.

Why and describe: To further develop relationships within the A&D community.

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