2024 Slate for the AIA San Antonio Board of Directors
The Nominating Committee puts forward this Slate for the AIA San Antonio 2024 Board of Directors. The membership will be asked to vote at the Chapter Meeting on Monday, October 23, 2023. Voting is limited to professional members only.
2024 PRESIDENT (previously elected)
Xavier Cantu, AIA
XACollective
An experienced and successful architect with strong expertise in healthcare design, Xavier Cantu has a career that stretches over 16+ years. With 10+ years of operational and project management experience, his track record includes a long list of projects that were on-schedule and on-budget. He brings a high level of healthcare design management with a project history that stretches over 90 built projects. His portfolio represent work at dozens of hospital systems nationwide, and over 300 million in total construction cost.
Xavier has been Chair of the AIA San Antonio Healthcare Knowledge Group since 2019.
2024 PRESIDENT-Elect (1-year term)
Lindsay Oppelt, AIA
Alamo Architects
Lindsay began cultivating her architectural interests early through Legos and blocks, art classes, and “helping” her dad with his many construction projects. These explorations, paired with family trips to the mountains, set the tone for what would become an enduring love of nature and the delicate balance between natural and built environments. Lindsay works diligently to create inspired PK-12 learning spaces in her work at Alamo Architects.
You can often find her utilizing San Antonio’s public resources, like the library and parks and trails systems, on the weekends with her family; she has a toddler and is a dog-mom. Lindsay is an active member of AIA San Antonio, with over ten years of volunteering and committee work and past service on the Board of directors; she holds a Bachelor of Architecture from California Polytechnic State University at San Luis Obispo.
SECRETARY (1-year term)
Carr Hornbuckle, AIA, LEED AP
RVK Architects
Carr Hornbuckle, AIA, LEED AP is an Associate and Senior Project Manager at RVK Architecture. Carr is a graduate of the University of Texas – Austin, and has practiced in San Antonio for 20 years. Involvement with AIA-San Antonio includes completing the 2PLP program, helping establish the San Antonio Young Architects forum, co-chairing the Design Awards committee, as well as previously serving on the chapter’s Board of Directors (2007-2009.) Carr is the current treasurer of the Southwest ISD Education Foundation, former chair of the North East Educational Foundation, as well as former chair of the Alamo Heights United Methodist Church Board of Trustees. Carr also sings professionally, most notably with the Grammy-Award winning ensemble, Conspirare.
DIRECTOR of PROGRAMS & NETWORKS (now serving 2nd year)
Gopinath Akalkotkar, AIA
VLK Architects
Gopinath (Gopi) Akalkotkar is a Principal at VLK Architects. He is an architect and urban designer with more than 30 years of experience leading multi-disciplinary teams to deliver large and complex architectural and master planning projects globally. He has a passion for the design of learning environments and projects of civic importance.
After getting his undergraduate degree from CEPT University in Ahmedabad, he worked in Zurich, and then in New York City before attending the graduate program in architecture and urban design at UT Austin. He came to San Antonio and worked with two prominent firms. He moved back to India for a few years and then returned to serve the City of San Antonio as the City Architect prior to joining VLK to establish and run the San Antonio branch.
He has a long history of community engagement. He has served on the urban affairs committee for the AIA San Antonio and the technical advisory committee for the Planning commission in the past. He was part of Leadership San Antonio (LSA 33) and was on the steering committee of a LSA 34. He currently serves as a board member of the Youth Orchestra of San Antonio (YOSA) and is an advisory council member of the School of Architecture and Planning at UTSA.
DIRECTOR of ADVOCACY & COMMUNITY OUTREACH (2-year term)
Jonathan Olvera, AIA
Gensler
Jonathan is a passionate architect and interior designer at Gensler. A San Antonio native, he graduated from the University of Notre Dame and returned to the Alamo City to begin his architectural career and be a part of helping to shape the city he loves and grew up in. He has worked on a wide range of local project types in sports, community, education, hospitality, civic, mixed-use, office, multi-family, and high-end residential. His passions include sketching, photography, mentorship, volunteering, and historic preservation.
Jonathan also serves as Community Impact Leader for Gensler’s San Antonio office. This role has allowed him to create and foster regional initiatives which have helped establish a culture of volunteerism and mentorship across the firm. Jonathan has led numerous volunteer efforts for over 30 local non-profit organizations and raised thousands of dollars for these beneficiaries. His hope is to infuse the local AIA Board with his passion for helping others and form engaging initiatives that will aim to educate the general public about the many roles architects play in our everyday lives from planning walkable neighborhoods to designing innovative high-rises. Jonathan will also campaign for more opportunities to improve access to career guidance and professional mentorship for all students, interns, architects and budding entrepreneurs. With a focus on developing the next generation of architects, he and the Board will help advocate for a more diverse and inclusive industry that is representative of the diverse community they serve.
EMERGING PROFESSIONAL DIRECTOR (now serving 2nd year)
Nasario Arreguin, AIA
VLK Architects
Nasario Arreguin, AIA, NCARB is a Project Architect at VLK Architects practicing in San Antonio, TX. Nasario is a San Antonio native and graduate of Theodore Roosevelt High School. He received his Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Design from Texas A&M University in 2015. He then attended the University of Texas at San Antonio where he received his Master of Architecture in 2019. Nasario is a recently licensed Architect in the State of Texas. As a member of San Antonio Young Architects, he has always had a passion for championing new voices into the profession. As the EP director on the San Antonio AIA Board, Nasario hopes to bridge the gap for those entering the profession.
TREASURER (now serving 2nd year)
Jeffrey Watson, AIA
Alamo Architects
Jeffrey Watson has over 17 years of experience, and has been with Alamo Architects since 2008. As an Associate at Alamo Architects, Jeffrey has a diverse range of practice areas, with an emphasis on adaptive reuse, historic renovation and large institutional projects. He graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelor of Architecture in 2008, and has been a Registered Architect in the state of Texas since 2011. He utilizes his extensive technical knowledge, attention to detail, and planning experience to turn design ideas into reality.
As an AIA member, Jeffrey has served on multiple committees in the past, including Co-Chair of the Beaux Arts Ball, and Co-Chair of the Urban Affairs Committee. Outside of the AIA, and as an avid cyclist, he has pursued his passion of multimodal transportation, and trail advocacy by serving on the City of San Antonio Linear Creekway Parks Advisory Board, and through his work with ActivateSA.
2023 Past-President
Elizabeth Hurd, AIA
RVK Architects
Elizabeth Hurd graduated cum laude, receiving her Bachelor of Science in Architecture from the University of Texas at Arlington. Since joining RVK in 1996, she has been providing experience in architectural design, interior architecture, and computer-aided design. In April 2016 was promoted to Principal-Vice President, Architecture.
Liz is active in her community and is focused on increasing her role in public service. She is a mentor to teenagers, encouraging higher education through her involvement in Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Girl’s Inc., and the Girl Scouts of the Southwest Texas. She was a participant in The Greater San Antonio and San Antonio Hispanic Chambers of Commerce Leadership San Antonio Class 33. She enjoys serving as a volunteer in ACE Mentor Program and 2PLP. Liz previously served as a Director on the AIA San Antonio’s Board in 2011 and 2012.
TxA DIRECTOR (now serving 2nd year)
Aline Yoldi, AIA, RID, EDAC, LEED AP BD+C
B&A Architects
Born in Paris, France and raised in New York City and Mexico City, Aline Yoldi moved to San Antonio after graduating with honors from her Bachelor of Architecture from Universidad Anahuac in Mexico. She is a Registered Architect, Registered Interior Designer, LEED AP and EDAC Certified professional with close to 20 years of leadership and project management experience in a wide variety of projects such as Historic Preservation, Civic, Housing, Educational K-12, Higher-Education and Private Residential. Aline works at B&A Architects as Project Manager in charge of Senior Living, Multi-Family, Retail and Hospitality projects among others. In 2015, while serving as AIA Board Director, Aline founded the Women In Architecture Network to support, empower and promote women in the profession. In 2017, Aline was named “Master Builder” by the Freemason Grand Lodge of Texas. She is the first woman to receive this recognition in the Lodge’s 180-year history (Lodge founded in 1837).
As an AIA member, Aline has served the AIA San Antonio Chapter in multiple capacities throughout the years:
- President-Elect, Board of Directors 2021
- Treasurer, Board of Directors 2020
- Chair of Beaux-Arts Ball 2021 (Co-Chair in 2019-2020)
- Founder and Chair of Women in Architecture Network, 2015-current
- Director, Board of Directors 2015-2016
- Chair of Programs 2010-2013
As the 2022 President, Aline will assist the Chapter during these strenuous times by providing leadership and support to ensure the continued success and relevance of the institution. She has also pledged to prioritize the discourse on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion outlined in the AIA San Antonio Board Statement on Racial Justice and continue supporting women, minorities and younger generations coming into the profession.
