AIA El Paso "From the Associates" Article

Last week we published an article in the monthly AIA El Paso in order to update and inform our AIA community about the associate's latest activities. Below is the same article for your information.

For those who missed the newsletter you can get a copy here:
El Paso AIA Newsletter - September 2012

-Cameron

Last month, our President used his message to bring you up to speed on the latest and greatest from the AIA El Paso Associates’ Program. This month we in the Associate program wanted to delve a little deeper into our efforts so that Architects and Interns can benefit from our various efforts around town.
Our first effort has been the creation of an ‘Associate’s Blog’ (www.elpasoAAIA.blogspot.com). This blog is a quick and easy way to broadcast the different events and opportunities relevant to the emerging professionals throughout the El Paso region. Posts have included job opportunities, congratulatory announcements, and of course great social events like our very own “El Paso through your eyes” photo contest.

This contest is a fundraising event dedicated to engaging local citizens with the city’s architecture, urban landscape and history. It is happening this Saturday, September 29th from 8:00am -12:00pm at San Jacinto Plaza (111 E. Mills Avenue). The contest includes prizes, so be sure to register at www.elpasoAAIA.blogspot.com. ($25 entry fee.) It is our plan that this fundraiser / social event will help the AAIA El Paso program to expand its programs without taxing the El Paso AIA’s larger efforts.

What programs you ask? Good question. Since we began rebuilding the AAIA program earlier this year our focus has been on three simple things, Communication, Social Interaction, and Examination/Education. While we have already covered two of those efforts, the third is the end game of our program. Earlier this year we organized three study groups to create opportunities for our El Paso Associates to work together in order to overcome, what is for many, the last barrier to licensure. These study groups also help interns brush up on those skills that have gone unused in practice, because as we all know practicing architecture does not equal testing for architecture exams! These groups were designed to continue rolling throughout the year, so if you or someone you know is interested be sure to contact us!

But the exams are only a part of the licensure process. After our annual event this year, we conducted well over a 3 dozed interviews with emerging professionals at various stages of their licensure process. We found was that there are a many questions about NCARB and EESA that were going un-answered. As a result we held EESA seminars for interested foreign architects. Three of us have become IDP Auxiliary Coordinators and we also hosted Martin Smith, an NCARB IDP manager who came into town to help us answer the questions of both supervisory Architects and emerging professionals about the NCARB & IDP process.

In closing, it is necessary to touch on Robert’s final point in his message, the intern’s ‘fear’ of communicating with their principals. While being afraid is no doubt hyperbole, it does shine some light on the odd relationship between a principal and an intern. As an employer, the firm faces a difficult balance of fostering an intern’s growth, while at the same time ensuring that the work gets done. While an intern faces another balancing act of growing as a professional while not trying to rock the boat that keeps them employed.

Both of these situations are only made worse during these rough financial times. So, we outlined a few ways that you can engage your interns, (and interns a few ways you can engage your principals) to create a positive relationship for both:

• Be conscience of your Intern’s work, be sure to include them not only in the design & building part of the firm’s work, but the business, finance, and organizational aspects. Make it a goal to be able to pass off some of the more delicate work to them. In short, empower them with opportunities so they can grow their responsibility & position. (Interns remember the onus is on you!)
• Have career orientated conversations with your interns, asking them where they expect to be in 1,3,5 year times. Openly talk about ways they can improve themselves, and thus the firm. Consider creating a monthly or quarterly review to make sure you both are on track to fulfill your mutual goals. Consider offering incentives and contracts to reach goals that would benefit you both, like licensure or other certifications.
• Mandate participation in the AIA as Associates, ARE study groups or other learning seminars. Interns don’t have continuing education requirements, so this will also keep their ‘in the drawer’ skills sharp until you need them.
• Take time to mentor an Intern outside of your firm. This goes a long way to building strong relationships and gives both principals and interns a good second opinion about any issues that may arise.
• Take a day to have a company wide review seminar where you and they can identify firm wide problems or opportunities to boost morale and improve efficiency. Even something as simple as rearranging furniture or workstations could dramatically boost workflow and happiness.
• Consider hosting a lunch-hour career touch up class for your interns with us to make sure they are on the right track professionally.

These ideas are not just to promote the interns’ work experience, but are here to help you as a Principal get the most out of your ‘people investment.’ and help you plan for firm and profession growth. After all that is what we in the El Paso Associates’ Program are working for. Because we believe that El Paso is full of the best talent, culture, and potential in the southwest. And the more we promote ourselves and each other the better off El Paso Architecture will be.

-Cameron Palm 

Contacts:

Alex Mireles, President, a.m.3design@gmail.com Assoc. AIA, Texas RAD, IDP Aux. Coordinator

Cameron Palm, c: 915-342-0954 d5280@me.com
Assoc. AIA, LEED Green Assoc., IDP Aux. Coordinator, Revit 2012 Professional

We have many more helpful members, and our thanks goes out to them, but please feel free to contact any of us listed here with any questions or comments related to this article or the Associates' Program.