On the evening of Nov. 11, AIA Northern Virginia held its 2025 Leadership Retreat. This annual meeting, led by the Chapter’s President-Elect, Christopher Kehde, AIA, brought together the Executive Committee, Board of Directors, and Committee Chairs for a collaborative and thought-provoking discussion regarding the vision and mission of the Chapter and our strategic direction for the coming year.

The theme of the meeting was ‘Design + Dialogue’, which encouraged dynamic discussions about our profession, our passions, and how AIA Northern Virgina can best serve its members, communities, and the built environment. The evening’s agenda posed a series of questions: Who are we? Why are we? Where are we going? How do we get there? The resulting inspirational dialogue balanced introspective reflection with pragmatic planning and offered an opportunity for the leaders to collaborate beyond their typical Chapter roles and responsibilities.

In response to ‘Who are we?’, the introductory comments provided an overview of the unique and important roles played by the AIA at the national, state, and local levels. This was also an opportunity to recognize and celebrate our local Chapter leaders.

A key component of the meeting was an exercise that posed the questions: ‘What is your personal architectural why? And what is your AIA why?’ These prompts encouraged participants to reflect on their individual passions and motivations as architects and to share their perspectives on the value that the AIA brings to our profession.

The Chapter’s Strategic Plan speaks directly to the question posed of ‘Where are we going?’, and the discussion on this topic was a great opportunity to re-visit our Mission and Vision Statements and key goals.

As the discussions moved to ‘How do we get there?’, the Committee Chairs shared brief overviews of their activities in 2024 and of their plans for 2025. The collaborative dialogue then continued in small group discussions that charged each group to propose new strategies to achieve the goals of the Chapter’s Strategic Plan. Through a series of short duration brainstorming sessions, the attendees developed a list of new and innovative approaches to help engage, activate, and support the Chapter membership.

The 2025 Leadership Retreat exemplified the spirit of collaboration and forward-thinking that defines AIA Northern Virginia and presented a special opportunity for our leaders to prepare for the coming year and to celebrate the legacy and future of our Chapter. By reflecting on foundational questions, sharing individual motivations, and collectively strategizing, the Chapter’s leaders reaffirmed their commitment to advancing the profession, serving their members, and enhancing the built environment. With renewed energy and a clear strategic direction, AIA Northern Virginia is well-positioned to embrace the challenges and opportunities of 2025 and beyond.

̶̶̶̶- Christopher Kehde, 2025 Chapter President