President’s Message: Golf, Governance & Getting Involved

October 2026

Fellow AIA Inland California Members,

I want to begin by thanking everyone who came out to support the 26th Annual Bob Kain Memorial Golf Classic this year. This event has a wonderful history: it began back in 2000, when Bob Kain helped spearhead the very first tournament, originally held at Moreno Valley Ranch. Following Bob's passing in 2019, the tournament was renamed in his honor in 2020, and today his legacy of generosity, mentorship, and commitment to the profession continues through this event.

This year's tournament, held at Eagle Glen Golf Club in Corona, brought together architects, engineers, corporate sponsors, and friends of the chapter for a day of camaraderie and friendly competition—and a healthy dose of September sunshine that reminded everyone why Corona is not exactly known for its mild afternoons.

I want to extend a special thank-you to our Presenting Sponsor, IMEG, and to all of our sponsors, whose generosity makes this tournament possible and supports much more than a single day of golf. I also want to thank our tournament committee, our volunteers, and our student volunteers from California Baptist University (CBU), who showed up and worked the course all day despite the heat giving everyone a genuine run for their money.

Thank you to our tournament MC, Marco Eacrett, AIA, who once again did a fantastic job keeping the day running smoothly. And a special thank-you to Lisa Pizzi, our Executive Director, for coordinating all of the moving pieces that bring this event together every year.

The proceeds go directly toward our scholarship fund, helping the next generation of architects in the Inland Empire pursue their education and enter this profession we all care about. To everyone who played, sponsored, volunteered, or served on the committee, thank you. This tournament honors Bob Kain's legacy in a way that keeps giving back to our community year after year.

I also want to walk through something that requires action from each of you in the coming weeks because the structure behind it is new to most of us. AIA California has restructured its governance around three distinct roles: the AIA California Board of Directors sets the strategic direction for the organization; California Representative Council (CRC) Representatives, elected or appointed by each local component, serve as the direct voice of that component's membership; and Regional Directors, elected by members within each region, sit on the state Board itself and bring their region's perspective into those discussions. Region 8, our region, pairs AIA Inland California with the Desert Chapter AIA, and this fall, members of both chapters will elect the person who will hold the Regional Director seat.

AIA Inland California has endorsed Dennis Tanida, AIA, for Regional Director. AIA California has been clear about what it's looking for in this role: candidates who understand nonprofit governance and fiduciary responsibility, who bring experience serving AIA at the local, state, or national level, and who show up prepared and follow through.

Dennis meets that description as well as anyone I know. I've had the privilege of working alongside him and seeing his commitment firsthand. He has served our chapter as president and held numerous board positions over the years, giving generously of his time across multiple roles. Beyond our chapter, Dennis has served for many years as our AIA California Representative, giving him a broad, informed perspective on the issues and priorities facing our profession at the state level. That combination of institutional knowledge and sustained service is exactly what this role calls for, and I'm confident he'll represent all of Region 8—Inland California and the Desert alike—with the same diligence he's shown our chapter for years.

Here's why your vote matters in a very concrete way: Region 8, combining the membership of both AIA Inland California and the Desert Chapter AIA, needs 20% member participation—51 votes—to reach quorum. AIA California will release its official notice and voting instructions to all members on October 5, and the voting window runs through October 19. Watch for that email, and please take a few minutes to cast your vote. If we don't reach quorum in this first round, the election moves to a second round in late October, so participating now is the simplest way to make sure our region's voice is heard the first time around.

And while you're thinking about your calendar, mark down Thursday, October 8, from 6:00 to 8:00 PM for our annual Archtoberfest at Thompson Brewing Company in Riverside. Beyond being one of our best-attended social events of the year, this is also our Annual Meeting, where we elect our slate of chapter officers for the coming year, including welcoming Jason Jewell, AIA, as our incoming 2027 president.

I'll be candid with you: getting the votes needed at our Annual Meeting has historically been a challenge for this chapter. It's an easy thing to let slide when it's competing with a busy October calendar. This year, I want that to change. I don't want "low turnout at the Annual Meeting" to be another year added to that statistic. I want this to be the year we turn it around—a year when members show up, participate, and have a real say in who leads this chapter forward.

Archtoberfest also falls right in the middle of the Regional Director voting window, so it's a great chance to catch up with colleagues, cast your ballot for our chapter's own leadership, and make sure you've voted for Dennis before the October 19 deadline.

I also want to return to something I've raised before: our chapter runs on the time of a relatively small group of members, and that group needs to grow. Right now, we have two open Director positions on our board, our Secretary role will need a successor in 2027, and we're already looking for someone willing to step into the president role for 2028. None of these require decades of experience—just a willingness to show up and contribute.

Dennis's own path, from board member to chapter president to state-level representative, is a good reminder of where that kind of involvement can lead. If you've thought about getting more involved, Archtoberfest and our Annual Meeting are a great place to start that conversation.

As I look at the calendar, it's hard to believe how quickly this year has moved. We're heading into fall, and with it comes a stretch of the year that always feels a little more purposeful: cooler evenings, a full slate of events, and decisions to make about our leadership and our representation at the state level.

As your president, I want us to finish this year strong. That means showing up to Archtoberfest, casting your vote for Dennis, and thinking seriously about where you might plug in next, whether that's a board seat, a committee, or simply showing up more often. I'm energized about what's ahead this fall, and I hope you are too.

Thank you for your continued involvement and support of our chapter.

David Higginson, AIA
President
AIA Inland California Chapter