Career StagesNational Associates Committee

Wayne A. Mortensen, Assoc. AIA, NASW, holds an undergraduate degree as well as a Masters in Architecture, Urban Design and Social Work from Washington University. Wayne served as the 20—AIAS National President and worked from the organization’s headquarters in Washington, DC. He was responsible for the organization’s national agenda and student advocacy efforts. His involvement with the AIAS continues today on the Freedom by Design Advisory Council—a program that he helped implement that trains design students to assist low-income and disabled community members through simple design and construction solutions for modifications in their homes.

Wayne has a passion for exploration of the built environment that facilitates the creation of bridging social capitol and civic engagement. His professional aspirations are distinctively “alternative” and include teaching, research and socially-oriented practice. He is hopeful that evidence-based practice will “save the profession.”

Ashley W. Clark, Assoc. AIA, Ashley W. Clark, Assoc. AIA, is the Marketing Manager for The FWA Group Architects in their Charlotte, NC office. Her education in architecture at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte informed her talents in communication design, which enabled her to grow as a marketing professional over the past three years. Ashley's commitment to the AIA is driven by her desire to elevate the value of design, and to help the architects of today recognize the diverse talents and ambitions of the architects of tomorrow.

Ashley first became involved with the AIAS in 2003 as the Chapter President for the American Institute of Architecture Students at UNC Charlotte, as well as the local AIA Charlotte Student Liaison. She was then elected as the 2004-05 South Quad Director on the AIAS National Board. In 2008 she joined the AIA North Carolina Board as the Associate Director for a two-year term, which overlapped her appointment to the AIA National Associates Committee as the South Atlantic Region Associate Director in 2009. She served as the 2011 Chair of the AIA National Associates Committee and is currently serving as the 2012 Associate Director to the AIA National board. She will be the 2013 Associate Representative to the AIA Executive Committee.

William R. Turner, Assoc. AIA, LEED AP BD+C, is a designer in Denver, CO. He has a broad expertise in residential, strawbale, mixed-use urban infill, mid and hi-rise buildings, municipal and development master planning, and entitlement and rezoning consultation. Bill’s project list includes Skye 2905 Urban Flats (Denver CO, 2010), 11th & Gaylord Tower (Denver CO, expected completion 2012); 6th & Farmer Senior Housing (Tempe, Ariz, 2011); and LUX at DU (Denver CO, expected completion, 2012). Bill also has an interest in professional photography and furniture design.

Bill earned a BA in business management at University of Denver and later an M.Arch with honors from the University of Colorado at Denver. He was a member of the Glenn Murcutt Master Class in 2007.

He chaired the AIA National Associates Committee (2010) after having served as the AIA Western Mountain Region’s regional associate director (2009). He chairs AIA Colorado’s Committee on the Environment (2009-2012), and was COTE Denver Knowledge Director (2008-2009), and student director on AIA Denver’s board. He has been a panelist at the 2010 AIA National Convention, and at the 2009 FORUM, the convention of the American Institute of Architecture Students. Bill is a member of the 2011-2012 AIA Council of Emerging Professionals, 2010 AIA Honor Awards Jury, and AIA 2013 Convention Planning Committee (Denver).

Bill is a member of the board of the Friends of Conifer Parks and Recreation (2009-2011), founding member of Rocky Mountain BMX and a father of three sons.

April O. Trojniak, Assoc. AIA, is currently working as an intern at BCS Design, Inc. Throughout her career, she has had experience in the student sector. Designing universities, academic buildings, unions, dormitories, and master planning. Her job includes many diverse roles which has helped her in completing her IDP hours.

April studied at the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago. She had the privilege of learning in the historic Crown Hall. She took a year off to grow her family with the birth of her first child and finished her studies at the University of Kansas, where she graduated from the five year Bachelors of Architecture program.

April officially became a member of the American Institute of Architects in September 2005. Her involvement with the AIA started during her college studies where she served as her university’s AIAS Chapter president, vice-president, and secretary. April is involved in her local Construction Specifications Institute (CSI). She served on the board for two years; during her time on the board she helped organize many events which included the annual Design Expo. April is also involved in the Women in Design chapter in Kansas City. She enjoys serving the youth by being a Youth Friend and also volunteers her time teaching at the local schools.

Patrick Thomas Weber, Assoc. AIA, has been in the Nashville, Tennessee office of Looney Ricks Kiss Architects working on a variety of projects for the past four years, from single-family home additions to large-scale urban designs. Patrick joined AIA Middle Tennessee soon after moving to Nashville. He is currently serving on the Board of Directors as an Associate Director, assisting with the Emerging Professionals and Programs committees. He has also been involved in the steering committee initiating a local Committee on the Environment (COTE) chapter, the Tennessee chapter of the Institute for Classical Architecture (ICA) and served on a Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI) committee addressing the LEED for Homes program. He has volunteered the past two years with Rebuilding Together Nashville as a house captain.

Patrick graduated from the University of Maryland in 2002 with a Bachelor of Science in Architecture. After working a year in Takoma Park, Maryland, he attended Graduate school at the University of Miami (FL), graduating in December, 2005 with a Masters in Architecture and a Masters in Architecture in Suburb & Town Design. Patrick completed the Intern Development Program (IDP) in 2008 and is now pursuing licensure in his home state of Missouri by taking the Architect Registration Examination (ARE).

Matthew S. Hart, Assoc. AIA, has been with IPG Architects in Valdosta, Georgia, since 2005. He is currently engaged in the Education Studio of the firm and is project manager for Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia, The Technical College System of Georgia, and K-12 projects.

Matt has been actively involved in the AIA since joining in 2007. He has served on his local Chapter’s Board (Southwest Georgia) as the Communication/Education Chair (2007-2008) and is currently serving as Secretary (2009-Present). His responsibilities include publishing the bimonthly AIA SWGA Angle, scheduling chapter meetings, and advocating for AIA SWGA and AIA Georgia on the local and state level.

Gary Demele, AIA, NCARB

Laura Meador, Assoc. AIA, LEED AP, is the 2011-2012 National Vice President of the American Institute of Architecture Students. A graduate of Louisiana State University, her leadership involvement started early in school through professional outreach to her community as President of both her AIAS Chapter and College of Art and Design. After serving as South Quadrant Director in 2010-2011, she was elected Vice President.

As Vice President, Laura focuses on educational issues as they pertain to emerging professionals by serving on the ACSA Board of Directors as the AIAS Liaison. She also works with the Intern Development Program Advisory Council to gear the program toward relevant material that inspires students to pursue licensure. As a member of the Council for Emerging Professionals, Laura works on behalf of the AIAS with the NAC and YAF to strengthen the successful progression of a student into licensure. Ultimately, Laura strives to create a passionate, informed, and proactive student voice through professional development, opportunities for advocacy, and educational resources facilitated by the American Institute of Architecture Students. 

Erin Murphy, AIA, LEED AP, is a Director for the AIA Center for Emerging Professionals. Erin is a staff liaison to the AIA National Associates Committee (NAC) and the AIA Young Architects Forum (YAF). She also identifies and researches trends regarding the path to licensure and integrates this knowledge into programs, initiatives, and advocacy efforts for emerging professionals.

Erin previously worked as a Project Architect at Bowie Gridley Architects in Washington, DC, and as a Project Manager and Staff Architect for Robert A.M. Stern Architects, LLP in New York. Erin earned a Bachelor of Architecture from Syracuse University’s School of Architecture.