Mark Christian, Hon. AIA CA
After 23 years with AIA California, Mark Christian, Hon. AIA CA, Director of Government Relations announced his retirement effective November 1, 2022. Throughout his tenure with the organization, he’s navigated the turbulent waters and partisan politics of California state government, while tirelessly advocating on behalf of the architectural profession.
Widely respected by his AIA colleagues, his counterparts representing allied professions, and within the Legislature and various regulatory agencies, Mark has collaboratively and strategically advanced a significant number of very complex issues to successful resolution. It’s easy to recognize his expertise during the public process – whether he’s testifying before a committee or speaking to a Legislator – but his true skill is how he quietly resolves issues on behalf of the profession before they see the light of day.
Over his long tenure, Mark has worked with hundreds of AIA Board and committee members on a variety of complex and difficult matters, and is known for his collaborative and pragmatic approach. AIA CA President, Rona G. Rothenberg, FAIA, who served as Vice President of Government Relations prior to her election as President, has repeatedly recognized Mark’s value and expertise he brings to the organization: “Mark Christian has been a consummate professional serving expertly on our behalf. He’s forged consensus on many issues critical to the design and delivery of projects and enabled public discourse on behalf of the profession.”
Mark has devoted his career to developing and leading a government relations program which is a merit to past, present and future members of AIACA and all architects in the state. We look forward to a completing a search in the coming months to a talented successor who will benefit from a smooth and successful transition of Mark’s inestimable wealth of expertise, generous leadership and vast institutional knowledge, carrying on his legacy work as investment in future generations of architects in California.
