Landscape Architect Articles

ASLA Leadership12-06-16 | Feature

ASLA Leadership

As president of ASLA this year, Chad Danos, FASLA, brought focus to the lack of ethnic and gender diversity in the field of landscape architecture. He also advocated for LAs to take a greater role in stewardship of the land and more involvement in emerging issues.

Vaughn Rinner, FASLA, was sworn in as the 2017 president of ASLA in New Orleans. She is an Iowa State University graduate with over 40 years of landscape architecture experience. She has been active in the Virginia ASLA Chapter, and since her move to Seattle has led advocacy efforts for the Washington ASLA Chapter.

Gregory Miller, ASLA, was sworn in as the 2017 president-elect in New Orleans. He will become president of ASLA at the 2017 ASLA meeting in Los Angeles. Miller is a graduate of Texas A&M University, and president of Morrow Reardon Wilkinson Miller Ltd. in Albuquerque.

Chad Danos, FASLA, has served as ASLA president this year. Danos is director of landscape architecture for the multidisciplinary firm Duplantis Design Group, PC, in Baton Rouge. His firm was among those featured in LASN's Nov. issue "Firms of the South." Duplantis has four Louisiana offices, plus an office in Houston. Danos is licensed in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida.

Danos' involvement with ASLA began while at Louisiana State University. He relates that at LSU he was greatly influenced by Dr. Robert "Doc" S. Reich, FASLA. Danos became president of the ASLA Louisiana Student Chapter and was on the steering committee for LABASH '89 at LSU, then served as president of the ASLA Louisiana Chapter (1996-97).

Danos has been extremely active in ASLA: vice president of government affairs (2012–2013); trustee (2003–2011); finance and investments committee (2013–2014); chair of the government affairs advisory committee (2006–2011); licensure committee (2010–2012); Nomination Committee (2006–2007); Disaster Response Task Force (2005–2008); and leadership development committee (2003–2004). Danos' service to the profession was recognized by induction into the 2011 Class of ASLA Fellows.

As ASLA president Danos has brought focus to the profession's lack of ethnic and gender diversity. He has advocated for landscape architects to take a greater role and responsibility for the stewardship of the land and built environment by engaging federal, state, and local decision makers, and for landscape architects to lead on emerging issues. Noting that landscape architects share common values to create better places for people to live, work and play, he has voiced the need for all landscape architects to play a role in advancing the profession.

As an advocate for the advancement of landscape architecture, he has served on local committees to strengthen landscape and stormwater codes and is currently the landscape architect representative on Louisiana's licensing board. In this role, Danos continues to educate and defend landscape architects' right to practice.

ASLA President (2016-2017)
Vaughn Rinner, FASLA, is an Iowa State University graduate with 40+ years of landscape architecture experience with small landscape architectural firms, and as a partner in interdisciplinary firms. She served eight years on the Virginia Licensing Board, and was active in CLARB during that tenure.

Her involvement with ASLA national includes chair of the finance and audit committees, vice president for finance and investments and chair of the Professional Practice Network Council. She has participated in multiple licensure and advocacy summits, and was awarded the 2014 ASLA President's Medal for devoted service. She has been president, treasurer and a trustee of the Virginia ASLA Chapter.

Vinner has also been an active member of the Virginia Urban Forest Council, the ULI Hampton Roads District Council and the Council for New Urbanism. Her community leadership was recognized in 2012 by her receipt of a Hampton Roads Women in Business Achievement Award.

Vinner has now relocated to Seattle, where she is leading advocacy efforts for the Washington ASLA Chapter.