Editor’s Note
Thank you for taking the time to peruse the new and improved chapter newsletter! A chapter goal for this year was to provide upgrades to the newsletter to make it a more visually appealing product and a tool to better engage our amazing members and partners.
We welcome any feedback to continually improve the newsletter, and you can submit your own articles to address membership directly!
Inquiries can be made via email to: ia-asla@assocserv.com
Happy Reading!
John Aceto, PLA, ASLA Iowa ASLA Secretary
A LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT
HelloGarret munch president shive-hattery
ASLA Iowa Chapter membership, It is crazy to think that we are already a week into March, and I am five months into my presidency. It’s been a very busy last few months for our Executive Committee as we worked hard to roll out the partnership program, which has been another great success, as well as planning the Winter Social, Legislative Breakfast, and Spring Conference, which you will find multiple articles below that highlight each.
First, I want to start by saying thank you to everyone who has been helping plan these events. It isn’t a small task to fit into your already busy schedules. I also want to thank all our partners that make these events possible, and lastly, I want to thank all of you, the members and attendees who have come out to support the events. We have heard from numerous partners and members how exciting our chapter events are and how
engaging our membership is, which is truly amazing to hear.
As I sit here and think about all the great things we had going on last week, it’s really hard to summarize it all into a ‘short’ article. We had both the Legislative Breakfast and the Spring Conference, and both were great successes. I won’t speak to the actual Legislative event, but I do want to give a huge shout-out to Payton Anson and Dani Hodgson for all the hard work they put into our Advocacy Booklet. It was a huge lift to compile all the different projects and build a cohesive and exciting booklet that demonstrates the importance of landscape architecture in the State of Iowa. So, kudos to them and read more about it below!
The second event of the week was our 2025 Spring Conference titled: Designing for Resilience: Bridging Ecological and Cultural Systems in Landscape Architecture. The event was once again hosted at the Iowa State University Alumni Center in Ames, Iowa. The day-long event brought together experts and enthusiasts in landscape architecture, ecological restoration, and sustainable agriculture. We loved having many of our partners join us in person to share what’s new in their world and to hear from many of our members. The event could not have been possible without their support, and we appreciate them taking the time to join us for the day.
When we start planning events like this, it’s always hard to find on a theme or subject matter that is new and exciting but relatable and meaningful. This year’s theme was due in large part to Carl Rogers, Chair and Associate Professor of ISU’s Department of Landscape Architecture. Because of his knowledge of all the great work happening within the Landscape Architecture Department, as well as across the ISU campus, Carl brought many
of the presenters and ideas together, and we were able to find a common thread with the theme we landed on.
The first session featured Caroline Westort, Associate Professor of Landscape Architecture at ISU, who explored the intersection of algorithm design, agriculture, and climate change mitigation through landscape design. Caroline’s expertise in geospatial data handling and landscape design computing provided a thought-provoking start to the day. Following a brief vendor break, Ron Doetch, Managing Partner of Solutions in the Land, presented the second session. Ron’s work in designing regenerative farm plans that enhance ecosystem health and create new revenue streams offered valuable insights into integrating food and farming systems into the built environment.
After lunch, we reconvened with a session by Sara McMillan, Professor of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering at ISU, who presented her work with Austin Dunn, Assistant Professor of Landscape Architecture at ISU. Austin was unable to join due to a sudden illness, but Sara discussed their research on ecological restoration, stormwater management, and active transportation projects, highlighting the intersection of transportation infrastructure, landscape architecture, and design technology. It was refreshing to hear about the collaborative work her and Austin have been doing between landscape architecture and engineering and the impact they are having on smaller communities across the state of Iowa.
The afternoon continued with a session by Kate Compton, Executive Director of Whiterock Conservancy. Kate’s extensive experience in ecological restoration, regenerative agriculture, and outdoor recreation provided a comprehensive overview of sustainable land use practices and community engagement.
We concluded the day with the prestigious P.H. Elwood Lecture, presented by Mark Strieter, Landscape Architect at Nelson Byrd Woltz. Mark’s 25 years of experience in revitalizing cultural sites and ecological systems, along with his award-winning projects, left us inspired and motivated. The contrast between his work at Frederic Church’s Olana and at the Public Square and Gardens on Hudson Yards project was captivating and sparked a lot of great questions and dialogue with the audience. It was great hosting Mark for his first trip to Iowa State University and having him participate in reviews and other presentations about Iowa landscape architecture.
If anyone would like to learn more about any of these presentations, please reach out to the chapter, and we can put you in contact with the presenters. For those that joined us, we appreciate your participation and support, and we hope this conference provided valuable
knowledge and inspiration for all. If you have any future ideas for conference themes or presenters, please send them to the chapter or to me as we are already starting to plan next year’s event to help with planning for partners and speakers.
As we roll into spring and summer, please continue to check our website and follow along on social media for more information on our upcoming events. We are still looking for more volunteers for the Mayor’s Annual Ride and a friendly reminder to start thinking about your golf teams as May is not that far away.
Cheers, Garret Munch, PLA, ASLA Iowa ASLA President
COMMUNITY.
Dimensional Flagstone Slate Grey & Fond du Lac
Compac Hewn Stone Greystone
Greetings FROM THE
SPRING CONFERENCE
defending professional licensing: why it matters now
more than ever
lara guldenpfinnig trustee hdr
The Alliance for Responsible Professional Licensing (ARPL) advocates for maintaining rigorous licensing standards in complex, high-impact professions. Since 2019, ARPL has countered efforts to weaken licensing, emphasizing its importance for public safety, economic opportunity, and industry integrity.
The Threats to Professional Licensing
Opponents argue that licensing restricts workforce entry, burdens businesses, and constitutes government waste. Some claim it disproportionately impacts lower-income individuals, while businesses may favor weaker standards to expand labor pools and reduce costs. Additionally, licensing boards are often viewed as inefficient bureaucracies. However, ARPL’s research counters these narratives, showing that licensing enhances economic outcomes and ensures professional competency. Without licensing, consumers
face greater risks, and professionals lose the credibility and protections that licensing provides.
Public and Economic Benefits of Licensing
A 2024 poll of 1,200 voters found strong and growing public support for professional licensing, particularly in highly technical fields. Across political affiliations, voters recognize the risks of weakening licensing standards and acknowledge its role in consumer protection.
ARPL’s partnership with Oxford Economics revealed that licensing is associated with a 6.5% increase in earnings, even after accounting for education, gender, and race. Additionally, licensing helps narrow wage gaps, with licensed female professionals earning a third more than their non-licensed counterparts, while racial minorities in ARPL professions experience an 8.1% wage increase. Beyond individual earnings, licensing contributes to a stronger economy.
Professionals in licensed fields are more likely to receive continued education, stay updated with industry standards, and provide highquality services to consumers. This fosters trust in professional services, preventing potential risks associated with underqualified practitioners.
The Role of Licensing Boards & Reform Efforts
A key battleground in the licensing debate revolves around licensing boards, which oversee professional standards and ensure compliance with regulations. Critics argue that these boards create inefficiencies and should be consolidated or eliminated. However, ARPL research highlights their essential role in maintaining professional standards and protecting consumers.
Legislative proposals, such as Nevada’s SB78 and West Virginia’s executive orders, seek to reduce board oversight, potentially undermining industry self-regulation. While reform discussions may be warranted in some cases, dismantling boards without understanding their impact could lead to negative consequences for both professionals and the public.
To address these challenges, ARPL developed Boards That Work: A Guide to Responsible Licensing Reform, outlining key principles for effective licensing boards:
1. Prioritizing subject matter expertise
Boards should be led by professionals with deep knowledge of their fields.
2. Preserving board decision-making authority
Professionals should govern their own standards, rather than policymakers with limited expertise.
3. Keeping similar professions together when consolidating boards
Reducing the number of boards must not compromise expertise or oversight.
4. Maintaining a manageable workload in consolidated boards
Oversight responsibilities must remain feasible to ensure effective governance.
By implementing these principles, ARPL aims to strengthen professional oversight while addressing legitimate concerns about efficiency.
Business Support for Licensing
Despite assumptions that businesses prefer deregulation, ARPL research found 92% of business leaders value licensing for ensuring qualified professionals, while 85% believe eliminating licensing would reduce hiring
confidence. Licensing fosters trust, mitigates liability risks, and upholds industry standards, benefiting both businesses and consumers.
Many industries rely on licensing to establish credibility and maintain safety. Business owners recognize that hiring licensed professionals reduces the risk of liability, ensures consistent service quality, and enhances their reputation. In a competitive market, licensing is not just a regulatory hurdle—it is a valuable asset that protects both businesses and the public.
The Future of Licensure Advocacy
As the debate over licensing intensifies, ARPL remains committed to defending professional standards and educating policymakers. The organization has launched initiatives to counter misinformation, including researchbacked reports, policy guides, and digital outreach efforts.
Engaging with lawmakers and the public is essential to ensuring that licensing reforms are responsible and evidence-based. ARPL encourages professionals to advocate for their industries by sharing research, participating in discussions, and promoting the benefits of licensing.
Conclusion: Why Licensing Matters
The ongoing push for licensing reform has serious implications for professionals, businesses, and consumers alike. ARPL’s research demonstrates that licensing is not merely a bureaucratic formality—it is a critical mechanism for ensuring quality, protecting public safety, and promoting economic fairness. Weakening licensing standards may offer short-term convenience, but the long-term consequences could be significant.
For professionals in highly technical fields, including landscape architecture, architecture, engineering, and surveying, maintaining rigorous licensing standards is essential. As legislative challenges mount, ARPL urges industry professionals to engage in advocacy efforts, share research findings, and support initiatives that promote responsible licensing reform.
Final Thoughts
As a chapter, we’ve been successful with our advocacy efforts to keep our licensing board as its own entity. However, given the current political stage, our board could very well be on the chopping block again. I urge you to contact your senators and representatives to support the bipartisan legislation – Freedom to Invest in Tomorrow’s Workforce Act. The measure was just reintroduced to multiple senate committees in February.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
The City of Des Moines is looking for (3) volunteers needed for the rest stop as part of the Mayor’s Annual Ride (MAR)! The Iowa ASLA chapter has been a long standing partner in volunteering their time for events like this one. Funding from the event goes straight back into City of Des Moines projects and amenities centered around trails like their Dero Fix-It Stations around the trail corridors.
Spring semester updates from the department of landscape architecture
carl rogers
Hello Iowa ASLA Chapter members! I hope you all are doing well and remain busy! The spring semester is approaching its halfway point, and the Department of Landscape Architecture at Iowa State University is buzzing with activity. Here’s a brief look at what’s happening this spring semester.
Innovative Studio Projects
department chair, landscape architecture
iowa state university
Students in our design studios are tackling real-world challenges through hands-on, interdisciplinary projects. This semester, upper-level students are collaborating with local communities to develop sustainable urban design solutions, focusing on green infrastructure, climate resilience, and inclusive public spaces. Students are also exploring the role history plays in understanding Midwestern parks, urban design solutions exploring the image of the city and an ecological framework, GIS analysis exploring
regional landscapes in the Southeast, and many other relevant landscape architecture topics that allow students to see the impact of the profession through creative design ideas.
PH Elwood Lecture and Spring Conference
We hosted Mark Strieter from Nelson Byrd Woltz Landscape Architects as this year’s P.H. Elwood lecturer, and in the recent past, we were honored to collaborate with the Iowa Chapter to combine the lecture with the chapter’s spring conference. The conference hosted a series of distinguished guest speakers who shared their insights on the theme of the intersection of cultural and natural systems. This session lineup included Associate Professor Caroline Westort, Agronomist Ron Deotch, Assistant Professor Austin Dunn and Professor Sara McMillan, and Whiterock Conservancy Executive Director Kate Compton. Each presenter focused on their research or professional expertise from parametric modeling, sustainable agriculture, ecological corridors, nature-based solutions, and environmental stewardship. The sessions provided valuable learning opportunities and networking possibilities for landscape architects, ISU faculty, and students. Mark Strieter capped off the conference with an indepth look at two of NBWLA’s projects, the Ohana Historic Landscape in upstate New York and Hudson Yards in New York City.
Mark presented both projects through the lens of the firm’s strategy to uncover narratives and reveal stories of a site’s history and culture.
Upcoming Events
Spring 2025 semester final reviews will be the week of May 5 - 9. Undergraduate and graduate students will be presenting their innovative projects throughout the week. The reviews are a great time to see all the great skills of ISU students and to connect with faculty. I will share more information as the details are finalized. As we move into spring, I want to invite, on behalf of the department, alumni, students, and friends of the department, to stay engaged. Feel free to reach out to me directly at rogersc@iastate.edu if you want to connect or visit campus. Take care, and as always, GO CYCLONES!
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winter social festivities
haley mougin
p.r. chair confluence
Back at the end of January we hosted the first social event of the year alongside our partner, Outdoor Recreation Products. The night was a great success that was full of pizza, trivia, and laughter!
Multiple firms were able to come together and mix themselves up to create the strongest team possible to wipe out the competition in their general knowledge know-how. The competition was strong until the final round when all but one team bet it all and lost it all on a question related to national parks.
Thank you again to Outdoor Recreation Products for sponsoring the night and thank you to all the teams able to join us with their fun, competitive spirit. We hope to host another trivia night in the future at some point, so be sure to come and show your wit if you couldn’t this time around!
WORLD LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE MONTH
April is World Landscape Architecture Month! Follow along as we showcase how landscape architects blend science and design to create healthy, safe, and beautiful outdoor places for all - NOT . . . whatever this Super Bowl ad was:
This is a month to be proud of what you do, so be sure to join the global conversation on landscape arhcitecture and amplify the impact of the profession by sharing and tagging any posts made by you or your firm using the hashtags:
#WLAM2025
#ThisIsLandscapeArchitecture
Join us and National ASLA in celebrating the field across our social media as we highlight a number of Iowa firms and projects throughout the month as well as our own members.
We would love to hear from YOU directly on your own personal experiences within the profession and share those stories or important developmental moments for others to read and learn from. Whether the moment includes your time at a different firm or even a story rooted within your own backyard - we want to hear it!
If you, or someone you know, would like to be included in this showcase, please respond to
any number of prompts on our questionnare. Follow the QR code (above) to take you directly to the form or use the link (below):
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1 FAIpQLSc7XFK6vab8yXODEW6gs38 Mq_kbgB5p8SkhWjEZ-H2pnu3xcw/ viewform?usp=dialog
We look forward to hearing from you!
legislative breakfast recap
payton anson
associate member-at-large bolton+menk
dani hodgson vice president rdg planning and design
OnTuesday, February 25th, representatives from several landscape architecture firms met at the Capitol for our annual Legislative Breakfast. This year we decided to do things a bit differently. We moved from a format where participating firms prepared their own boards to showcase their work, to a singular digital booklet where firms submitted project imagery and information that was compiled by our ExComm Advocacy group – Dani Hodgson and Payton Anson.
Our goal was to showcase a variety of project types and locations across Iowa that would demonstrate the importance of our profession, and the immense impact we have on towns and cities throughout the state. We hope moving forward we can continue to involve more firms and incorporate more projects in communities we weren’t able add for in this initial iteration of the booklet. We envision that this document will continue to grow
and change overtime with new projects, and will be an available resource on our website for anyone to reference throughout the year.
Thank you to the firms that contributed to the booklet and were able to attend the Legislative Breakfast event. The booklet can be viewed on our website at:
https://www.iaasla.org/advocacy-booklet
Feel free to reach out if you would like to get involved for next year!
LARE FUND SURVEY
MADISON
president-elect confluence
DIERKS
The Chapter is considering opportunities to better assist members, a small sub-committee has begun brainstorming member benefits for both young and seasoned professionals alike. If you have any desire to join the sub-committee please reach out to Maryam Ringler at mringler@ thinkconfluence.com. The first topic the subcommittee would like your assistance in, is gauging the general interest from membership on providing educational opportunities and/or offering mini scholarships to assist with licensure. LARE tests and study material prices have been steadily increasing, and the chapter understands this may be a barrier of entry into our profession and a reason for people leaving it.
This sub-committee understands that every member’s experience is different and has access to different funds through circumstance whether it be professional or personal. The committee is looking to gauge interest in hosting LARE study sessions or courses for members or offering
members pursuing licensure the opportunity to apply for $250 scholarships to assist in purchasing tests and/or study materials.
It is understood that neither of these options fully address barriers associated with getting licensed but are intended to start a conversation in assisting members with licensure and help subsidize the process for individuals. The types of courses and the criteria for awarding funds would need to be determined. The intent is that the funds will not be made retroactively to members who have already completed the tests and received licensure. We would like your input to gage the need/desire across membership for these benefits and what you believe appropriate criteria for any awarded funds should be.
Thank you for taking the time to complete the survey: https://forms.gle/mubT3tL8BWGTvdJRA
