The first panel focused on school construction and featured Mark Lohbauer, Director of Policy and Communications for the New Jersey Economic Development Authority; Bernie Piaia, Director of Facilities for the New Jersey Department of Education; Assemblyman Joe Doria, Chairman of the Assembly Education Committee; and Eric Wagner AIA, immediate past president of AIA NJ. AIA NJ played a vital role in the development of the Educational Facilities Construction and Financing Act 2000 and continues to work with the EDA and Alfred McNeil, the newly appointed CEO of The Schools Corporation as it moves forward with this ambitious state construction project.

The second panel discussion revolved around the issue of smart growth. The panelists included: Adam Zellner, Director of the New Jersey Office of Smart Growth; Marty Bierbaum, Deputy Policy Adviser to the Governor; Senator Leonard Lance, Co-Chair of the Senate Labor Committee; Senator John Adler, Co-Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee; and James Gatsch FAIA, National Vice President of the AIA. Architects, concerned about the aesthetics and design of the communities in which they work, are dedicated to the concept of smart growth and building livable communities.

The final panel provided the member architects with insight into the “legislative process”, lobbying and the importance of the association’s PAC. Assemblyman David Wolfe gave a legislator’s perspective on lobbying while AIA NJ’s government relations consultants Nancy Becker and Tricia Russo Esq. along with NJ Legislative & Government Affairs Committee chair Michael Soriano AIA and Harold Lichtman AIA, past president of AIA NJ and current chair of New Jersey Architects Political Action Committee (NJAPAC) spoke about how bills become laws and the process of lobbying in New Jersey.

Following the panel discussions, officials and legislators joined the more than 30 architects for a boxed lunch and tour of the state capital complex. Surplus lunches were donated to the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen.