Hi everyone. My name’s Nick Caravella. I am an architect that has moved on to the construction technology sector. I work with Avicado Construction Technology Solutions. And my focus really has been helping people better use technology so that we can improve the way we work in the profession. My involvement throughout the AIA has been widespread for many national to local roles around being an emerging professional. So I was serving on the NAC as the Regional Associate Director . I also served on the Young Architects Forum as the Region Director for the Western Mountain Region. And I also was on the Secretary Advisories Council. I was involved in a lot of activities that spanned from creating EPIC, which is the emerging professionals community in New Jersey, helping with the ARE prep as the app that’s provided by the AIA to emerging professionals and so have always been involved in the community. Outside the AIA, I also help found the NOMA chapter in Colorado as their Executive Director.
Evelyn and I first met when I was an incoming Regional Associate Director for New Jersey. This was the first time I was really going into a National role and really trying to get my handle on the ropes. Evelyn and the YAF and the other returning YARDs were really helpful in setting the stage and letting us understand the importance of these emerging professional.
Evelyn really showed a great amount of ownership and care about what it meant for this profession to grow, and I was blown away by how organized and prepared her and the rest of the young architects were in making sure that we would be informed members of the AIA that helped our leadership role continue to grow.
I think Evelyn brings a wealth of experience and background to our profession that is quite honestly refreshing. With her interest in technology and innovating practice it really shows that she has a passion for thinking about the way the architecture industry works today and how it can be working tomorrow.
And that’s what I think the AIA needs is somebody who is willing to lead and champion new ideas for the organization so that the members can start to see all of the different things that architects can bring to architecture. I think it’s the right time because Evelyn has been involved with issues from being a practitioner all the way through being an emerging professional. And she really has her finger on the pulse of what it means to be somebody in this profession who’s trying to grow and trying to do more with it. And that’s something that I know that Evelyn’s gonna bring to her presidency here at the American Institute of Architects.
And a big reason of why I feel that she is a valuable candidate in this race.