PRESIDENT
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.

VICE PRESIDENT/2026 PRESIDENT-ELECT
Toni Lewis, AIA, LEED AP, CASp
Lewis|Schoeplein Architects

A third generation Los Angeles native, Toni is founding principal of Lewis/Schoeplein architects, a multi-disciplinary practice focused on sustainable community-based projects for institutions, government, non-profits and private developers. She has served as AIA/LA Treasurer (2022-present), as CFO of AWA+D (2019-2021), and on the Mulholland Scenic Corridor DRB (2012-2014). Her previous gigs included stints at Frank Gehry’s office, and at Gensler. Toni has a BA in Architecture from UC Berkeley and an M.Arch from UCLA. She lives in an empty nest in Los Angeles with partner/husband Marc Schoeplein, two chickens, and a clownish pit-bull.

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
John Arnold, AIA
KFA Architecture

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. John has served on several boards over the course of his career, including AIA/LA, Abode Communities Housing, Friends of Residential Treasures: Los Angeles (FORT:LA), United Neighborhoods Neighborhood Council, and as Board Architect for the Jefferson Park HPOZ and University Park HPOZ.

PAST 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.

DIRECTOR
Lauren Coles, AIA
CO Architects

Lauren Coles, AIA, is an associate principal with over 20 years of experience partnering with institutional clients to provide detailed coordination, facilitate stakeholder consensus, and execute design excellence. Lauren’s work spans healthcare, health sciences education buildings, complex laboratory facilities, strategic planning studies, student centers, and recreation facilities. She has led several firm-wide initiatives in hiring, licensure, and mentoring. Lauren is the past chair for the AIA|LA Practice Committee and was featured in Building Design + Construction’s “40 under 40” list for her contributions to the industry. She received her BS in Architecture degree from Northeastern University (Boston).

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
Craig Hamilton, FAIA
CannonDesign

Craig Hamilton, FAIA is a Principal at CannonDesign focused on college and university clients.

Craig brings years of practice in a large firm working leading complex, multidimensional stakeholder groups in the planning and design process; additionally, he has volunteer experience working with a variety of community group and is a current member of the Santa Monica Architectural Review Board. Collaborating with complex client and community groups has reinforced his belief that participation, engagement, and collaboration can produce great outcomes. He received his B.S. and M. Arch from the University of Michigan.

DIRECTOR
Brian Lane, FAIA
KoningEizenberg

Brian focuses on what it is to be a good neighbor to raise the bar for community architecture that promotes equity and sustainability. He blends practical design and construction knowledge with innovation, drawing on his planning and visualization skills to help agencies and cities streamline housing guidelines and regulations. Frequently sharing his expertise in community forums and programs, Brian wrote “Dear Mayor” in 2022 with the AIA LA Government Outreach committee, outlining 10 issues and fixes to boost affordable housing production. He currently serves on the 2024 AIA California Housing Steering Committee and the Hollywood Sign Board of Trustees.

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
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.

EX-OFFICIO ACADEMIC LIAISON

Mohamed Sharif, AIA, RIBA
Partner, Sharif, Lynch: Architecture

Mohamed Sharif is an Associate Professor at UCLA’s Department of Architecture and Design, where he teaches graduate and undergraduate courses and directs the undergraduate program.

His practice, Sharif, Lynch: Architecture, with Todd Lynch, has completed several award-winning projects in Los Angeles.

Sharif’s work has been published in journals and periodicals, including 306090, a+u, arq, Constructs, JAE, the Getty Center, Log, and POOL. He served on the arq editorial board (Cambridge University Press, 2006–2016) and was President of the Los Angeles Forum for Architecture and Urban Design (2007–2009), later joining its Advisory Board (2010–2016).

PHOTO: Alyssa Tohyama

ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR
Cynthia Sigler, AIA
HKS

I am an Architect 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.

EX-OFFICIO ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR
Catherine Hernandez, Assoc. AIA, NOMA
Brilliant Corners

In the last two years I have shared my time periodically with the ACLA community engagement committee and have found it to be a beautiful, uplifting, and diverse space for many members and community stakeholders to connect and amplify the work AIA is committed to nationwide and locally. In volunteering at several engagement events from Ciclavia to the West Adams block party I have personally found it exciting to meet other professionals in the industry and to connect with community partners making architectural services accessible for adults and youth who are curious about the built environment. I grew up in South Central Los Angeles, a community that for many years has lacked investment, design, engagement, and presence of a group like ACLA. Seeing familiar faces and having neighbors & friends learn about the possibility of an ADU and imagining a future where spaces are intentionally designed made me hopeful
about our collective future.

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.

PUBLIC DIRECTOR
Matthew Haas, SVP
KeyBank CDLI

Matthew Haas is Senior Vice President for KeyBank’s Community Development Lending & Investment (CDLI) team, covering CA, NM, AZ, and NV. With over 25 years in affordable housing and community development, Matthew specializes in financing LIHTC properties and workforce housing. At KeyBank, he has financed over 3,000 units totaling nearly $500 million in debt and expanded the bank’s equity syndications and participations platform.

Previously, Matthew was Director of Investor Relations at Berkadia Affordable Housing Tax Credit Solutions and Merritt Community Capital, raising over $600 million in equity for 63 properties, financing over 5,000 units. He also held senior roles at the Low Income Investment Fund, Fannie Mae, Bank of America, National Equity Fund, and Illinois Housing Development Authority, contributing to affordable housing planning, development, and financing across NY, IL, and CA.

Matthew has an M.S. in Urban Planning from Columbia University and a B.A. in Architecture / Environmental Design from UC Berkeley. Currently, Matthew serves on the Boards of Holos Communities and PEP Housing and also serves on the Credit Committee for New Jersey Community Capital.

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.

AIA CA REPRESENTATIVE
Ismar Enriquez, AIA, LFA, LEED AP
Practice

Ismar Enriquez, AIA, LFA, LEED AP, is a visionary at the intersection of sustainability, equity, housing, and education with nearly two decades of experience. He is dedicated to tackling housing and climate challenges by promoting inclusive and sustainable communities.

Ismar has supported transformative initiatives like the 2×8 Student Scholarship, which has awarded over $250,000. As a former AIA LA Committee on the Environment chair, he organized the influential 1.5 Degree Celsius Symposium on sustainability. He also serves as Commissioner for the Community Development Department in Long Beach and as a Board member for the William J. Worthen Foundation, advancing carbon neutrality and climate justice nationwide.