As I begin my term as the IIDA Mid-America President for this year, I am so very grateful for this opportunity to guide this chapter in the incredible work being done to successfully grow and provide connection to our members, sponsors, campuses, our community and to each of you. The professionalism and commitment by so many to provide the very best to this chapter fills me with so much pride and thankfulness. Our achievements are developing new ideas for the future of this profession, our growth as designers, and our re-connection to each other.

I joined IIDA in 1996 (formerly known as IBD) and it has provided me with enduring friendships, mentorship opportunities, participation in advocacy, growth, and learning but mostly a connection to other design professionals. So much have I learned though this involvement that has supported and elevated my own design life. We all have so much in common with each other and I hope some of my knowledge, leadership, and experiences can provide insights on what I have learned during my design career. I wish for all of you to continue to have a fulfilling design life as I have. Read about our IIDA collective story at https://iida.org/about/our-story.

Our focus for 2022-2023 is Content, Communication and Connection. IIDA Mid-America chapter is continuously looking to create opportunities for our members to build the skills you need to succeed. We do this by innovating and improving our annual Chapter Programs and City Center events. Our newsletter and social media communication planning is strong and robust. We continue to brainstorm on more opportunities for our members and sponsors to get involved, provide feedback, and give their time + talents to advocate for our profession. Reach out to any of our amazing board members for more information on ways to get involved or ideas for new programming. Come join us!

We look forward to seeing you at our next events!

Best regards,

Audrie K. Wenger, IIDA Mid-America President