Pillars Leadership Program
AIA Kansas City's Pillars Leadership Program is a training program that prepares a representative cross section of the chapter’s emerging leaders for their role in shaping the future of both the architectural profession and the greater Kansas City metropolitan area. The training program includes active participation in programs and exposure to community leaders and issues. Applications are accepted for the program once each year. Criteria for acceptance include proven career success and community involvement. The benefits of the program include: development of relationship skills, skill development, team performance, and chapter and community leadership.
Topics that will be discussed throughout the year include: politics and advocacy, academia and mentorship, business and legal issues, project delivery and partnership, communication methodologies, outreach, industry trends and economic development.
2024 - 2025 PILLARS CLASS
Caleb Bertels, AIA - Hoefer Welker
Steve Burton, AIA - BRR Architecture
Rachel Dumsky, AIA - NSPJ Architects
Andra Eglitis, AIA - SFS Architecture
Allison Kelly, Assoc. AIA - Pulse Design Group
Phillip Perkins, AIA - HNTB
Bruno Rodriguez Escobedo, Assoc. AIA - Populous
Claire Ryan, AIA - Black & Veatch
Tanvi Sanghvi, AIA - Helix Architecture + Design
Keegan Thompson, Assoc. AIA - DLR Group
Melissa Watson, Assoc. AIA - HOK
Kathryn Eckhoff - Wallace Design Collective
Travis Kingsley - 5BY5 Engineers
Kate Moeder - Hufft
Wesley Morris - Garver
Zach Russell - PMA Engineering
Pillars January 2025 Overview
The January Pillars session braved the cold after the big snowstorm and explored the relationship between government and development, focusing on the City of Overland Park. In this session, the group explored how Overland Park’s past has led to one of the largest and most successful suburbs in the Midwest, how government attempts to guide and encourage development, and what the results of those efforts are.
Overland Park traces its roots back to 1905 with the arrival of its founder William B. Strang Jr., who platted subdivisions, including one named “Overland Park,” along a military roadway southwest of Kansas City. Strang envisioned a self-sustaining, well planned, “park-like” community that had strong commerce, quality education, vibrant neighborhoods, convenient transportation, and accommodating recreational facilities. The city today encompasses 75.6 square miles of Johnson County, and has more than 200,000 residents, making it the second most populous city in Kansas and metropolitan Kansas City.
