As the elections for the position of ASLA President-Elect in May draws nearer, candidates Jennifer Nitzky, PLA, FASLA, ISA and Gretchen Wilson, PLA, ASLA, LEED AP, WEDG spoke with the ASLA's online platform LAND about their reactions to the 2024 ASLA Landscape Architecture Industry Report and ways the ASLA can best support PLAs in the coming years.

The questions posed to the candidates asked: What were your biggest surprises or takeaways from the LA industry report? How can ASLA best support landscape architecture professionals over the next few years?

Both Nitsky and Wilson referenced the importance of paying attention to the size of landscape architecture firms, as the report revealed that most firms are made of four people or fewer. Acknowledging that business management is not taught in landscape architecture programs, both candidates promoted the resources the ASLA provides through SKILL | ED, like classes in project management and business development. Wilson hopes to expand the SKILL | ED offerings and platforms to fill educational gaps.

 
Wilson went on to mention the low number of firms who have plans to adopt AI, sharing how the ASLA could provide training and resource sharing to make day-to-day operations more efficient. She also commented on the relatively high percentage of the industry that relies on residential projects, with a much smaller percentage of work in the public sector. Wilson recognizes the society's efforts in improving public recognition of the profession and hopes to contribute to them, should she be elected.

Nitsky focused on the importance of partnership. Between landscape architecture organizations and affiliated groups, she would like to foster collaboration in research that will advance the profession. Between service providers and vendors, Nitsky sees an opportunity to coordinate materials sourcing and advocate for methodologies that make efficient use of materials as costs rise.

The Landscape Architecture Industry Report is a publication by the ASLA that looks at the state of the industry, economic outlook, recruitment and retention, and the future for the profession. This issue is the first after a few year's break in what ASLA leadership intends to be an annual business resource for Landscape Architects.

Voting for the president-elect will be open to all Full, Fellow, Associate, Student and International ASLA members in good standing May 6 through June 6.

To see the candidates' previous comments to LASN, go to: https://landscapearchitect.com/landscape-articles/asla-names-two-plas-2025-president-elect-candidates#article1

To see LASN's summary of the first question posted by LAND, go to: https://landscapearchitect.com/landscape-articles/asla-candidates-nitzky-and-wilson-share-presidential-goals#article1

To read the candidates' full statements to the ALSA, go to: https://www.asla.org/land/LandArticle.aspx?id=67072

To see the ASLA's Landscape Architecture Industry Report 2024, go to: https://www.asla.org/industryreport/