Thank you for the privilege of serving as Trustee of the Southern California Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects. Returning from the 2024 Conference on Landscape Architecture in Washington, D.C. in mid-October, I had the honor of representing our chapter on the Board of Trustees (BOT). It was one of the best-attended conferences in recent years, with over 6,300 attendees. Here are some highlights:

The BOT received a report on ASLA’s financial activities and approved the operating budget for the upcoming fiscal year. One of the budget items that will directly impact our membership is an update to the content management system—the digital backbone of the organization. This will simplify many of the ways members interact with ASLA, including award submissions, job searches, and membership updates. Stay tuned for more information on this.
We also learned about the success of a recent series of National Public Radio (NPR) spots. Earlier this year, as part of our 125th anniversary celebrations, ASLA became a proud sponsor of WAMU, the NPR station for Washington, D.C. This resulted in a series of radio spots about landscape architecture, which reached over 600,000 listeners and were heard more than 4 million times! This incredible outreach brought nearly 4,000 new visitors to ASLA.org and increased our social media audience by 6%.
Our Southern California chapter was well represented at the conference, with presentations from the Los Angeles Neighborhood Land Trust, MIG, OLIN, RIOS, SALT, Studio One Eleven, and SWA. Topics included community-driven park design in Los Angeles, how landscape architects are directing improvements to the transportation experience, and the renovation of Denver’s historic Skyline Park.
We had the pleasure of attending the ceremony where we celebrated our own Pamela Galera (City of Riverside) on her elevation to the ASLA Council of Fellows! We also celebrated Jared Edgar McKnight, our Emerging Professionals Chair, as he delivered his game-changer presentation on the Expo floor.

If you have never attended an ASLA conference, I encourage you to consider it. It’s a great opportunity to reflect on your professional development and stay informed about the evolving landscape of the profession.

Looking ahead, we’re excited for the 2025 conference in New Orleans. We’re also thrilled to share the locations of two upcoming conferences: a joint event with the International Federation of Landscape Architects (IFLA) in Chicago in 2027, and in 2026, we’ll welcome landscape architects from across the country to Los Angeles. Our chapter’s executive committee is already brainstorming field sessions and educational session proposals. If you have any suggestions, please feel free to reach out to me directly!
Thank you again for your support and commitment to elevating the profession of Landscape Architecture through your ASLA membership. I encourage you to continue participating in the events and programs our Southern California chapter hosts to build our thriving design community!