It is my pleasure to officially introduce our new executive director, Jessica Howard. Jessica came on in April 2024 and hit the ground running. Many of you have already met her at our conferences in Laramie, Jackson, Cheyenne and Sheridan. Jessica holds a Master of Science in Management and Leadership, as well as a Master of Business Administration. She has previous experience working as the outreach coordinator for the Wyoming Cancer Coalition, theater manager for the CAM-PLEX event facility in Gillette, and, most recently, as executive director of the Gillette Abuse Refuge Foundation (GARF).

I recently had the opportunity to interview Jessica:

Jessica, welcome to the chapter. We’re so excited to have you working for us. What’s it like being the executive director of AIA Wyoming? What do you enjoy most about our chapter?

Thanks, Ellen, I’m very excited to be here! I truly love this job. I have a passion for nonprofits and event planning, so this is a perfect fit! I love all the people I have met! All the members across the state and nationally have been so welcoming and helpful! It’s pure joy working with this group. I’m truly blessed to have found this position.

We really enjoyed the icebreaker activity that the Membership Development Committee did at the last conference in Sheridan. What was your outrageous fact, and what else do you want our members to know about you?

My outrageous fact was that when I was 18 years old, I was on “Judge Judy” — yes, the TV show. The cases and people on those shows are real! It was an experience for sure, and Judge Judy sided with me, so that is always a good thing! She is tiny but scary!

What is one thing you took away from your first AIA Leadership Summit?

I learned so much from that conference! But I really enjoyed learning about all the different resources National has for the local chapters. I also loved hearing about how people run their chapters in other states. So many great ideas. We are all unique and operate differently.

Who is your favorite architect, or what is your favorite building, and why?

Well, as some might know, I don’t have a background in architecture, so learning about architects and buildings has been a fun learning curve for me. I’m not sure I know enough to have a favorite yet. My favorite building I have ever been in is the Chicago Theatre; it’s beautiful inside. I was dumbfounded and took so many pictures. That was the first time I realized I really enjoyed looking at buildings and what can be done with them.

What are you looking forward to?

The future, of course! I’m looking to expand my knowledge of architecture, and I’m excited to be part of the Wyoming chapter. I’m also looking forward to the AIA Wyoming Design & Honor Awards!