Please note: This year, some of the meetings will be held at the Elk Grove Village Public Library in the Lee Maternowski Meeting Room and others at the Downers Grove Library.  Please watch for the specific location on these topic description / invitations.

May SFF: Elk Grove Village Community Development Tour

May 13, 2025  | 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

As an Architect or Engineer of a small firm, having a good relationship with your local code officials and building department is a key component to the success not only to the firm but the project as well, as it goes through the permitting process.

Acting on several forum members’ interest in learning more about building department, code officials, plan reviewers, inspectors, and their process for approval, the Elk Grove Village Community Development department has graciously opened their doors for a small group of the Small Firm Forum members to tour the department. EGV has recently incorporated the Inspectional Services Division of the Fire Department into the Community Development Department to streamline the overall permit process, provide uniform leadership, and coordinate the interactions of all code officials, inspectors, etc. for a consistent customer experience.  Let’s see if this concept is having a positive impact on our professional design services.

There will be time allotted for at the end of the tour to ask questions of the community development staff. Registration is limited to 6 people for this in-person tour.

Learning Objectives:

1. Discuss the permitting / review process at EGV
2. Review the origin of certain codes and the adoption process
3. Examine the management of interpretation and discrepancies relating to code
4. Discuss the roles and responsibilities of the building inspector

CE: 1 LU

April SFF: Optimizing SFF Sessions - What's Working and What's Next

April 8, 2025  | 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

Join us for a collaborative roundtable discussion focused on enhancing the chapter’s monthly Small Firm Forum sessions. These forums offer a valuable opportunity to share the challenges your firm faces, exchange ideas, and explore actionable solutions with peers. Our goal is to spark meaningful conversations that inspire fresh thinking and real change—for both you and your firm.

We'll discuss:

• How the SFF Sessions have been beneficial for your and your firm
• What can be done to improve these meetings
• Future topics for upcoming meetings

March SFF: Current Trends in Risk Management

March 11, 2025  | 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

Managing the risk of professional practice is constant and keeping up with what those risks can be is challenging.  Professional Liability claims are evolving.  Emerging claim concerns include climate change, cyber disruption, and social inflation.

Insurance, risk management and strategies that apply to our business, projects and clients are all part of the conversation.  Small firm practitioners need support and approach methodologies to manage risk and to be insured against the unavoidable; however, what should we be looking for and where do we find it?

Please join us for a group discussion with Melissa Roberts, VP of USI Insurance Services, and a long-time friend and contributor to the AIA NEI. We’ll discuss must have contract provisions, major claim protection, subconsultant agreement management, risk management during construction phase services and current claim trends.  Bring your questions to the table so that we all can learn from each other.

Learning Objectives:

1. Discuss current claim trends.
2. Discuss what to expect for availability and cost of key insurance policies.
3. Review the most recent, must have contract clauses and where to find risk management help. 
4. Discuss how a firm can get the best value on their insurance.

February SFF: AI Use in Small Firms

February 11, 2025  

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is said to dramatically enhance the efficiency in architectural workflows by automating time-consuming tasks.  Tasks such as drafting floor plans, analyzing structural integrity, and optimizing spatial layouts can be performed relatively quickly by AI, freeing architects to focus on other tasks. AI-driven algorithms, such as Generative Adversarial Networks, can analyze massive datasets in seconds to enhance architectural design, optimize energy efficiency, and improve predictive analytics. These advancements contribute to significant cost savings and support long-term facilities management, ensuring smarter, more sustainable built environments.

Have you used AI in your practice and found these claims to be true?  Or not?  Are you considering implementing AI technologies in your practice…...can we avoid it?  How and where do we learn more about it?

Please join us for a round-table discussion regarding AI, your experience using it and other AI related talking points.

Learning Objectives

1. Discuss the potential positives and negatives of using AI.
2. Review the claims made by the Artificial Intelligence community.
3. Educate yourself on reliable sources for information.
4. Share experiences relating to the use of AI in our practices.

January SFF: Annual Kick-Off Meeting 2025

January 14, 2025 | 11:45 am - 1:00 pm

The Small Firm Forum (SFF) of AIA NEI is a group of small firm practitioners and aspiring firm owners that meet monthly in a round-table setting for professional presentations as well as a forum to participate in discussions of relevant small firm matters.  The SFF is designed to provide a resource for sharing and learning from each other’s knowledge and experiences with like-minded colleagues.  Monthly meetings occur on the 2^nd Tuesday of every month.

This month’s meeting is an open request for attendees to provide feedback on past forums, suggestions for 2025 topics and provide an opportunity to become more involved and participate in the program.  If you think the SFF is, has and can continue to be a positive component to your practice please join us for a discussion and planning session to have your input heard.

Learning Objectives

1. Discuss previous forum topics and their benefits and/or deficiencies.
2. Review the purpose and goals of the SFF and evaluate the path forward.
3. Discuss current needs and answer questions of the group.
4. Share experiences relating to professional development and challenges in running a small practice.