CKLDP 2026 Recap

SESSION DATE: 3/13/2026
LOCATION: McCarthy Building Companies
HOSTED BY: Shannon Newberry, Assoc. AIA & Katharine Schmactenberger, AIA
RECAP BY: Fatemah Dashti, Assoc. AIA & Rob Cleary, Assoc. AIA

PRESENTERS

Presence & Power: Public Speaking with a Performer’s Edge – Timothy McCracken, Denver Center for the Performing Arts

Introductions that Connect – Mark Hageman, AIA, Davis Partnership Architects

Articulating Vision: The Power of Communication in Practice

Panelists:

• Brad Tomececk, FAIA, Tomececk Studio Architecture
• Stephen Dynia, FAIA, Dynia Architects
• Chris Wineman, Semple Brown Design
• Ana White, RA, BOSS.architecture (moderator) 

SESSION DESCRIPTION

Session one focused on strengthening communication skills in professional settings, with an emphasis on presence, clarity, and connection. It combined practical techniques like eye contact, storytelling, and structured messaging, with real world strategies for presenting ideas, engaging clients, and handling feedback. The session was hands-on and geared toward building skills that can be applied immediately in presentations and day-to-day interactions.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Effective communication is not only about the words we articulate, but also about body language, which plays a key role in conveying nonverbal messages.
• Communication is a skill one can actively develop. Small adjustments in how you present yourself can make a big difference in how the ideas are received.
• A good personal introduction is tailored to the client and project. Rehashing your resume is a missed opportunity to communicate your value and personality.
• Trust is built through empathy, clear, communication and a client-focused approach.

SESSION DATE: 4/17/2026
LOCATION: HNTB Corporation
HOSTED BY: Mo Zaina, Assoc. AIA & Kendra Oester, AIA
RECAP BY: Shannon Newberry, Assoc. AIA & Katharine Schmactenberger, AIA

PRESENTERS

Start. Struggle. Scale: Behind the Drywall of Building a Practice

Panelists:

• James Childs, AIA, NCARB, HNTB Corporation
• Brandon Herbst, AIA, Rowland+Broughton
• Adam Wagoner, AIA, CPHT, High Low Buffalo
• Alexis Jarvis, SideCar Public Relations
• Alexander Person III, AIA, CNU-A, NOMA, SmithGroup (moderator)

Shape Your Brand, Win the Work – Leeds Mallinckrodt-Reese, HNTB Corporation

Failure is Not an Option – Jesse T Adkins, AIA, SAR+ Architects 

SESSION DESCRIPTION

This session focused on understanding the business side of architecture: emphasizing how firms secure work, build client relationships, and sustain long-term practice. It explored key areas such as business development, marketing and branding, financial decision-making, and leadership pathways across firms of different sizes.

Through panel insights, interactive exercises, and real-world examples, the session highlighted how architects communicate value, navigate risk, and contribute to firm growth beyond design work. Overall, it reinforced the idea that success in architecture depends not only on design excellence, but on the ability to align creative work with strategy, relationships, and financial realities.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Relationships drive opportunity: Across all sessions, success in architecture and AEC is rooted in long-term relationship building. Most work comes through trust, referrals, and sustained engagement, making early and consistent networking essential.
• Communication is a core business skill: Translating complex ideas into clear, compelling narratives—through storytelling, graphics, and conversation—is critical to building trust, differentiating teams, and securing projects.
• Failure and risk are necessary for growth: Taking calculated risks, learning from mistakes, and being willing to walk away from unproductive situations are essential to long-term success and stronger decision-making.

SESSION DATE: 5/15/2026
LOCATION: Davis Partnership Architects
HOSTED BY: Gina Frenette, Assoc. AIA & Kelly Ryan, AIA
RECAP BY: Mo Zaina, Assoc. AIA & Kendra Oester, AIA

PRESENTERS

Community Engagement Challenges and Opportunities – Jennifer Steffel Johnson, PhD, University of Colorado Denver

Designing Trust: Community Engagement in Action

Panelists:

• Jean Gatza, AICP, CDR Associates
• Paul C. Hutton, FAIA, NCARB, LEED Fellow, Entropy Design
• Lisa Langer, ASLA, CPRA, A4LE, Design Concepts
• Lynn Orosco (moderator), Cuningham

39th Avenue Greenway Walking Tour – Meredith and Todd Wensoski, Livable Cities Studio

SESSION DESCRIPTION

This session focused on community engagement as a foundational component of architectural practice, emphasizing the role of designers as facilitators of dialogue, trust, and shared decision making. Through a lecture, panel discussion, and site tour, the session explored how engagement is not a singular event, but an ongoing and iterative process shaped by relationships, context, and transparency.

The day highlighted both the opportunities and challenges of engaging communities meaningfully, particularly in navigating power dynamics, addressing mistrust, and ensuring that diverse voices are not only heard but actively shape outcomes. Throughout the day, a central theme emerged: successful design is not defined solely by technical or aesthetic quality, but by how well it reflects and responds to the needs, values, and lived experiences of the communities it serves.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Engagement is a process, not a moment: Meaningful community engagement requires continuous effort, iteration, and reflection rather than one time input or outreach. 
• Trust is foundational to participation: Historic inequities and past planning decisions have created a legacy of mistrust, making transparency and consistency critical to building authentic relationships. 
• Designers must listen before they lead: Effective engagement begins with understanding community perspectives, avoiding assumptions, and creating space for dialogue before proposing solutions. 
• Clarity and honesty shape expectations: Clearly communicating what can and cannot be influenced helps establish credibility and prevents disengagement.

SESSION DATE: 6/12/2026
LOCATION: OZ Architecture
HOSTED BY: Alexander Blum, AIA & Leo Borasio, AIA
RECAP BY: Gina Frenette, Assoc. AIA & Kelly Ryan, AIA

PRESENTERS

Forging an Unconventional Path Through Design & Fabrication – Mike Blea, AIA, Raw Creative

Creative Account Management for Architects – Dave Oakes, GMR Marketing

Propelling Projects Through People-Forward Management

Panelists:

• Brent Carr, Assoc. AIA, OZ Architecture
• Ramiro Lorenzo Diaz, AIA, NCARB, Beck Group
• Aaron Tweedie, Tweed Studio
• Ryan Goold, AIA, NCARB, Sopher Sparn Architects (moderator)

SESSION DESCRIPTION

Firm leaders from a variety of backgrounds and experiences shared their approaches to practice management and relationship building. Individualization emerged as a big theme, noting that a tailored approach to mentorship, client relations, design, and fabrication can propel interest and energize workplace culture. Staying humble and relying on the expertise of others will yield greater innovation and allow the profession to modernize. 

Drawing from practices commonly used in advertising agencies, the session emphasized the “creative brief” as a leadership and organizational tool for aligning large, complex teams. Architects have the opportunity to be story makers, not just storytellers, and a clear vision will help maintain design direction throughout the life of the project.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Strong outcomes begin with people. Whether managing projects, mentoring staff, or serving clients, success depends on understanding individual motivations, communication styles, and goals while creating an environment where people can contribute their best work. 
• Culture is a strategic advantage. Hiring for passion and cultural fit, celebrating milestones, fostering mentorship, and building complementary teams creates stronger organizations and more resilient project teams. 
• A clear vision should guide every decision. From a creative brief to project goals and team expectations, establishing alignment early and consistently revisiting the guiding vision helps teams stay focused and make better decisions throughout the process.

SESSION DATE: 7/10/2026
LOCATION: DLR Group
HOSTED BY: Andrea Arias & Julia Lecy, AIA
RECAP BY: Alexander Blum, AIA & Leo Borasio, AIA

PRESENTERS

Who Benefits? Rethinking the Impact of the Built Environment on Community Equity

Panelists:

• Rebecca Horton, PG, MillerKnoll
• Jamson Escobar, DLR Group
• Ana Varela, GES Coalition
• Dee Dee DeVuyst, Radian Inc. 
• Geoff Leewaye, PE, DLR Group (moderator)

Barriers to Equity

Workshop:

• Sarah Morasso, AIA, NCARB, Munn Architecture
• Alexander Person III, CNU-A, NOMA, SmithGroup
• Sonya Shah, AIA, NOMA, NCARB, Denver Public Library

SESSION DESCRIPTION

This session examined how diversity, equity, inclusion, and access shapes both the practice and business of architecture. Through panel discussions, facilitated conversations, and interactive activities, participants explored the impact of inclusive decision-making on workplace culture, project success, and community outcomes. 

Discussions emphasized the power of community organizing and collective action as tools for creating meaningful change within the profession. Panelists encouraged participants to move beyond relying solely on demographic statistics to measure the success of DEI initiatives, and instead focus on workplace culture, retention, mentorship, opportunity, and long-term career growth. Conversations also reinforced the importance of advocating for oneself and for others, particularly when addressing compensation, benefits, career advancement, and the financial barriers associated with education and licensure.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Ask whether you’re designing with, or for communities. As architects, it’s important to ensure you’re listening to the community, and not just going through the motions.
• DEI needs to move beyond metrics. While corporations and leadership may tout these metrics as progress, it’s about the people, not just the numbers.
• Transparency regarding compensation allows for equity and fairness. Transparency ensures ethical compensation standards are being met, and while talking about pay may feel taboo, it’s the best way to gather data, and advocate for yourself.

SESSION DATE: 8/14/2026
LOCATION: SAR+ Architects
HOSTED BY: Geoff Mittler, AIA & Macy Huffaker, AIA
RECAP BY: Andrea Arias & Julia Lecy, AIA

PRESENTERS

Designing the Deal – Jacqueline C Pons-Bunney, Esq., W&D Law

High-Stakes Learning: Legal & Contractual Pitfalls – Christian Stover, AIA, NCARB, Marx Okubo

The Anatomy of a Deal: An OAC Roundtable

Panelists:

• Ben Diaz, Columbia Ventures
• Christa Offenhauser Tomececk, Tomececk Studios
• Morgan Lysohir, Milender White
• John Yonushewski, FAIA, Stantec

SESSION DESCRIPTION

This session focused on developing a stronger understanding of contracts, risk, negotiation, and ethical decision-making in architectural practice. The learning objectives emphasized applying key legal concepts, identifying common contractual pitfalls, addressing scope, fee, and liability issues early, and confidently advocating for ourselves and our firms during negotiations. A major theme was understanding the perspectives of owners, con-tractors, and architects while navigating power imbalances and competing interests. The sessions also reinforced the importance of recognizing when legal permissibility and professional responsibility may differ. Overall, the day encouraged thoughtful risk management, confident negotiation, and ethical leadership while protecting both professional relationships and the firm’s interests.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Understand your contracts and identify potential risks early by clearly defining scope, liability, payment terms, and professional responsibilities.
• Know your value and advocate confidently by understanding your services, fees, and position during negotiations.
• Build strong project relationships through trust, communication, respect, and an understanding of each team member’s perspective.
• Lead with integrity and professional responsibility by balancing legal requirements, ethical considerations, and the best interests of your firm and clients.

SESSION DATE: 9/11/2026
LOCATION: Workplace Resources
HOSTED BY: Alexandra Addesso, AIA & Ben Charpentier, AIA
RECAP BY: Geoff Mittler, AIA & Macy Huffaker, AIA

PRESENTERS

Science & Simplicity: Selling Sustainability – Mohit Mehta, BEMP, ASHRAE, LEED BD+C, Populous

Build Outside the Box: Passive Home Design – Kirsten Jacobsen, Eco Build Lab

How to Achieve Highly Sustainable Buildings

Panelists:

• Courtney Anderson, RA, CASR Denver
• Luc Bamberger, AIA, AMD Architects
• Jim Hartman, Hartman Ely Investments
• Natalie Terrill, LEED Fellow, WELL AP, Fitwel Ambassador, CMI Certified Sustainability (ESG) Practitioner, The Beck Group 
• Lauren McNeill, LEED AP BD+C, WELL AP, LFA, Group 14 (moderator)

SESSION DESCRIPTION

The day’s sessions traced sustainability in design from its regulatory and historical roots through hands-on alternative construction to a closing panel on implementation. The first presentation covered the milestones that built today’s green-building landscape (AIA COTE, LEED, the Living Building Challenge, ILFI) alongside the case for resilient design, given that codes and energy-modeling data are dangerously outdated relative to how fast the climate is changing. A more in-depth discussion then grounded these ideas in Earthship construction, true off-grid, passive solar buildings using low-tech materials and natural building methods like cob, rammed earth, and strawbale, several of which double as carbon sequestration.

The day closed with a panel on how to actually achieve highly sustainable buildings, emphasizing that architecture is only one piece of the sustainability picture, that the best outcomes come from integrated project delivery, and that Denver’s code committees are actively working toward electrification and possible embodied-carbon reporting requirements ahead of 2030 goals.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Stop selling, start solving. Across the session, the message was to steer conversations away from pitching sustainability solutions and toward understanding client problems and ROI, “sell the brownie, not the recipe.”
• The data and codes we rely on are outdated. Historical climate data (like TMY3) and existing codes don’t account for the last 25 years of accelerated change, so resilient design needs to look forward, not backward.
• Perfection isn’t the goal, progress is. Whether in Earthship construction or policy compliance, panelists and speakers repeatedly stressed pushing sustainability forward incrementally rather than waiting for an ideal, all-or-nothing solution.

SESSION DATE: 10/16/2026
LOCATION: HKS Architects
HOSTED BY: Fatemah Dashti, Assoc. AIA & Rob Cleary, Assoc. AIA
RECAP BY: Alexandra Addesso, AIA & Ben Charpentier, AIA

PRESENTERS

The Future is Already Here: Connected Digital Workflows from Design to Construction – James Coleman, SumPoint

The Continuum: A Conversation About Who Owns the Future of Architecture

Panelists:

• Maxine Hu, AIA, LEED AP, HKS Architects
• Joe Marchiafava, AIA, Autodesk
• Elizabeth Erfling, Mortenson
• Alejandro Ogata, AIA, LEED AP, Populous
• David Morris, AIA, LFA, HKS Architects (moderator)

SESSION DESCRIPTION

The day explored how emerging technologies are reshaping architectural practice, improving collaboration, and connecting design with construction. Discussions highlighted opportunities to streamline project delivery, strengthen coordination, and reconsider how firms operate and develop future leaders. The day began with a presentation in which James Coleman demonstrated how computational tools can solve complex challenges while emphasizing the importance of trust, communication, and 

purposeful innovation. The following panel expanded on these ideas, examining how AI and automation may influence professional development, documentation, and the evolving responsibilities of architects. Ultimately, both discussions emphasized preparing architects to embrace technological change while strengthening the critical thinking, leadership, and relationships that are essential to the profession.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Technology is most powerful when paired with empathy, collaboration, and a clear understanding of real-world problems. Designers can improve project outcomes by using technology to streamline workflows, build trust with contractors and clients, and reduce inefficiencies between design and construction.
• AI is likely to transform how architecture firms operate, preserve knowledge, conduct research, and deliver projects. However, architects will continue to provide leadership, professional accountability, critical thinking, and the human connection necessary for successful project outcomes.
• We as designers can leverage technology to improve design processes, coordination, and construction outcomes. It is imperative that we learn and apply these tools to understand their potential. “The future is here; it just isn’t evenly distributed.”