The AIA NoVA Young Architect’s Forum (YAF) kicked off its first annual Mentor Bowling event this winter at Bowlero – Crystal City, and it was a huge success! Mentees and mentors from local firms—including Jacobs, KGD, MTFA, and Gensler—joined in for an evening of networking and fun.

Building on the success of last summer’s Mentor Golf event, Mentor Bowling welcomed product representatives as well. We were thrilled to have Acoufelt, Allsteel, Cambria, and the Mohawk Group as supporting partners, whose contributions helped make the event possible.

The event itself was a blast! Small groups of mentees, mentors, and product reps rotated through short games over the course of two hours, ensuring that everyone had the chance to meet, chat, and get plenty of throws in. We were excited to see both familiar and new faces among our emerging professionals’ group.

If you missed out, be sure to spread the word for future YAF events—these are fantastic opportunities to connect with mentors, ask career and industry-related questions, and meet product representatives who might assist with your next project. YAF members are also a great resource for licensure guidance and insights into the ARE prep course offered by AIA NoVA.

We’re already looking forward to hosting Mentor Golf this summer for more fun and great connections! Follow us to stay updated on upcoming events. These gatherings provide a relaxed, stress-free alternative to formal office settings or panel discussions, giving emerging professionals a fun and approachable way to engage with industry mentors.