Q2 Recap: 2019
I-NOMA would not be what it is today without the volunteers and members that all put in the hard work to keep the mission of I-NOMA moving forward. 2019 witnessed multiple events ranging from professional development to community engagement. Below is a showcase of events and members from 2019.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT:
ARE Pep and Prep Sessions
Led by Jennifer Johnson and Smitha Vasan, I-NOMA held around 10 sessions in 2019, helping to prepare young professionals for taking the ARE exams. By providing study resources, Q+A opportunities, and a study space, I-NOMA continues its pipeline mission of assisting I-NOMA members to licensure. These session will continue throughout the year at Moody Nolan. Be on the lookout for the event blasts!
You’re Doing It Wrong Tutorial Sessions
Paul Bamson founded YDIW during college to assist students as they developed their skills for studio projects and the beginning of their professional careers. Now as a professional, Paul has started up the tutorial series again, this time aimed at all professionals. The tutorials give help to beginners and experienced professionals alike in programs used every day: Rhino, Grasshopper, and the Adobe Suite. Members can access the recorded sessions by visiting http://bit.ly/ydiw_series.
General Body Meeting #2 - ESD
A special thank you to ESD for hosting I-NOMA’s General Body Meeting in May. Held in their new office space in Willis Tower, Stephanie Shoeman and Richie Hands toured the group around the space - walking everyone through the design. Beyond the multiple volunteer events announcements and member acknowledgements, we also had a special guest - Peter Exley. Peter came to meet I-NOMA and also announce his bid for AIA President. Only a few weeks later Peter won the presidency for the American Institute of Architects!
Emporium Membership Mixer
I-NOMA is more than an organization - it’s a family. We love to take opportunities to welcome in prospective members and meet newly joined ones. In order to allow everyone to informally network outside of the professional realm, I-NOMA hosted a member mixer at Emporium in Fulton Market. This social event also gave members an opportunity to meet our National President, Kimberly Dowdell, AIA, NOMA, NCARB, LEED AP BD+C, who recently relocated to Chicago and became a Principal of HOK as Director of Business Development.
Community Engagement
NOMAtlanta NSPIRE Awards
In late March, I-NOMA members were invited to participate on the jury for NOMAtlanta’s NSPIRE Awards. The awards are minority architects in Atlanta to celebrate excellence and diversity in design. Brian K. Ellison, Ashlen Williams, Jennifer Johnson, Malcolm Joseph, and Walter Street, III were the five jurors - with Smitha Vasan as moderator - that chose the winners of the competition. See more about the winners here!
AeroSTEM Expo
The AeroStar Youth Aviation STEM Expo introduces inner-city youth to the aviation and aerospace fields and mentors career aspirations that may ultimately lead to well-paying, satisfying careers in flight and aerospace. The students along with I-NOMA members participated in flight simulations as well as mini-drone and robot activities. The intent was for one-on-one mentoring opportunities between professionals and the students.