AIA Detroit is excited to announce that Charlie Klecha, Assoc. AIA, will join the AIAD staff in the role of Managing Director!  This new position will focus on driving improvements to member value across areas like programs and events, communications, and operations.  Klecha began working in early January alongside Executive Director Lauren Myrand, Assoc. AIA.

Charlie Klecha, Associate AIA AIA Detroit’s new Managing Director

Klecha, a Detroit native, previously served in a number of roles within the AIA, beginning with a term as Student Director on the AIA Illinois Board during his M.Arch program at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Upon graduating, he was elected to serve as National President of the American Institute of Architecture Students [AIAS], a full-time position managing the 7,000-member organization from its headquarters at the American Center for Architecture in Washington DC. During his term, Klecha served on the steering group charged with the formation of the new AIA Strategic Council, as well as sitting on the first AIA National Board of Directors following the implementation of the new governance model. In partnership with NCARB, he also spearheaded a campaign, and associated scholarship fund, to encourage students to begin working toward licensure; the campaign concluded with his sitting for, and passing, all seven divisions of the A.R.E. in seven consecutive days. After returning to Detroit, Klecha was elected 2016 AIAD Associate Director, and served as Production Manager for the record-setting 2016 Celebration of Architecture during DC3’s Eastern Market After Dark.

In addition to driving new and existing Chapter programming, the Managing Director’s scope involves oversight of the organization’s digital assets and resources, including all digital communications, website, newsletters, and social media, as well as meeting and event planning and logistical coordination. The Managing Director is also engaged heavily in community relations and ongoing partner development, with the goal of fostering deeper and more valuable connections within the design community and throughout metro Detroit. “I see a great deal of opportunity for the Chapter, its members, and the city,” Klecha said. “I’m excited to get to work.”

Read the Official Press Release here