“Trust that who you are is enough and be confident in your abilities.” What is the greatest accomplishment of your professional career? Favorite project? It would be hard to narrow it down to just one project, so I will name two. I recently finished an elementary school for the Boise School District which was such a fun project. A lot of freedom was given to the architects working on their projects, so I was able to incorporate design features that really complimented the architecture of the neighborhood. The other project would be the Idaho State Museum. Working on the museum was one of the most rewarding and challenging projects of my career thus far. From start to finish, it spanned over 12 years, so I was deeply invested and had a really strong desire to see it succeed. On both of these projects, the entire team was really great to work with, which always makes such a difference. Have you had important mentors during your career so far? Who were they, and what was the most important lesson you learned from them? I wouldn’t be able to pinpoint just one person. I am blessed with a village of people that have supported me throughout my journey. I wouldn’t be where I am today without any one of them. Each has taught me something valuable ranging from how to communicate with others all the way to not underestimating my value. What three recommendations would you have for someone starting off in the industry? 1. Build up your network. Surround yourself with people that inspire you, push you and support you. 2. Find out what motivates you. The work I get to be part of inspires me daily and makes the hard times worth it. 3. Never stop learning. You can grow so much from talking with other architects, engineers and contractors. Do you have any last words that summarize your thoughts for anyone reading your article? Be true to who you are. b Photos courtesy of LKV Architects 25
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