CKLDP 2025 Summer Recap

AIA Colorado’s Christopher Kelley Leadership Development Program provides participants the opportunity to form a cohort with other emerging professionals in the field of architecture (sixteen are selected each year from a group of well-qualified applicants), developing their skills on several focused topics in the once-a-month sessions throughout the year. The program honors Christopher Kelley’s legacy, an influential architect in the Washington D.C. community and an advocate for furthering the profession through mentorship. The program originated in Washington D.C., however local chapters now exist across the country, with additional chapters continuing to be established each year (Colorado’s first program year was 2017). 

The program is well underway in its ninth year, with Opening Ceremony, Spring Sessions 1 – 3, and now Sessions 4, 5, and 6 having occurred, where participants engaged in knowledge sharing from industry experts, team building and collaborative activities, and overall improving upon their professional skills.

See below for a summary and highlights of this year’s Summer sessions.

Session 4

Contracts & Negotiations

SESSION DATE: 6/13/2025
LOCATION: SAR+
HOSTED BY: Christina LoConte, AIA, and Charles de Pottere, Assoc. AIA
WRITE UP BY: Quinn McFadden, Assoc. AIA, and Zach Rowley

Presenters

Construction & Architecture Law 101 – Matt Archuletta, Regional Director, The Beck Group

Our Proposal Said What? – Managing Risk Through Proposals – Patty Huntley, Retired Risk Manager, AXA XL

High Stakes Learning – Legal and Contractural Pitfalls – Christian Stover, Vice President, Marx | Okuba Associates, Inc.

Open Forum- Negotiation Strategies – Panelists:

Session Description

This session on Contracts and Negotiation in Professional Practice gave scholars a practical and applied understanding of how contract structure, risk management, and business strategy intersect in the architectural profession. Through the use of AIA contract documents and real world examples, participants analyzed core components such as scope of services, payment terms, and risk clauses. The session emphasized how thoughtful contract language can help align agreements with firm goals, avoid over promising, and mitigate liability while setting projects up for success.

In addition to technical knowledge, scholars explored the interpersonal side of contract work, learning how to identify key players in negotiations, apply effective communication strategies, and approach difficult conversations around scope changes, additional services, and disputes. Exercises and case studies underscored the value of clear, proactive dialogue and strategic decision making. Scholars left with actionable tools for contract evaluation and negotiation, reinforcing that successful practice requires both legal clarity and strong client relationships.

Key Takeaways

Session 5

Business Development & Entrepreneurship

SESSION DATE: 7/11/2025
LOCATION: CSU Spur Terra
HOSTED BY: Ryan Detroit, AIA, and Hans Davis, AIA
RECAP BY: Christina LoConte, AIA, and Charles de Pottère, Assoc. AIA

Presenters

Architect-ing – Adam Wagoner, AIA, Founding Principal, High Low Buffalo 

Guided Tour of SCU Spur Hydro – Jennifer Cordes, AIA, LEED AP, Market Sector Principal, Hord Coplan Macht 

You don’t need to be a natural at BD. You just need to start. – Victoria Hatfield, Founder, The Growth Plan LLC 

Business Development & Entrepreneurial Thinking for Emerging Professionals – Panelists:

Session Description

This multi-part session explored the evolving landscape of business development and entrepreneurship in architecture through two lectures, a guided site tour, and a panel discussion. One lecture addressed the personal and professional considerations involved in launching an independent practice, offering candid insights into the challenges, mindset shifts, and key steps in starting a firm. The other focused on alternative business models, highlighting how firms are rethinking traditional structures to adapt to shifting industry demands.

During the guided tour of a local project, participants examined how business development strategies directly influence design, delivery methods, and client engagement. The session concluded with a panel
of leaders from architecture and engineering firms of various sizes, who shared practical strategies for scaling operations, navigating risk, and integrating innovation into business practices. Attendees left with a broadened understanding of entrepreneurial thinking and tools to apply these concepts in their own careers.

Key Takeaways

Session 6

Sustainability in Design

SESSION DATE: 8/15/2025
LOCATION: HOK, Denver Water
HOSTED BY: Claire Padilla, AIA, and Nathan Allen, AIA
RECAP BY: Hans Davis, AIA, and Ryan Detroit, AIA

Presenters

Panel Discussion: The Lifespan of Sustainable Innovation through Research, Policy Making, Education, and Implementation 

Building our Climate: Embodied Carbon  – Victor Olgyay, FAIA, Principal, Green Design Collaborative 

Building Tour – Denver Water Campus – Steve Snyder, Public Affairs, Denver Water, and Tony Thornton, AIA, Principal, Stantec 

Native American Living Sustainable Practices – Brian Fagerstrom, AIA, Founder/CEO, Amaktoolik Studios 

Session Description

Session 6 explored sustainability, material innovation, and cultural engagement in architecture through a series of interconnected discussions and experiences. The first session was a panelist discussion, where experts from architecture, engineering, policy, and academia examined how interdisciplinary collaboration and traditional ecological wisdom shape low-carbon, high-impact solutions in the built environment. Topics included carbon-sequestering materials like Carbon Core bricks, Denver’s electrification goals, and the challenges of client education.The second session focused on carbon storage strategies, disassembly-friendly design, and the importance of environmental product declarations in material selection. Together, these sessions emphasized the convergence of research, policy, and design in building healthier, more resilient, and equitable communities. 

Before the final session, we toured the Denver Water campus, gaining firsthand insight into how sustainability was embedded in its development. The tour showcased water reuse systems, energy-efficient design, and systemic strategies that reflect civic responsibility and environmental stewardship. The day concluded with a session centered on tribal engagement in the Fishers Peak State Park project, where participants explored Indigenous sustainability practices, traditional building methods, and the importance of early and respectful consultation with tribal communities. The conversation highlighted the need for policy adaptation, cultural sensitivity, and long-term relationship-building to support inclusive and sustainable land stewardship. 

Key Takeaways

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