AIA Asheville Leadership

Roll over a photo below to learn more about each AIA leader

Mark Allison President Mark Allison is the principal of Mark Allison, Architect, PLLC. He grew up in Asheville and left in 1986 to attend UNC-Charlotte’s College of Architecture. During that time he had the opportunity to study in Copenhagen for a semester where he developed an appreciation of the simplicity of Danish design. He received his Bachelor of Architecture from Pratt Institute in New York. His firm was founded in Asheville in 2008 following professional affiliations with award winning architecture firms in Asheville and Atlanta. As a LEED Accredited Professional, he brings his concern for the environment to each of his office’s projects with a goal to balance ecology, economy, and luxury. Mark is a Toastmasters c.c., and is an appointee to Asheville’s River District Design Review Committee. He enjoys parenting, skiing, and traveling to new places.
Stuart Smith President-Elect Stuart earned his Bachelor of Architecture at Kent State University in Ohio and has studied in Florence, Italy and Vico Morcote, Switzerland. After 14 years in Colorado, Stuart and his family moved to Asheville to be closer to family and settle down in The Smokey Mountains. He is now serving as the architectural coordinator for the Earth Fare brand of healthy grocery stores headquartered in Fletcher. Outside of the office Stuart enjoys spending time with his wife and daughter Neva, as well as billiards, chess, movies, camping with friends and a good lawn game. Continually wanting to learn new things Stuart enjoys taking classes in photography, watercolor painting, stone carving and welding.
Amy Conner-Murphy Treasurer Amy Conner-Murphy is principal of ACM Design PA, founded nearly a decade ago with focus on custom residential projects. The firm’s integrative approach interlaces the disciplines of architecture, interiors and landscape design to offer clients the full experience of creating home environments. Amy was educated at Auburn University, receiving a Bachelor of Architecture in 1990. Upon graduation, her architectural career began in Charlotte, NC, with a notable firm focused on corporate and commercial architecture. Her experience was expanded while serving with Charlotte, NC and Dallas, TX based firms working on projects all over the Southeast. She has been a licensed architect since 1994. She lives in Arden with husband, Stephen Murphy, and daughters, Rebecca and Julia.
Mark Lusk Secretary Mark Lusk is the director of the Asheville office of Liollio Architecture and has practiced architecture for over 30 years He moved to the Asheville area in 1983, and except for three years, has made the mountains his home. In 2005, he moved back to Charleston, where he grew up, and joined Liollio Architecture. While in Charleston, he served as a founding member on the local AIA Building Enclosure Council Board. Mark moved back to the mountains in 2009 after being asked to help open the Asheville branch of Liollio. Mark attended Clemson University and is licensed in North and South Carolina. He has three children.
Thad Rhoden Past president Thad is the principal at Sparc Design, an architecture and graphic design firm focusing on quality and innovative design. A native of South Carolina, Thad moved to Asheville after completing both his Bachelor of Architecture and his Master of Architecture at Clemson University. A long timer on the board, he has served close to 7 years on the AIA Asheville board and 4 years on the AIA North Carolina board. Something you may not know about Thad is he is a BBQ fanatic and you can find him most weekends in the backyard smoking a variety of meats with a craft brew nearby.
Chris German Director-at-Large Originally from Richmond VA, Chris received a B. Arch from Virginia Polytechnic Institute. Early work experience includes many summers as a construction laborer, learning the building trades from the ground up. After a brief stint in the Pacific Northwest, he earned a M. Arch from University of Texas, Austin, with a concentration in historic preservation. Cooler temperatures and the higher elevations of southern Appalachia eventually led him to settle in Asheville. He has been project architect at Padgett and Freeman Architects since 1997. Chris currently enjoys living in Swannanoa with his wife and two teenage sons. In his free time he can be found cycling the roads and trails of the Blue Ridge.
Joel Helms Director-at-Large Joel Helms is an Associate at PBC+L Architecture and a LEED Accredited Professional. He has enjoyed the distinct cultures of Atlanta, Austin and San Antonio while finishing a Master of Architecture degree, working and raising a family. He will gladly share a story about travelling through Central Mexico or the West Texas desert with fellow AIA Asheville member Chris German. Joel has called Asheville home since 2001. He has recently finished renovating his house and is grateful that his wife and two sons still want to spend time with him after the process.
Scott Huebner Programs Scott Huebner, AIA is a registered Architect in North Carolina and Pennsylvania and is a member of the American Institute of Architects. He received his Master of Architecture and Bachelor of Architecture from Virginia Tech in Blacksburg VA and Virginia Tech’s urban campus, WAAC in Alexandria VA. Scott began his career in the Pacific NW. It was here that he fostered his love of the outdoors, a reverence for the environment, an architecture that merges the modern aesthetic with the traditional, and the expression of craft in construction. Scott is principal at Brickstack Architecture + Design, a full service, progressive architectural practice, specializing in modern, highly crafted residential and light commercial projects, new construction and renovations. In addition to his ambitious architectural pursuits, he is a full time husband, father to Mia and Felix, and part time renovator of his 1920′s house. Though a closet urbanite, he is most happy scaling mountains or cycling the countryside.
Thomas Lawton Residential Architects Tom Lawton has been working in the architectural field for over 20 years. After working for offices in Washington DC, Hilton Head Island SC, Atlanta and Asheville, he opened his practice in Black Mountain, North Carolina in 2001. Tom is a member of AIA, is NCARB certified, LEED Accredited, and is a NC licensed architect. He received his Bachelor of Architecture and Masters of Architecture degrees from Savannah College of Art and Design. As the principal of the firm, Tom works on every phase of design, from schematic design through construction documents. When not practicing architecture, he also enjoys sailing, biking, running, golfing and spending time with his family.
Tripp Anderson Webmaster Tripp has spent most of his career practicing in Asheville. He enjoys being involved in the AIA Asheville board, assisting with AIA events and legislative day. He is a principal of Aiton Anderson Architecture with an office in downtown Asheville. He was fortunate to spend a semester studying architecture in Italy through Clemson University, and he enjoys spending time outdoors with his kids.
Brian Cook Continuing Ed Brian T.H Cook, AIA is a licensed architect at Glazer Architecture and is NCARB certified. He received a Master of Architecture degree from Clemson University and Bachelor of Science degree in Architecture from the University of Cincinnati. Brian has over 12 years' experience working in the architectural field on residential, commercial, and historic preservation projects. He worked in Cincinnati, OH and in Charleston, SC prior to relocating to Asheville in 2005. He currently serves on the Historic Resources Commission of Asheville and Buncombe County. Brian enjoys hiking with his wife and two kids and attempting to restore his 1965 Vespa scooter.
Jackie Schauer Membership Jacquelyn Schauer Architect, PA is a small Asheville firm that has focused on addition and renovation projects since 1982. Jackie earned a Master of Architecture and Master of Social Work at Washington University in St. Louis in 1975. Jackie has played a leadership role in AIA Asheville for many years, including seven years as an officer or director and two years as membership chair. She has also represented AIA Asheville on the Asheville-Buncombe Minority Business Commission from 2000 to 2003, serving one year as its Vice-Chairman. During her term as section president in 2006, AIA Asheville received an AIA150 grant to fund a community re-design of the I-26 connector. The following year, she helped establish the Asheville Design Center as an independent non-profit and served as Co–chair of its first Board of Directors. Jackie has two grown daughters and spends every spare moment she can outdoors growing vegetables, fruit, herbs, flowers and hops in her cottage garden.
Nicole Szlatenyi Associates Director Nicole Szlatenyi is an intern architect. She recently attained LEED™ accredited professional certification and is working hard towards obtaining her NC architectural license. Nicole received her Masters of Architecture degree from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in 2007 and prior to that earned her BFA in Interior Design from Virginia Commonwealth University. Nicole enjoys living in West Asheville, fixing up her 1920’s bungalow, and spending time in the garden with her dog Riva.
Myles Alexander YAF Director Myles is the founding principal of Alexander Design Studio, a firm that focuses on designing both fiscally and environmentally responsible architecture for public and private clients. Growing up in rural Six Mile, SC, Myles learned the skills of welding, fabrication, design and construction from his father who owned a structural steel erection company; even taking over the operations of the family business during his summer breaks. Myles received his Bachelor of Science in Design in 2001 and his Master of Architecture in 2005 from Clemson University, moving to Asheville with his family shortly after.
Bill Dodge Oversight Committee Bill and his wife Ann returned to his native Asheville in retirement. A member of the class of 1957 at NCSU, Bill had an office for practice of architecture in Raleigh for 30 years. Some of his more notable designs are the Albermarle Building and the Restoration of the North Carolina State Capitol in Raleigh; Fetzer Gymnasium, Old East and Old West Dormitories, plus the Exterior Restoration of Playmaker Theatre in Chapel Hill. Bill served as president of the Raleigh Section of Architects, the NC Association of Professions, The Raleigh Historic Sites Commission and served for a number of years as chairman of AIANC Public Relations Committee. In recent years, Bill has been very active with AIA Asheville, serving on the Board of Directors and chairing several committees. He has contributed much to his community, and the profession of Architecture.
Mary Fierle Executive Director Mary Fierle serves as Section Assistant to AIA Asheville. A former Business Development Coordinator for the City of Asheville’s Downtown Development office, Mary also worked as staff coordinator for the City’s Urban Trail program. Prior to moving to Asheville in 1993, she was Public Relations Manager for the Historic Savannah Foundation in Georgia. She has worked in public relations for nearly 20 years, and has held positions with Marriott Corporation, Carnival Cruise Lines, the 1982 World’s Fair and the Atlanta Braves. She has a BS degree in Public Relations from Georgia Southern University. Mary lives in Asheville with her husband, Tim, an architect and AIA member with Buncombe County School System, and their two young children.