ASLA Inducts 2013 Officers

Thomas Tavella, FASLA, is the 2013 ASLA president. He is director of design for Fuss & O'Neill in Trumbull, Conn.

The American Society of Landscape Architects inducted its new officers on Oct. 1 during the Annual Meeting and EXPO in Phoenix.

Thomas Tavella, FASLA is the 2013 ASLA president. Tavella has 25 years in private practice, and is the director of design for Fuss & O'Neill in Trumbull, Connecticut. He is a LEED accredited professional and an RLA in five states. Tavella was the ASLA vice president of communications (2008–2009), the chair of the public relations advisory committee, a Connecticut ASLA Chapter national trustee and served four terms as the state chapter president.

???(R)???AE'?N????e'?N,A+

The ASLA president elect is Philadelphian Mark Focht, FASLA, the first deputy commissioner of parks and facilities for Philadelphia Parks and Rec.

"If we are to grow as a profession, we need to introduce ourselves to the general public, and especially to promising students at an earlier age," Tavella said. He concurs with ASLA's focus on positioning landscape architects as leaders in the research, design and greening of the public realm.

The ASLA president elect is Philadelphian Mark Focht, FASLA. He is first deputy commissioner (parks and facilities) for Philadelphia Parks and Rec. His responsibilities are operations, maintenance, planning, capital, property management, urban forestry, ecosystem management, and security for 197 passive parks, 55 recreation centers, 97 playgrounds and 71 outdoor swimming pools. Previously, Focht served six years as executive director of Philadelphia's iconic Fairmount Park.

???(R)???AE'?N????e'?N,A+

Annette Wilkus is the new ASLA vice president of professional practice. She is the principal of SiteWorks in New York City.

???(R)???AE'?N????e'?N,A+

The ASLA installed three new vice presidents:

• Annette Wilkus is the new vice president of professional practice. She is the principal of SiteWorks in New York City.
• Shawn Kelly, FASLA is the new vice president of membership. He is the principal of Kelly Design Group in Williams Bay, Wisconsin.
• David Lycke, FASLA is the new vice president of finance. He is the principal at PLaCE Studios in Charleston, South Carolina, and a vice president of P.M. Blough in Grand Haven, Michigan.

The new vice presidents serve two-year terms.

???(R)???AE'?N????e'?N,A+

Shawn Kelly, FASLA is the new ASLA vice president of membership. He is the principal of Kelly Design Group in Williams Bay, Wis.

???(R)???AE'?N????e'?N,A+

Continuing service on the ASLA executive committee are Susan Hatchell, FASLA, the 2012 ASLA president, and president of Susan Hatchell Landscape Architecture in Raleigh, North Carolina; K. Richard Zweifel, FASLA, vice president of education and professor/associate dean of the College of Architecture and Environmental Design at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, Calif.; Mark Hough, vice president of communications and campus landscape architect at Duke University; and Chad Danos, FASLA, vice president of government affairs and the director of landscape architecture at Duplantis Design Group.

???(R)???AE'?N????e'?N,A+

David Lycke, FASLA is the new ASLA vice president of finance. He is the principal at PLaCE Studios in Charleston, South Carolina, and a vice president of P.M. Blough in Grand Haven, Michigan.

???(R)???AE'?N????e'?N,A+

The next "changing of the guard," i.e., induction of new ASLA officers, will take place during the 2013 ASLA Annual Meeting/Expo in Boston, Nov. 15–18. P.S. The 103 degree temps you experienced in Phoenix for the 2012 ASLA event will be quite a contrast to Boston in November, which has been described as dark, grey and rainy. A stiff wind and 48 degree temps is typical, and it gets dark at bout 4:00.