South Dakota's representative on the AIA Small Firm Exchange (SFx) will cycle off the group next year, creating an opening for a new AIA SD member on this important national group. The SFx advances the mutual interests of architects practicing in small firms—those with fewer than 10 full-time employees. In South Dakota, that amounts to roughly 80% of firms, so the new representative will be in good company.

Members must use the AIA's form to apply by Monday, Sept. 15.

The SFx is “a resource to navigate the ups and downs of firm ownership when you don’t have a dedicated department to handle the day-to-day business side of things,” says Keith Neuharth, AIA, NCARB. He’s in his third year on the SFx, which consists of a board and 53 state representatives. Monthly Zoom meetings focus on goals set by the SFx’s board. Members also can expect to take part in three to four additional Zoom events each year that highlight special speakers on relevant topics. New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania are among the states that host annual in-person gatherings for small firms—beyond their state or area chapter conventions.

Interested in learning more? Read the full job description here. Keith also invites your questions by phone at (605) 929-2014 or via email at keith@rsa-create.com.