What is the life cycle of an architecture and design practice? Why, and how do architecture and design firms evolve? How do firm leaders and owners navigate transformation, and keep the firm spirit alive during periods of transition?

Hear from architect and SO|arch founder, Elisabeth Sporer, AIA, CIC and her guests—Dong Kim, AIA from the San Francisco Bay Area; Amanda Behnke, AIA from San Diego, California; Jill Neubauer, AIA from Falmouth, Massachusetts.

In this candid and enlightening conversation, they will discuss milestones, pinch points and opportunities from a variety of perspectives—respectively, as a firm leader-turned business strategy consultant and leadership coach; an owner who led the merger of his small firm with a large cross-border A+E firm; a new principal at a cross-market midsized sector practice; and the founder of a nearly 30-year-old residential design studio.

They will discuss ownership structures, and strategies around succession planning and leadership transitions.

Registration has ended for this program.

Learning Objectives (1 LU Pending)

Participants will:

• discern how firm culture is tied to personal values
• gain an understanding of necessary steps for succession planning
• add to their knowledge of best practices for firm structure and organizational planning; and
• be able to adapt best practices in leadership transitions for their business

About the Host

Elisabeth Sporer, AIA, LEED AP, CIC
A+D Business Strategist and SO|arch Founder

Elisabeth Sporer works with CEOs, founders and leadership teams to build successful A+D firms through an integral approach that combines business strategy consulting with leadership coaching. Based in Northern California, she has presented at major AIA chapters in the region, including AIA Los Angles, AIA SF, AIA East Bay and AIA Central Valley, on topics like international practice [“Unlearning the Metric System” in 2019], mentorship [“High Performance Mentorship” in 2020], entrepreneurship [“The Free Solo Practice” in 2019] and business strategy [“Blueprint for Success” in 2020 and “Think-Time Tuesdays: Inside the A+D Studio” in 2021]. She holds a Master of Science in Advanced Architecture Design from Columbia University in The City of New York and a Master of Architecture and a Bachelor of Architecture, both from TU Berlin.

About the Panelists

Amanda Behnke, AIA
Principal, hanna gabriel wells | San Diego, CA

A licensed Architect in California, Amanda brings 15 years of professional experience in large and small scale projects, from core and shell to interiors. Amanda has delivered projects from concept through construction in a diverse range of markets including commercial, healthcare, civic, and residential. A relentless designer, Amanda is always looking for opportunities to deliver the project story through a building’s tectonics and detailing. Amanda’s strong technical background includes experience using BIM for design-bid-build, design build, and IPD project delivery methods. She has a BArch from the University of Miami.

Dong Kim, AIA, LEED AP
Principal, DIALOG | San Francisco, CA

Dong Kim is a partner in DIALOG’s San Francisco studio. He provides architectural design services for various public clients across Northern California. These services range from preliminary visioning projects to nitty-gritty building system retrofits. One of his most noteworthy project is the Rainbow Recreation Center in East Oakland and he collaborated with Better SF to generate a pro bono feasibility and vision study of potential modular homeless shelter design. Dong obtained his BA in architecture from UC Berkeley and has taught 3D modeling courses at Chabot College. He continues to enhance his practice through research in the latest technological advancements.

Jill Neubauer, AIA
Owner, Jill Neubauer Architects | Falmouth, MA

Jill Neubauer established her firm Jill Neubauer Architects (JNA)in 1994. With a staff of 12, her projects range from renovations of seaside historic homes to the design of and new modern buildings. An advocate for “esthetic justice,” Jill is involved with the local built environment and community housing. She is a longstanding member of the USGBC and embraces LEED best practices and all aspects of sustainable design. Jill received her BFA in Photography and Drawing at Cornell, and an MArch from Harvard’s Graduate School of Design. Being 61, in her 28th year of firm ownership, Jill is working toward an internal transition with a key staff person who shares this goal.