ASLA Minneapolis, October 27-29
Along with several of our partners, CVG will co-present two sessions on the leadership, business, and career development track at this year’s American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) Conference in Minneapolis. See you there?
RI-A07 Preparing for Successful Leadership Transition: How to Navigate the Two-Way Street
Friday, October 27, 2023
9:00 AM – 10:30 AM
Session Description
How do firms succeed in transitioning ownership and leadership? When should firm leaders begin thinking about ownership transition, and what options are available to firm founders approaching retirement? How can successors truly leverage the knowledge and connections of the founder? Planning for leadership transition brings up many questions and few answers.
However, if firm leaders intend to transfer ownership or expand ownership to emerging leaders, they need mentorship, tools, and skills to succeed. This session will outline structured stages of professional development for emerging leaders as a key component to effective ownership transition. To add real life experience to the dialogue, Ilse Frank will be on hand to describe the ownership expansion that has taken place at her firm, Studio Balcones.
Rena Klein, FAIA
Rena leads CVG’s Investment Partnership Program. She has been instrumental in fostering connections between firms in the CVG network and developing the infrastructure of CVG’s knowledge sharing community. Additionally, Rena advises all CVG investment Partners on best practice in finance and operations. Learn more.
Ilse Frank, PLA, ASLA, Assoc. AIA
Ilse is a founding principal of Studio Balcones. As a firm leader, Ilse focuses on creative solutions for civic and institutional projects that will have significant impact on the future growth and function of cities.
Learning Objectives
Discover the importance of setting goals and understanding preferred outcomes in planning for ownership transition.
Understand options for ownership transition pathways depending on timeframe to retirement and openness to sharing leadership.
Explore best practices for identifying the right person to be a successor and how to create a framework for a partnership agreement.
Learn how to prepare emerging leadership for a future ownership role through structured stages of professional development.
Sat-C05 Lead, Follow, Adapt: Exploring Different Approaches to Changing Firm Culture
Saturday, October 28, 2023
3:45 PM – 5:00 PM
Session Description
Changes abound in 2023 studio culture. Talent retention, recruitment, generational differences, leadership transition, remote work, and DEI considerations are each transforming our workplaces in significant ways. Hear how two firm leaders, with different geographies and backgrounds, are adapting to changing firm culture through the guidance of a management consultant.
Erin Murphy, AIA, LEED AP
Erin brings broad experience in leadership and staff development to CVG. In her previous role as the Senior Director of Workforce Development and Strategy at the AIA, she advocated for emerging and mid-career architects. She also led the team that conceptualized the AIA’s ARE-prep program (ArchiPrep). She transformed AIA’s Women’s Leadership Summit into the largest event for women in architecture and contributed to the AIA’s Guides for Equitable Practice. Erin spent the first half of her nearly 20-year career as a practicing architect in NYC and Washington, DC. Learn more.
Mark Klopfer, FASLA, AIA
Mark is a registered landscape architect and architect with over twenty-five years of practice and academic experience. His interests lie at the interface of architecture and landscape, at the human scale of rooms and gardens to the urban scale of neighborhoods and cities. Learn more.
Ilse Frank, PLA, ASLA, Assoc. AIA
Ilse is a co-founder and principal of Studio Balcones in Austin, Texas. Her work on the University of Texas’ campus was awarded the 2020 Texas ASLA Merit Award and a 2021 AIA Austin Design Award of Merit. Ilse volunteers her time with The Trail Conservancy’s Project Committee and served on the City of Austin’s Art In Public Places Advisory Panel. A native Austinite, she loves to travel, hikes with her dog, and exploring the art scene.
Learning Objectives
Hear effective strategies for responding to changing staff needs and requests.
Learn how your firm’s mission, vision, and values are critical leadership tools and how they create an inclusive culture.
Understand how thought leadership aligned with firm values can attract and retain talent.
Learn how to create an intentional structure in a growing firm that supports the diverse needs of all staff.
