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EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT

www.aia-mn.org

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AIA Minnesota
Executive Vice President
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ORGANIZATIONAL OVERVIEW
The American Institute of Architects Minnesota (AIA Minnesota) is the statewide professional
association for architects. It is a state component of AIA National. Three local chapters-- AIA
Minneapolis, AIA Northern Minnesota and AIA St. Paul, are associated with and receive services from
AIA Minnesota. AIA Minnesota has nearly 2,300 members. AIA Minnesota provides services to all
chapters, produces a regional convention, publishes the award- winning magazine Architecture MN,
lobbies on behalf of the profession at the state legislature, and delivers continuing education to all
members.
AIA Minnesota is headquartered in beautiful
offices at the International Market Square in
Minneapolis, and is governed by a board of
directors made up of 24 industry leaders
from around the state of Minnesota.

Staff members describe the culture of AIA Minnesota as cohesive, healthy, service-oriented, collegial
and stable. They shared that the organization has consistently upheld a passion for excellence and a
high standard of commitment to members. The management team works well together, delivering
programs that are described by members as top notch. The AIA-MN offices are welcoming to
members and other guests, making it a place that people like to meet to discuss current issues of the
profession.
Some examples of the many programs offered by AIA Minnesota include:
Professional Development:
Annual Convention and Product
Exposition
Continuing Education Programs and
Seminars
Annual Retreats
Involvement in one of 20 Committees
Leadership Forum
Communications:
Architecture MN magazine
Website and social media
Matrix E-Newsletter
Videos
Member Services:
AIA Minnesota Awards
Annual Fellows Luncheon
Holiday Parties
Design Day events
Member Job Bank
Member Directory

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Community Involvement:
Minnesota Architectural Foundation
Volunteer Mentoring for New Architects
Affordable Housing award in cooperation with the McKnight Foundation
Search for Shelter charrette
Statewide Minnesota Design Team
The Minnesota Architectural Foundation serves as the charitable arm of AIA Minnesota, and was
established to provide advocacy and resources for the advancement of architecture in Minnesota.
The Foundation derives virtually all of its funding from direct contributions from individual AIA
members, member organizations and other stakeholders, and supports programs such as
scholarships, fellowships and leadership development.

OVERVIEW OF THE POSITION

The Executive Vice President serves as the chief executive of the organization and manages a
professional staff of eight employees, an annual operating budget of approximately $2 million and the
assets of AIA Minnesota, serving a membership of over 2,300 individuals. The EVP also provides
leadership to three AIA Chapters, the Minneapolis Chapter, Northern Chapter and Saint Paul Chapter.
This position is a member ex-officio of the Board of Directors, reporting to the President of the Board
of Directors. This position is open due to the retirement of long-time leader Beverly Hauschild-Baron.
The Executive Vice President plans, formulates and recommends strategic direction, policies, and
programs, including financial and budgeting programs, consistent with sound fiscal management and
the organizations strategic plan.
As the senior leader of the organization, including the three chapters and Foundation, the Executive
Vice President is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the organization and the Foundation.
The Executive Vice President works closely with the Board of Directors and serves as staff liaison to
several committees. The Executive Vice President ensures that the officers and the boards of AIA
Minnesota, t h e t h r e e c h a p t e r s and the Minnesota Architectural Foundation are kept fully
informed of the financial status and operations of both entities.
The Executive Vice President oversees the development and management of appropriate budgetary
and financial controls and procedures, including the annual audit, with the assistance and guidance of
the Financial Manager, as well as the executive committees and boards of AIA Minnesota, the three
Chapters and the Foundation. The Executive Vice President ensures proper administration of all
authorized procedures regarding funds management and keeps the boards apprised of financial and
operational issues.
The Executive Vice President is ultimately responsible for generating revenue for the organization and
fundraising for the Foundation. AIA Minnesota derives its funding from dues paid by its members, and
numerous other revenue-generating programs. The Foundation derives its funding from
contributions. The Executive Vice President maintains positive relations with related professional
associations, government agencies, partners and vendors to promote the best interest of AIA
Minnesota. The Executive Vice President also directs public policy development, and works with
legislative liaisons and elected officials. He or she has government relations responsibilities, including
service on related committees, such as co-chair of the Building Jobs Coalition.

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AIA Minnesota is committed to promoting diversity in leadership, committees, and in the profession
as a whole. The Executive Vice President is responsible for implementing diversity initiatives in the
strategic plan, and for ensuring that the organization and Foundation promote diversity in the
course of their operations.
The Executive Vice President is responsible for using best practices to hire, supervise, coach, and
manage all staff within the adopted budget, guidelines and policies of the AIA Minnesota. In doing so,
the Executive Vice President should foster a workplace environment that promotes positive employee
relations, a culture of cooperation and mutual respect, and focuses on outstanding performance.

REPORTING RELATIONSHIP
The Executive Vice President reports and is responsible to the President, Executive Committee, and
Board of Directors of AIA Minnesota. Positions reporting directly to the Executive Vice President
include: Membership Director, Continuing Education Director, Communications Director, Program
Director, Financial Manager and Sales Director.
The Executive Vice President maintains relationships with a number of key stakeholders to AIA-MN.
Among these are AIA-MN members, board and committee members, related and allied professional
organizations, component staff and leadership, University of Minnesota College of Design, AIA
National staff and leadership, elected officials, Foundation and PAC volunteers and board members.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

Act as the organizational leader to help develop, articulate and implement the strategic plan of
AIA Minnesota by clearly articulating organizational goals for financial and programmatic stability
as well as growth opportunities for the future.

Motivate and inspire others to act by exhibiting visionary leadership, setting clear direction and
clearly communicating the organizations vision.

Invest in staff excellence. Support, develop and retain qualified and committed staff, particularly
supporting and strengthening the senior management team and the capacity of core internal
functions. The Executive Vice President should have a key role in perpetuating an internal culture
that makes AIA Minnesota an attractive place to work.

Serve as a team player, utilizing the leadership team as a resource for its member and industry
expertise, partner relationships, operations management and focus on results.

Maintain strong and effective internal relationships, acting as a team leader and a team player.

Build and maintain strong external relationships with members, volunteers, government leaders,
community leaders and partner organizations. Also, develop staff in their abilities and
opportunities to build these relationships.

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Manage the financial resources of the organization. Plan annual budgets effectively. Monitor
expenditures and income. Present financial reports and narrative to the board of directors.

Be a positive ambassador for the professions supported by AIA-MN, the geographic scope of AIAMN and the collective contributions of AIA-MN members in the region.

Collaborate with the Board and Executive Committee in making strategic and timely decisions. Act
as ex-officio member of the board; provide staff leadership and counsel to board committees.

Act as liaison and represent AIA Minnesota to AIA National.

QUALIFICATIONS
Candidates for this key executive position should be experienced, visionary, and innovative
leaders. At least 10-12 years of experience are desired, with experience in professional association
or member organization management or related background required. He or she will have an
active curiosity and passion for the purpose and work of AIA Minnesota and its members.
The successful candidate will be a person of integrity and stature in the community with proven
leadership and large-scale program management experience, exemplary administrative
management skills, and a strong commitment to the mission, vision and values of AIA-MN.
A Masters degree in a related field such as business administration or public administration,
architecture or related field is preferred. Other essential skills and experience include:

Demonstrated success in organizational leadership, with proven competence in guiding the

development and implementation of a strategic plan, successful institutional positioning, and
translating ideas into reality.
The ability and commitment to envision and describe the long-term future of the organization in a
way that inspires and motivates key stakeholders.
The ability and commitment to be an engaging ambassador and advocate for AIA Minnesota with
key business, community, and government leaders. This includes the ability to skillfully manage
the needs of competing stakeholders.
Experience in the field of business administration and/or professional association management,
with experience in association management in a related field preferred.
Familiarity with the Minneapolis/St. Paul Twin Cities business community or the ability to quickly
make connections in the community is important.
Knowledge of current trends and emerging models for professional associations is preferred.
Proven, practical knowledge of program management, marketing, public relations, related
technology and publications.
Proven administrative competence in areas such as financial management, budgeting,
marketing, technology, planning and goal setting.
Experience managing collaborative organizations. Able to grow and lead a high performing team.
Experience and skill working with a professional board of directors.
A positive orientation to change and new ways of doing business, including the ability to positively
manage change initiatives.
Demonstrated experience and ability in volunteer management.
Demonstrated ability to prioritize and manage multiple projects.

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Executive Vice President
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CANDIDATE CHARACTERISTICS
To be successful as the leader of AIA Minnesota, the candidate must be:
A strategic thinker and innovator
An ethical leader with the highest level of integrity
A politically astute connector with a proven ability to build strategic relationships
A proven team leader who manages and develops internal talent
An effective communicator and listener
A skilled public speaker
Committed to expanding programs and services in response to member needs
Flexible, with a demonstrated ability to multi-task
Skilled in management including operations, administration and finance
Able to promote volunteer participation and grow leaders
Understanding and appreciation for the work of architects and the Architecture profession

COMPENSATION
The compensation package for this position is competitive and attractive. It includes an executive pay
structure and participation in the organizations benefits plan.

PRESENTING THE TWIN CITIES OF MINNEAPOLIS AND ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA

The Twin Cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul are a unique blend of small town and major cosmopolitan
hub. Both urban cores boast a thriving business atmosphere. Minneapolis is the larger and more
commercial of the two cities, and Saint Paul, as the state capital, is home to state government and has
a more historical vibe. Outside of the central downtowns, however, both cities have many distinct
neighborhoods, and residents identify more with their individual neighborhood than with the larger
city as a whole.

Both cities share a common root of being river towns, and the outdoors is still a major attraction for
residents and tourists alike to this day. In addition to the mighty Mississippi River, there are over 100
lakes (over 900 including the suburbs), over 250 parks, and miles of biking and walking trails. Nearly
every weekend in the summer there are several outdoor active events for participants and spectators-triathlons, biking races, running races, boat races, water skiing competitions, golf tournaments, and
more.

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Executive Vice President
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The active lifestyle of Twin Cities residents doesn't lie dormant during the winter. There are miles of
cross-country skiing trails, several downhill ski areas within an hour drive, ice skating, snowmobile
riding, sledding, and--of course--ice fishing.

For those who prefer activity of the spectator variety, the Twin Cities are home to the major sports
teams: Minnesota Twins, Minnesota Vikings, Minnesota Wild, Minnesota Timberwolves, Minnesota
Lynx, Minnesota United FC (soccer), and Minnesota Swarm (lacrosse). There is also a minor league
baseball team, the Saint Paul Saints.
The Twin Cities have hosted the World Series, Super Bowl, NCAA Basketball Finals, the USGA U. S.
Open, the PGA Championship, and the Special Olympics. Target Field was the setting for baseball's
All-Star Game; in 2018, the Super Bowl will be played in a newly built state-of-the-art stadium.

But the Twin Cities have more to offer than participatory and spectator sporting events. There are
countless arts and culture offerings here. The Grammy Award-winning Minnesota Orchestra has a
reputation as one of the top orchestras in the world. Since the early 1960s, the Guthrie Theatre has
staged A-plus shows from the classical to the contemporary. Popular national shows and performers
also tour through the Twin Cities year round at stages in both Minneapolis and Saint Paul, and at the
University.

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Executive Vice President
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There are over 30 theatre venues, 10 dance companies, and 30 classical music groups in the cities of
Minneapolis and Saint Paul alone.
For the museumgoer, there are over 60 museums in the Twin Cities. The Science Museum of
Minnesota, the Minnesota History Center and the Minnesota Children's Museum (all in Saint Paul) are
highly interactive learning and fun experiences for the entire family. The Minneapolis Institute of Arts
has a collection of over 100,000 pieces. The Walker Art Center has been called "possibly the best
contemporary art museum in the U. S." by Newsweek, and has over 11,000 pieces. The University of
Minnesota's Weisman Art Museum is also a contemporary art destination.
Part of the vibrant fabric of the region, the Architectural Community in the Twin Cities and Minnesota
is robust and active around the world. Known for their quality and expertise in design, architecture
firms who are members of AIA Minnesota have been recognized nationally and internationally for
their contribution to both the profession and the communities they serve. Home to a number of large
firms with multiple national and international locations, the Twin Cities boasts more top rated
architects than many other major metropolitan areas. These firms have earned recognition for the
quality of their design work, their business practices, and their commitment to fostering a more
sustainable built environment.
Beyond the outdoor, sports, entertainment, and culture, perhaps the biggest attraction for the Twin
Cities is the lifestyle. Forbes hailed Minneapolis and Saint Paul as the nation's healthiest cities. USA
Today named Saint Paul as North America's "Most Romantic City."
The Twin Cities offer award-winning restaurants (several chefs have been regional James Beard Award
winners). In addition to the popular Mall of America, there are plenty of unique shopping districts in
both cities and in the suburbs.
Greater Minnesota provides regions of beauty and history, a land of special places. Visitors and locals
enjoy the woods and waters of northern Minnesota which are a great destination for outdoor
recreation ranging from fishing, boating, hiking and biking to camping and canoeing. Southern
Minnesota calms the spirit with stunning prairie views, rich farmland, fascinating caves and much more.
The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness was established in 1978 by Congress as a restricted onemillion acre area in northernmost Minnesota. The pristine yet rugged area is visited by more than
200,000 visitors annually and was named one of National Geographic magazines 50 Places to see
before you die.

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Executive Vice President
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BALLINGER|LEAFBLAD INVITES YOU TO CONTACT US FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Marcia Ballinger, PhD

Lars Leafblad, MBA
Co-Founder/Principal
Co-Founder/Principal
651-341-4840
612-598-7547
marcia@ballingerleafblad.com lars@ballingerleafblad.com

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