AIAVT is pleased to announce the jury members of the 2024 Annual Design Awards. Made up of a small group of members of AIA Montana, the esteemed jury included Chere LeClaire, FAIA, Elizabeth Zachman, AIA, Reese Sjostrom, AIAS, Anthony Houtz, AIA, and Ryan Schumacher, AIA. The jury met via Zoom to deliberate and select the winners from the 24 entries received. The winners will be announced at the AIA Vermont Annual Meeting & Design Awards event on Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024.

Chere LeClair, FAIA 

Chere LeClair has been a professor at Montana State University’s School of Architecture since the fall of 2004 and maintains a private practice.  From 2005-2012, Chere served on the AIA Montana Board of Directors, and from 2015-2017 she served on the AIA National Strategic Council as an AIA Northwest and Pacific Region Representative.  Chere contributed to the development of the “Compensation” chapter of the AIA National Guides for Equitable Practice as a member of the Equity and the Future of Architecture committee. She was responsible for introducing the New Urban Agenda (NUA) to AIA leadership, transforming and crystallizing the Institute’s position on designing for equity. Chere served as the co-chair of the NUA Task Force, and this work resulted in the inclusion of the NUA ethos in the AIA’s Framework for Design Excellence: Equitable Communities principle and the creation of the AIA’s Equitable Development Frameworks:  An Introduction Comparison for Architects. This work laid the foundation for her elevation to the AIA College of Fellows in 2021.

Elizabeth Zachman, AIA

Originally from the East Coast, Elizabeth is a graduate of the University of Virginia’s School of Architecture and, after a few years of practice in Cultural and Higher Education design in Richmond, Virginia, is now practicing as an architect with Cushing Terrell out of Kalispell, Montana. She specializes in public design work and k-12 education projects, with a particular emphasis on design thinking and community engagement. Elizabeth is currently on the Board of Directors of AIA Montana as the Young Architect Representative for the state to the AIA Young Architects Forum.

Ryan Schumacher, AIA

Ryan Schumacher is an owner and managing Principal Architect at MMW Architects in Missoula, Montana. MMW is an award-winning architecture firm that focuses on projects that improve equity, enrich communities, and create profound human connections. Ryan is committed to designing thoughtful architecture that improves daily life. He believes that architecture should create spaces for people to flourish while being considerate of the impact it will have on future generations. He has worked on a diverse range of project types, including educational, multifamily, medical, residential, and historic preservation. Ryan holds a Master's of Architecture and a B.A. in Environmental Design from Montana State University. He currently serves as the Director of Excellence on the AIA Montana Board of Directors.

Anthony Houtz, AIA

An alumni of Columbia University in the City of New York, Anthony’s work has been recognized by AIA Montana and featured in World Architecture News, Montana Architect, and Signature Magazine, and his writing on architecture has appeared in Montana Art and Photography. His current research involves the digital transformation of social space as authentic architecture. True poetry in our work engages the beauty of the built, the narrative of a coherent logic, the power of the detail, and the exemplification of a collaborative human spirit. Anthony is the current President of the AIA Montana Chapter, and Associate Principal / Design Director at Cushing Terrell.

Reese Sjostrom, AIAS

Reese Sjostrom is a current graduate student at Montana State University and will be graduating with her M.Arch in December. She has been active in Montana State’s AIAS chapter throughout undergrad and grad school, serving as Secretary from 2022-2023, and President from 2023-2024. During her time in AIAS, she focused on increasing engagement, connecting students to the profession, and organizing activities and lectures. Reese has also worked with the School of Architecture as a graduate teaching assistant for a first year studio course. She has enjoyed the opportunity to mentor and support students on their path in architecture. Reese’s professional experience consists of 3 years in residential architecture, which has allowed her to gain insight into designing for extreme climates. Through her education and work experience, she has built a passion for human-centered design.

AIA Vermont appreciates the time and expertise of these five individuals, and we look forward to sharing their insights with attendees at the AIAVT Annual Meeting & Design Awards event. Details on the event can be found here.