Accolades & Recognitions

AIA Youngstown members have been widely recognized by the AIA for their service to the profession and our community.  Listed below are those members whose service, dedication, and commitment have contributed to the success of the AIA, and the profession, throughout Ohio.  

Accolades & Recognitions

AIA Youngstown Gold Medal

The Gold Medal is the highest honor that AIA Youngstown can bestow and is awarded by the Board of Directors in recognition of most distinguished service to the profession of architecture or to the organization.  The award is presented to an individual who has provided, over an extended period, exceptional contributions to the Chapter, to the profession, or through high-level design and service.  
 
The contributions of the candidate shall be recognized for their services which enhance and expand the standing of the profession, or that demonstrate a consistent high-level approach to design and project execution.  The nominee’s contributions shall provide a ripple effect that benefits the chapter, profession, and community. 
 
George Tanner Smith, AIA, 1981
Edmund H Smith, AIA, 1987
Bob Buchanan, AIA, 1990
Paul Ricciuti, FAIA, 1994
Jim Olsavsky, AIA, 2001
Gary Balog, FAIA, 2003
Ray Jaminet, AIA, 2004
William Copich, AIA, 2005
Mike Fagan, AIA, 2006
Bruce Sekanick, FAIA, 2010
K. Anthony Hayek, AIA, 2012
Rodney Lambertson, AIA, 2014
Jay Crafton, AIA, 2020
Mary Dennis, AIA, 2024

Accolades & Recognitions

AIA Ohio Presidents

As a three-tier organization, AIA Youngstown members regularly participate in and lead both the local chapter and the state component.  Since the establishment of the AIA Ohio, formerly known as the Architects Society of Ohio, XX members from AIA Youngstown have served as AIA Ohio President.  These members include:
 
Charles E. Firestone, AIA, 1939, 1940
John F. Suppes, AIA, 1947
Charles J. Marr, FAIA, 1958
P. Arthur D’Orazio, AIA, 1971
Earl C. Hayes, Jr., AIA, 1972
Thomas A. Kirk, AIA, 1978
Robert A. Mastriana, AIA, 1994
Gary G. Balog, FAIA, 2003
Bruce W. Sekanick, FAIA, 2010
Gregg Strollo, AIA, 2016
John Orsini, AIA, 2023

Accolades & Recognitions

AIA Ohio Gold Medal

Each year, AIA Ohio celebrates the contributions of member architects through the awarding of the AIA Ohio Gold Medal.  The Gold Medal is the highest honor that AIA can bestow on a member.  The AIA Ohio Board of Directors confers this award, which recognizes the exemplary contributions and significant accomplishment of AIA Ohio members in fulfilling criteria in one or more areas of service.  The AIA Ohio Gold Medal was established in 1970.
The Following AIA Youngstown members have been recognized as AIA Ohio Gold Medal recipients:
 
H. Walter Damon, AIA, 1977
Charles J. Marr, 1982
Gary Balog, FAIA, 2013
Bruce Sekanick, FAIA, 2018

Accolades & Recognitions

AIA College of Fellows

 
The AIA College of Fellows (College), an affiliated organization of the American Institute of Architects (AIA), supports the endeavors of those members elevated by the AIA to the College.  A member of the AIA is elevated to the College when, through a rigorous submission process, the Fellows Jury of the AIA selects the member to be admitted to the College.  Members are elevated for in one of six “Objects” and their contributions are required to have a ripple effect across the states and regions of the Institute.  Between 3% and 4% of AIA members are, during their career, elevated to the College of Fellows.
AIA Youngstown, in its nearly 100-year history, has had seven (7) members elevated to the College.  These include the following:
 
Rufus Thompson, FAIA, 1889
Charles Frederick Owsley, FAIA, 1947
Charles J. Marr, FAIA, 1957
Arthur F. Sidells, FAIA, 1989  
Paul J. Ricciuti, FAIA, 1996
Gary G. Balog, FAIA, 2008
Bruce W. Sekanick, FAIA, 2017

Accolades & Recognitions

The AIA Ohio Foundation Charles Marr Citation

The Charles Marr Citation is a recognition provided through the AIA Ohio Foundation to members who, through a financial contribution, support the ongoing work of the Foundation.  The Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization, was chartered in February of 1968, if responsible for providing scholarship and supporting scholarly endeavors and research in benefit of the profession.  The following members of AIA Youngstown have been recognized as recipients of the Charles Marr Citation.
 
Robert Mastriana, AIA, 1990
C. Robert Buchanan, AIA, 1993
Paul J. Riccuti, AIA, 1993
Gary Balog, FAIA, 1995
Bruce Sekanick, FAIA, 2012
Kevin Willis, AIA, 2015
Denise Holt, AIA, 2016
Chad Ramkey, AIA, 2017
Joseph Steines, AIA 2018
Jay Crafton, AIA, 2019
Stephanie Holko, AIA, 2020
Patrick Lankey, AIA, 2021
Brian Spielvogel, AIA,2022
Kim Phillips, AIA, 2023
Jessica Phillips, AIA, 2024
Michael Ruscitti, AIA, 2025

Accolades & Recognitions

The AIA Youngstown Presidents

The history of the AIA Youngstown Chapter is long.  Below is a list of those members who have led the chapter as AIA Youngstown Presidents, dedicating their time and leadership to the organization. The listing remains a work in progress.
 
 
Frank Pliszka, AIA, 1986
Robert Mastriana, AIA, 1987
Ron C. Faniro, AIA, 1988
John Richman, AIA, 1989
Charles McLaughlin, AIA, 1990
Gary Balog, AIA, 1991
Kirk Anderson, AIA, 1992
Terry L. McCoy, AIA, 1993
Thomas Madej, AIA,1994
Bruce Sekanick, FAIA, 1995
Robert Steines, AIA, 1996
David S. Kiraly, AIA, 1997 
David S. Kiraly, AIA, 1998 
Mary H. Dennis, AIA, 1999 
Mary H Dennis, AIA, 2000 
Tim Thomas,  AIA, 2001 
Joseph Makosky, AIA, 2002
Perry Douglass, AIA, 2003
Arthur Morris, Jr., AIA, 2004
John DeFrance, AIA, 2005 
John DeFrance, AIA, 2006
Doug Abbatiello, AIA, 2007
Brian Spielvogel, AIA, 2008
Summer Barker, AIA, 2009
Thomas Baker, AIA, 2010
Mike Fagan, AIA, 2011
Douglas Sipp, AIA, 2012
John Defrance, AIA, 2013
John Orsini, AIA, 2014
Kevin Willis, AIA, 2015
Denise Holt, AIA, 2016
Chad Ramkey, AIA, 2017
Joseph Steines, AIA 2018
Jay Crafton, AIA, 2019
Stephanie Holko, AIA, 2020
Patrick Lankey, AIA, 2021
Brian Spielvogel, AIA,2022
Bruce Sekanick, FAIA, 2023
Jessica Phillips, AIA, 2024
Michael Ruscitti, AIA, 2025
Greg Struna, AIA, 2026
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