PRESIDENT
Annette Wu, AIA – NAC Architecture

With over 26 years of experience as a designer, project manager, and architect, Annette has worked in Hong Kong, New York and Los Angeles. Gaining strong experience in conceptual design and execution, today she brings both these emphases together in project types which transform and engage the lives of the greater community. Her passion finds its voice in K-12, Community College and Higher Education projects. As a Principal at NAC, Annette’s focus is on best practices and the processes which ensure a holistic approach to design and execution.

She received her BARCH from the University of Southern California and MARCH from Harvard’s Graduate School of Design.

VICE PRESIDENT/2025 PRESIDENT-ELECT
Chava Danielson, AIA – DSH // architecture

Chava Danielson, AIA, a native Angeleno, is Principal of DSH // architecture, with specialties in design, project advocacy, and serving non-profit organizations committed to their communities. She focuses on imparting beauty and sensitive programming to recharge underserved neighborhoods through educational, therapeutic and residential projects.

Danielson is Adjunct Professor at the USC School of Architecture. She currently co-chairs the AIA Los Angeles’ Government Outreach Committee and has served as a Director for the Los Angeles Forum for Architecture and Urban Design. She holds an M.Arch. from the Graduate School of Design at Harvard University and a B.A. in Comparative Literature from the University of California, Berkeley.

SECRETARY
Jennifer Schab, AIA – Bestor Architecture

A practicing architect in Los Angeles since 1988, Jennifer is currently a Senior Designer at Bestor Architecture. At Bestor, Jennifer leads the integration of architecture and landscape design for large scale residential and institutional projects. Previous experience includes 25 years at RIOS working across single family homes, schools and parks. Jennifer is a licensed Architect and a graduate of Rhode Island School of Design and Columbia University.

TREASURER
Toni Lewis, AIA, LEED AP, CASp – Lewis|Schoeplein Architects

A third generation Los Angeles native, Toni is founding principal of Lewis|Schoeplein architects (est. 1998), a multi-disciplinary practice focused on sustainable community-based projects for institutions, government, non-profits, and developers, including the City of Los Angeles, UCLA, LACCD and The Broad. She served on the Mulholland Scenic Corridor Design Review Board from 2012-2014, and as CFO of the Association for Women in Architecture + Design from 2019-2021. Her previous gigs included stints at Frank Gehry’s office and as a project architect at Gensler. Toni has a BA in Architecture from UC Berkeley and an M.Arch from UCLA.

PAST PRESIDENT
Leslie Sydnor, AIA, NOMA, LEED AP – Cumming

Leslie is a director at Cumming; currently working as a design manager for Los Angeles City College. She has over 25 years of experience in the design of education, aviation, industrial, and low-income housing projects. Leslie is past co-chair of the Justice Equity Diversity and Inclusion (J.E.D.I.) committee. She teaches Architectural Project Management at Cal Poly Pomona, is on the Woodbury University Construction Management Program Advisory Board and mentors emerging professionals. Leslie has a B.A. in Architecture from Yale and an M.Arch from UCLA.

DIRECTOR
Nathan Bishop, AIA – KoningEizenberg

Nathan Bishop AIA, LEED AP, has been Design Principal at Koning Eizenberg since 2011. Nathan brings an empathetic approach to the creation of sustainable community places which amplify social impact through inclusive design. After practicing in Boston at such firms as Office dA and Machado & Silvetti, and teaching at RISD, Harvard, and Northeastern University, he moved to LA to continue his professional and academic career and has taught at SCI_Arc and USC while leading design efforts for Pico Branch Library, 500 Broadway, and the Arroyo affordable housing projects. Nathan is currently design lead for the new Malibu High School.

DIRECTOR
James E. Donaldson (JED), AIA – Johnson Fain

JED is a Principal at Johnson Fain with more than 20 years of professional experience in designing large scale projects including Creative Office, Residential, and Mixed-Use Developments. JED earned a Bachelor of Arts in Architecture from the University of North Carolina-Charlotte and a Master of Architecture Degree from Virginia Tech. JED’s knowledge of the building industry is complemented with his interest in green building technologies and advanced computer modeling. JED has taught architectural courses and/or been a guest studio critic at UC Berkeley, USC, and UCLA Extension as well as a speaker at USC’s BIM symposium.

DIRECTOR
Ismar Enriquez, AIA, LFA, LEED AP – Practice

Ismar Enriquez is a visionary at the crossroads of sustainability, equity, housing, and education. With nearly two decades of expertise, he is dedicated to addressing the housing and climate crises by fostering socially inclusive, equitable, and sustainable communities.

In addition to his design work, Ismar advocates for transformative initiatives, such as the 2×8 Student Scholarship and Exhibition, which has awarded over $250,000 in scholarships over the past 20 years. As former chair of the AIA LA Committee on the Environment, he organized the renowned AIA LA COTE 1.5 Degree Celsius Symposium, bringing together global leaders in sustainability.

Ismar’s influence extends to his role as Commissioner for the Community Development Department in Long Beach, where he contributes to local advancements. For the past five years, he has worked closely with AIA CA and Sacramento and remains an active member of the AIA CA Climate Action Network, Resilient Design, and Education Subcommittee, delivering expert insights to thousands of members.

Serving on the Board of Directors for the William J. Worthen Foundation, Ismar’s commitment reaches beyond California, driving efforts on carbon neutrality, resiliency, climate justice, and equity while shaping government policies and advocacy initiatives across the US.

DIRECTOR
David J. Frey, FAIA, LEED AP BD+C, DBIA – HOK Architects

David J. Frey, FAIA, is the Senior Technical Principal for HOK in Los Angeles. Prior to HOK, David was the North American Technical Director for Woods Bagot and a Senior Associate at SOM. David is registered in California, Arizona, and Tennessee, and is a member of DBIA. He has presented at the University of Illinois, Academy of Art University, Facades + Conferences, and the Advanced Building Skins Conference in Switzerland, where he is on the Scientific and Conference Committees. His global project experience includes Aviation, Science and Technology, Healthcare, and Mixed-use projects, focusing on sustainability and high-performance exterior enclosure design.

DIRECTOR
Carlos Augusto Garcia, AIA, NCARB, WELL AP
Brooks + Scarpa

Carlos Augusto Garcia is an architect, designer, and artist with 15 years of industry expertise. Specializing in design research, sustainability, wellness, and carbon reduction, his global outlook manifests through work with UIA World Congress of Architects, New Buildings Institute, National Endowment for the Arts, and LA Planning’s Urban Design Studio. Carlos serves on AIA COTE and ASHRAE committees, influencing climate action and greenhouse gas standards. This passion was ignited by his start in emergency management and disaster recovery in post-Katrina New Orleans, where he completed B.Arch and M.Arch degrees from Tulane University. He is committed to pursuing dignity in practice, promoting equity in both membership and leadership.

DIRECTOR
Jennifer Noel Wong, AIA – Ehrlich Yanai Rhee Chaney Architects

Jennifer Noel Wong, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, is an Architect with Ehrlich Yanai Rhee Chaney Architects. She possesses a unique skillset and a strong emotional intelligence, which has earned her the complete trust of her clients, team and consultants.

She has experience working on both renovations and new construction for a wide range of project types, including K-12 and higher education, civic and retail projects. In her free time, she teaches after-school design workshops in her community.

DIRECTOR
James Woolum, FAIA
ZGF

A native Southern Californian and die-hard Angeleno, James has nearly 30 years of experience designing complex education, healthcare, research, hospitality, and corporate environments around the country. James operates with the conviction that good design must have value beyond the immediate visual appeal of form and materiality, it must also enable and support transformative and enriching human experience.

James has served on the UCLA Master of Interior Architecture Advisory Board, the USC Architectural Guild Board, and is currently serving on the Spruce Goose Advisory Board of the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum in McMinnville, Oregon. In 2022, James was elevated to the AIA College of Fellows.

EX-OFFICIO
Carlo Caccavale, Hon. AIA|LA – Executive Director, AIA Los Angeles

Coupled with his knowledge of architecture and passion for policies that support excellence in the built environment, Carlo Caccavale brings 20 years of experience at the American Institute of Architects Los Angeles chapter to his position as its Executive Director.

Carlo has initiated a number of AIA|LA conferences that contribution to the profession and surrounding region. They include Encompass, the AIA|LA Conference to Actualize Diversity and Inclusion; Design for Dignity, the AIA|LA conference focused on homelessness and housing affordability; and Powerful, Women Leading Design. To facilitate greater recognition for design excellence and widen the spectrum of offices participating in design awards programs, Carlo launched the Restaurant Design Awards in 2005 and the Residential Architecture Awards in 2016. In 2017, he started the chapter’s Architectural Photography Awards to celebrate those who translate three dimensional design to the single plane while capturing its intent.

EX-OFFICIO ACADEMIC LIAISON
Heather Barker – California State University Long Beach

Heather Renée Barker, Associate Professor of Design at California State University Long Beach is a human urbanist. She works with interdisciplinary teams to facilitate human-centered approaches to improving the human/data hybrid experience. By leveraging a range of analog and digital tools, gamification, and data-visualization, Heather brings value to business and civic organizations as they develop novel solutions to personal interface, animated space, community engagement, and sustainable urban challenges. As an educator and practitioner, she is able to combine theory, rigorous research, and practice to develop advanced innovation methodologies. This work makes its way into the world through consulting, holding workshops, publishing, teaching, and advising internationally. Heather Barker is founding coordinator of the graduate Human Experience Design Interactions (MA_HXDI) program and the Immersive Design Research Lab (IDRL), author of the book, “Designing Post-Virtual Architectures: Wicked Tactics and World-Building”, and has served the city of Long Beach, California as Design Lead for the Bloomberg Philanthropies’ funded Innovation Team (i-team) and as Design Strategy Lead for the Office of Civic Innovation.

EX-OFFICIO ACADEMIC LIAISON
Doris Sung, AIA – USC Architecture

With the belief that buildings can be sensitive to the changing environment, Doris Sung seeks ways to make buildings dynamic and responsive. As the Director of Undergraduate Programs at USC, Doris publishes, lectures and exhibits, internationally while managing to bring her patented inventions to market. Her TED.com talk has reached 1.3 million views and her list of awards include a Time Magazine Best Invention Award, a Cooper Hewitt National Design Award, National AIA Small Projects Award, ‘Architect Magazine’ R+D awards and the [next idea] award from ARS Electronica. She has been named a fellow of Google’s R+D for the Built Environment, the U.S. Artist, the Rockefeller Foundation and the Headlands Center for the Arts.

ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR
Morgan Sumner, Assoc. AIA – Bestor Architecture

Morgan Sumner is a young, emerging professional actively on her journey to take up space in the professional space of architecture. She is a graduate of Arizona State University (BSD, 2016) and The University of Southern California (M.Arch, 2018). Her passions are at the intersection of culture and creativity and has kept this focus throughout her journey. She is currently [excitedly] working at Bestor Architecture and is actively taking steps towards licensure. She also uses architectural training in her graphic design company, Poche Design Studio, which aims to occupy + amplify the Black space in design.

EX-OFFICIO ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR
Cynthia Sigler, Assoc. AIA
HKS

I am an Architectural Design Professional at HKS Architects originally from Honolulu, HI. I graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 2019 and began my professional career shortly afterwards in Chicago. In 2021 I moved to Los Angeles and have since enjoyed learning more about the city and building a home here. At HKS, I am a part of our Commercial Mixed-Use Studio, where I currently work on commercial projects as well as hospitality projects. I am also pursuing licensure in the state of California!

PUBLIC DIRECTOR
Tara Barauskas – Community Corporation of Santa Monica

Tara Barauskas is the Executive Director of Community Corporation of Santa Monica, a nonprofit affordable housing organization based in Santa Monica, California. Joining in 2016, she oversees the functional areas of the organization, including management of over 1,900 units of affordable housing, housing development, resident services, maintenance and administration of 100 staff. Ms. Barauskas has over 20 years of experience in affordable housing development, having worked at both for-profit and non-profit affordable housing development organizations prior to joining Community Corporation. Her past experience includes overseeing and managing the development process of numerous projects throughout California.

Ms. Barauskas holds a Bachelors’ Degree in English from California State University, Long Beach, and a LEED AP Accreditation from the US Green Building Council. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Southern California Association of Non-profit Housing (SCANPH), a nonprofit membership organization that advocates for affordable housing policy throughout Southern California. In addition, she serves on the Santa Monica Bay Area Human Relations Council and the advisory council of Students4Students, a nonprofit that houses homeless students. Her volunteer work centers around Climate Reality, where she serves as LA Chapter co-chair. She is passionate about her children, her Lithuanian heritage, the environment and affordable housing. She lives in Playa del Rey with her two children, Julius and Linas.

PUBLIC DIRECTOR
Dr. Giovanna Brasfield – Brasfield & Associates LLC

Giovanna Brasfield (Dr. G), CEO and Principal Consultant for Brasfield & Associates, LLC is an accomplished and award-winning diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) advocate with over 19 years of experience in focusing on leadership and DEI strategic development, training, education and outreach for the AECO industry. Dr. G drives organizations in design and construction to go beyond DEI talk by taking actionable steps to create culturally diverse, equitable and inclusive workplaces.  Dr. G holds two doctorates degrees from the University of La Verne, a D.P.A. in Public Administration, an Ed.D. in Organizational Leadership, an MBA from University of Phoenix, Undergraduate degree from Mount Saint Mary’s University (MSMU), and an Executive Certified Master Compliance Administrator (ECMCA) from Morgan State University.

AIA CA REPRESENTATIVE
John Arnold, AIA – KFA, LLP

John Arnold, AIA, is a Partner at KFA Architecture in Culver City. He has been with the firm since 1999, with a focus on multi-family housing, including mixed-use, affordable, and adaptive reuse projects. Much of John’s recent work has been in affordable housing assisting developers with the complex challenges of funding, cost, and public oversight while providing design that stays true to KFA’s mission to provide “great places where people flourish.” Since becoming a Partner at KFA in 2016, John and his two partners have worked to expand the firm’s robust culture and dedication to staff professional growth and diversity.

AIA CA REPRESENTATIVE
Julia Molloy Gallagher, AIA, NOMA, LEED AP
JMGA

Julia Molloy Gallagher, AIA, NOMA, LEED AP, B.A: Barnard College, M.Arch: GSAPP/ Columbia University. Originally from Northern California, Julia decided to become an architect while living in West Africa. She practiced architecture in NYC on the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, the new US Embassy in Mexico City, and the Harlem School of the Arts. She founded her design studio, JMGA in 2017. In 2020, she moved to L.A. with her family where she manages her bicoastal practice. She has taught leadership, sustainability, and thesis studios at various universities, and looks forward to bringing her experience and agency to the AIA.