2023 Slate for the AIA San Antonio Board of Directors
The Nominating Committee puts forward this Slate for the AIA San Antonio 2023 Board of Directors. The membership will be asked to vote at the Chapter Meeting on Monday, November 17, 2022. Voting is limited to professional members only.
2023 PRESIDENT (previously elected)
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.
2023 PRESIDENT-ELECT (1-year term)
Xavier Cantu, AIA
XA Collective
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.
SECRETARY
Luis Ahumada, Assoc. AIA
PBK Architects
Luis Ahumada, Assoc. AIA has more than 13 years of experience in project management and technical direction, as well as quality oversight. He is currently a Project Manager with PBK Architect and has a broad range of experience in various practice areas along with an in-depth ability to synthesize design ideas, interior architecture, technology, and planning. Luis has completed projects for numerous Texas public school districts and has directed elementary schools, junior high schools, and high school projects.
Luis recently completed a 5 year run as a committee member and Chair of the AIA San Antonio Latinos in Architecture Network from 2018 – 2020. Currently he is an ACE Mentor at Construction Careers Academy and a member for A4LE.
TREASURER
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.
EMERGING PROFESSIONAL DIRECTOR
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.
DIRECTOR of COMMUNITY & ADVOCACY (previously elected, now serving 2nd year)
Andi Rodriguez, Assoc AIA
Centro San Antonio
Andi is a long-time urban champion and leads Centro ‘people projects’ which tell our stories and bring us joy, such as Centro’s Art Everywhere and Zona Cultural.
Serving on the Leadership Council of Urban Land Institute, she is a former city Planning Commissioner, SA Business Journal Columnist 2005-2020, Founding Chair of the Hemisfair Conservancy, Co-founder of Power of Preservation/PROM, former Chair of the Mayor’s Commission on the Status of Women and 2019 Chair of Leadership San Antonio.
Andi considers herself a servant leader; she has an MS in Architecture/Urban Planning, and enjoys advocating for the unifying power of art, history, and public space.
DIRECTOR of PROGRAMS & NETWORKS (2-Year Term)
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.
TxA DIRECTOR (1-year term)
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.
