Paul Mendelsohn, Vice President, Government and Community Relations

Paul Mendelsohn first joined the AIA in 1999.  He was promoted in March 2004 to senior director, State and Local Affairs, and in 2006 to the position of vice president, Government and Community Relations.  In this position, he serves as the representative of the AIA on all matters relating to the Institute's government advocacy agenda.  He also manages the daily operations of the Federal Advocacy, State and Local Government Advocacy, and Communities by Design department staff.  Paul provides oversight and support to the operations of the AIA's policy advisory groups, including the AIA Licensing Committee, State Government Network, and the AIA National Building Codes and Standards Committee.  He also works closely with component representatives to develop programs and materials that support AIA national's issue positions and augment state components' advocacy efforts.  He is instrumental in the AIA Board's leadership in the evaluation, scrutiny, and integration of the organization's public policies and position statements and is committed to ensuring that the public policies and the positions of the AIA drive the government advocacy agenda.

Prior to joining the AIA, Paul worked in the Michigan State Legislature for 10 years, most recently as chief of staff to State Representative Bob Brown, where he developed a thorough understanding of political strategy that contributes to his ability to provide effective advocacy leadership to the AIA, its components, and members.  Paul earned the BA degree in political science with a minor in psychology from Michigan State University.

Robin Stevenson, Executive Assistant

Robin Stevenson joined the AIA in February 2007 as executive assistant to Paul Mendelsohn, the vice president for Government and Community Relations.  In this capacity, Robin provides general office coverage and maintains a smooth operational flow of the Government Advocacy and Communities by Design teams.  Robin has more than 17 years of related professional experience and comes to the AIA most recently from the Pope John Paul II Cultural Center, where she served as the executive assistant to its executive director.  She has also worked as an executive assistant to vice presidents at both the Washington Hospital Center Foundation and the George Washington University Hospital.

To contact Robin, e-mail her at rstevenson@aia.org.

Stephanie Todd, Information and Editorial Specialist

Stephanie joined the AIA in September 2008 as Specialist, Information and Editorial Development for Government and Community Relations. Stephanie is responsible for organizing and coordinating the flow of government advocacy information affecting the practice and profession of architecture to the membership.  She is also the editor of The Angle, which is GCR’s biweekly newsletter.

Prior to the AIA, Stephanie worked at The Motley Fool in Alexandria, Va., where she was a newsletter editor for two publications. Stephanie was also a managing editor at Hanley Wood and Heldref Publications in Washington, D.C.

Stephanie earned her Bachelor of Arts in English, with a concentration in non-fiction writing and editing, from George Mason University. She is currently pursuing a Masters in Publishing, with a concentration on e-publishing, from George Washington University in Washington, D.C.

To contact Stephanie, e-mail her at stephanietodd@aia.org

Federal Relations

Andrew Goldberg, Assoc. AIA, Senior Director, Federal Relations

Andrew Goldberg, Assoc. AIA, was named the AIA's senior director of Federal Relations in August 2007, following three years as manager of Federal Regulatory Activities at the AIA. As senior director, Goldberg runs the AIA's advocacy program before Congress and the administration and serves as the AIA's top federal lobbyist.

After studying architecture in the early 1990s, Goldberg turned to politics and public policy, spending six years as a legislative assistant to members of Congress and serving as executive director of Democrats Abroad, the Democratic Party organization for Americans living overseas. He also has worked on numerous political campaigns at the national, state and local levels.

He received the BA degree from the University of Pennsylvania's Design of the Environment program in architecture and landscape architecture.

To contact Andrew, e-mail him at agoldberg@aia.org.


Tom Bergan, Manager, Federal Legislative Relations

Tom Bergan joined the AIA in July 2006.  He is responsible for planning, coordinating, and implementing federal legislative programs. He also tracks federal legislation and analyzes the pros and cons of the legislation with regard to the architecture profession.  Tom came to the AIA from a small lobbying firm in Washington that focused on public transportation and local government issues.  Tom holds a BA in political science from the Penn State University.

To contact Tom, e-mail him at tbergan@aia.org.

Biljana Kaumaya, Manager, Federal Regulatory Relations

Billie Kaumaya joined the AIA in July 2005 as manager, State Relations.  In April 2009, she moved to the Federal Relations team as manager, Federal Regulatory Relations.  In this role, Billie is responsible for advancing the Institute's and the profession's goals by promoting the AIA's public policies to the executive branch of the federal government, federal agencies and Congress.  Billie also represents the AIA on coalitions and initiatives regarding federal issues affecting the practice and profession of architecture.

Prior to joining the AIA, Billie worked in government affairs for Mazda and Honda. She was also a legislative associate for the state consulting firm, Stateside Associates, and worked for the Ohio House of Representatives. Billie earned a Bachelor's degree in International Studies and Communications, with minors in Political Science and Spanish, from The Ohio State University. She also holds a Master's degree in International Affairs from the George Washington University.

To contact Billie, e-mail her at bkaumaya@aia.org.

State Relations

John Loyer, Director, State Relations

John Loyer became the director of State Relations at the AIA in March 2008. In this position, John manages AIA National's relationship with the state components and work with component staff to promote AIA policies and legislative initiatives.

Before coming to the AIA, John was a consultant to the building industry, where his clientele included the largest energy consulting group in California and the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). He also has served as the head of Government Affairs for Icynene, a foam insulation company, and, prior to that, as the energy and green building advocate for NAHB. While employed at NAHB, he was responsible for the creation of NAHB's Model Green Home Building Guidelines.

An internationally certified one- and two-family dwelling building inspector and accomplished public speaker, John has also taught as adjunct faculty at Penn State's Pennsylvania Housing Research Center. He earned the Master's degree from McGill University in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, and the Bachelor's degree from Mercyhurst College in Erie, Pa. He also holds an advanced diploma in Legislative Affairs from the Government Affairs Institute of Georgetown University.

To contact John, e-mail him at johnloyer@aia.org.

Renée Wadsworth, Manager, State Relations

Renée Wadsworth joined the AIA in May 2008 as a manager, State Relations. Renée works to promote the effectiveness of AIA state advocacy efforts on behalf of AIA members. Renée represents the AIA on national association boards, commissions, and committees as the external relations representative on the State Relations team. She also assists AIA state components with their advocacy efforts through issue management, communications and coordination among components, strategic counsel, research, outreach, and resource identification and development.

Prior to joining the AIA, Renée worked as a Legislative Associate at Stateside Associates, Inc. She also worked as an assistant to California State Senator Joe Simitian, and as a Floor Analysis Assistant at the California State Assembly Office of the Chief Clerk. Renée attended the University of California, Davis, where she earned her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Spanish.

To contact Renée, e-mail her at reneewadsworth@aia.org. 

Mark Wills, Manager, State Issues and Programs

Mark Wills joined the AIA in June 2009 as manager, State Issues and Programs. Mark’s primary responsibility on the Government Advocacy Team is promoting the AIA’s public policy and the effectiveness of state advocacy on behalf of AIA members and components. Mark manages all State Government Network (SGN) functions for the State Relations team and is the point of contact on Interior Design, Licensing, and Service Tax issues.

Prior to joining the AIA, Mark served as director, Research and Client Relations at StateScape in Alexandria, Va. Previously, Mark was chief legislative analyst for NumbersUSA Education and Research Foundation and before that, an analyst/editor for the American Insurance Association. Mark attended the University of Minnesota, Morris, and earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in History.

To contact Mark, e-mail him at markwills@aia.org.

Local Relations

Brooks Rainwater, Director, Local Relations

Brooks Rainwater was promoted to be the AIA's director of Local Relations in March 2008, following three years as manager, State and Local Relations. As director, Brooks is responsible for advancing the Institute's and the architecture profession's goals at the local level by promoting the AIA's public policies and empowering local components to effectively manage their legislative, regulatory, and legal efforts.

Brooks was appointed to a three-year term on the Arlington County Environment and Energy Conservation Commission in 2007. He is also the lead author of the report, Local Leaders in Sustainability: A Study of Green Building Programs in Our Nation's Communities.

Previously Brooks worked as a research associate for the Artemis Group LLC. Prior to that, he interned with the North Carolina Smart Growth Alliance in the area of rural development policy. Brooks earned the Bachelor's degree in Political Science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He also holds a Master's of Public Administration degree from the George Washington University.

To contact Brooks, e-mail him at brainwater@aia.org.

Grassroots and Political Mobilization

Adam Melis, Director, Advocacy Outreach

Adam Melis was named Director, Advocacy Outreach, in May 2008. Adam is responsible for advancing the Institute's goals by directing the Government and Community Relations team's political outreach initiatives and year-round advocacy program, including the AIA's political programs and PAC, grassroots mobilization, and citizen architect/leadership programs and training.

Before joining the AIA in 2003, Adam's experience includes serving as finance director for North Dakota Rep. Earl Pomeroy and as assistant to the mayor of Anaheim. From 1997 to 2000, Adam was an associate for Fraioli & Associates, a Washington, DC-based campaign consulting firm. Adam earned a BA from James Madison College at Michigan State University, where he studied international relations and political theory.

To contact Adam, e-mail him at amelis@aia.org.

Hannah Wesolowski, Manager, Political Programs

Hannah Wesolowski was named manager, Political Programs in May 2008. Since December 2006, she served as the specialist, Federal and State Relations, where she provided project and issue support to the Government Advocacy team. As manager, Political Programs, Hannah focuses on developing ArchiPAC, the AIA's political action committee, and state component PACs. She is also involved in implementing grassroots advocacy and developing political programs that enhance the AIA's role in the making of national policy affecting architects, including the DesignVote08 initiative, a non-partisan program focused on getting issues important to architects front and center in the 2008 campaign.

Prior to coming to the AIA, Hannah worked for the New York University Office of Development and Alumni Relations as a development coordinator for the senior vice president, Development and Alumni Relations. Hannah earned both the Bachelor of Arts in Politics and her Masters in Public Administration degrees in Public and Non-Profit Policy from New York University in New York City.

To contact Hannah, e-mail her at hwesolowski@aia.org.

Contact Us
AIA Government Relations
1735 New York Avenue NW
First Floor
Washington, DC 20006
202-626-7403 Phone
202-626-7583 Fax
govaffs@aia.org