About

Dan Kirby is a Florida-based architect and urban planner with a career-long commitment to urban design, placemaking in urban environments. He is currently principal and vice president with Jacobs, a global professional and technical services solutions company. His project experience includes major building programs for corporate and industrial buildings, hotels, sustainable design, urban design, emerging technology and the development of workforce housing. Kirby has been recognized as recipient of the Gold Medal from the Florida Association of the American Institute of Architects (AIA Florida) and as a Distinguished Alumnus of the University of Florida School of Architecture. Kirby has the rare distinction of having been honored as a Fellow in both the American Institute of Architects and the American Institute of Certified Planners.

In addition, Dan currently serves as president and board chair for Architects Foundation. Kirby was a member of the AIA Strategic Council, Past President of AIA Florida, former Commission President for the Orlando Utilities Commission, was a two-term planning and zoning commission chair, served as a member of the Orange County Urban Design Commission. He has been an adjunct instructor for design in the architecture program at the University of Central Florida and has also been named to the Florida 500 as one of the most influential businesspeople in Florida as selected by Florida Trend magazine.

Over decades building in New York and beyond, Ken has realized projects that inspire, enhance the public realm, and cement the city as a place where the most complex ideas can be built. His work includes One World Trade Center—the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere—and 7 World Trade Center, both built under extraordinary circumstances. He has led major large-scale, mixed use projects including 35 Hudson Yards, Deutsche Bank Center, and Manhattan West. Most recently, he managed SOM’s interiors work at JPMorganChase’s 270 Park Avenue and oversaw the complete transformation of the reimagined  Waldorf Astoria—the most significant renovation, restoration, and preservation project in NYC’s history.

After serving many roles at The Center for Architecture and AIA New York, including Treasurer and Vice President, he became AIANY President during COVID (2021). In addition to his role at the Architects Foundation, he serves on the Urban Green Council Board of Directors, and until this fall, represented SOM at the Large Firm Roundtable.

Timothy Hawk, FAIA is nationally recognized as an architectural practice leader, designer, and educator. His efforts have led to higher design quality among architects, and he was honored as a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects in 2014 in recognition of his national influence. Currently, Hawk leads WSA, an interdisciplinary design studio, where his practice strength focuses on the adaptation of buildings to implement organizational strategies. Hawk has served as a board member and officer of the American Institute of Architects, liaison to the American Institute of Architecture Students, and received the 2020 AIA Ohio Mentor Award.

With a background in architecture and a passion for nonprofit leadership, Milan advances mission-driven work in built and cultural environments. She is Senior Director of Preservation Programs at the National Trust for Historic Preservation, leading HOPE Crew and Preserve Route 66. HOPE Crew provides hands-on preservation training for the next generation of tradespeople and has expanded partnerships with Historically Black Colleges and Universities, engaging both trades and architecture students in documentation and technology that support the preservation movement. Preserve Route 66 activates communities along the corridor through programs and events that increase awareness and visitation.

Previously, Milan was Director of Workforce and Emerging Professionals at the American Institute of Architects, supporting early-career professionals and women architects. She serves on the Executive Committee of the Architects Foundation Board. Milan holds a Master of Architecture from Georgia Institute of Technology and a BA from University of Maryland, College Park.

Elizabeth has extensive experience in non-profit development, recently having worked at the Smithsonian American Art Museum as the Senior Development Officer for 11 years, at other cultural organisations, and at two universities in their engineering departments.  Worked in Congress for five years and in two corporations as an analyst.  Has served on several cultural institutions boards.

Kathy Denise Dixon, FAIA, NOMAC, LEED AP+, is a licensed architect, educator, and author with more than 32 years of experience spanning civic, educational, commercial, and government projects. As Principal and Founder of K. Dixon Architecture PLLC, she has led the design and delivery of complex facilities including K–12 schools, public safety buildings, cultural institutions, healthcare environments, and large-scale commercial developments throughout the Washington, D.C. metropolitan region.

Also a tenured Associate Professor at the University of the District of Columbia, she teaches design studio, professional practice, sustainable design, and architectural design theory. She is the co-author of The Business of Architecture: Your Guide to a Financially Successful Firm (Routledge, 2017), a resource for architects building and sustaining successful practices. A Past National President of the National Organization of Minority Architects, she was elevated to the AIA College of Fellows in 2017 and received the 2022 AIA Whitney M. Young Jr. Award for advancing equity and increasing licensure among architects of color.

Benjamin Prosky became President of the Richard Hampton Jenrette Foundation in 2023. Prosky has devoted his career to a range of projects dedicated to the promotion and interpretation of architecture and design, previously serving as the Executive Director of American Institute of Architects New York Chapter (AIANY) and the Center for Architecture. He has held prior leadership roles at several academic institutions, serving as Assistant Dean for Communications at Harvard University Graduate School of Design and Director of Special Events and External Affairs at Columbia University Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation. In earlier roles at the Canadian Center for Architecture in Montreal, and the Institute français d’architecture in Paris, his work focused on developing public educational programs and exhibitions. He currently serves on the board of directors of NYCxDesign and the Association of Architecture Organizations (AAO). A native New Yorker, Prosky divides his time between Brooklyn and Woodstock, New York.

Yentil Rawlinson is Vice President of Belonging, Culture, & Employee Experience for The Sherwin-Williams Company. She has over 10 years of experience building talent, culture, and community impact strategies in large, global organizations that enable business growth and performance.

Since joining the company in 2018, Sherwin-Williams has been recognized by Forbes as one of America’s Best Employers for Diversity, America’s Best Employers for Women, America’s Best Employers for New Grads, Best Brands for Social Impact, America’s Best Employers for Veterans, and Best Company’s for Company Culture.

Yentil holds a BA in Sociology from The Ohio State University, an MS in Management from Indiana Wesleyan University, and is a trained Lean Six Sigma Green Belt through Case Western Reserve University. For her professional endeavors, she has been recognized as a recipient of the Top 25 under 35 Movers & Shakers Award by the Cleveland Professional 20/30 Club, Rising Buckeye Award by The Ohio State University Alumni Association, a Her-Story Honoree by Radio One Cleveland, the Overall Excellence in HR Award by Crain’s Cleveland Business, and several other industry awards.