The American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) inducted Thomas R. Tavella, FASLA, as the 68th president of the 16,000-member Society during the 2012 Annual Meeting and EXPO in Phoenix.

With more than 25 years in private practice, Tavella serves as the director of design for Fuss & O’Neill, Inc., located in Trumbull, Connecticut, where he manages a diverse portfolio of award-winning projects located across the nation. Tavella is a LEED Accredited Professional and is CLARB certified with licenses in five states. An advocate for the landscape architecture profession, he served as the national ASLA vice president of communications from 2008–2009, the chair of the Public Relations Advisory Committee, the Connecticut Chapter national trustee, and four terms as the Connecticut Chapter president.

“I am more convinced than ever that ASLA is doing the right things to position landscape architects as leaders in the research, design, and greening of the public realm,” said Tavella. “If we are to grow as a profession, we need to introduce ourselves to the general public and especially promising students at an earlier age. When they are asked what they want to be when they grow up, ‘landscape architect’ should be their informed answer.”

Tavella’s successor in 2014 will be President-elect Mark A. Focht, FASLA, of Philadelphia. As first deputy commissioner, parks and facilities, for Philadelphia Parks and Recreation, Focht is responsible for operations, maintenance, planning, capital, property management, urban forestry, ecosystem management, and security of a 10,100-acre park and recreation system comprising 197 passive parks, 55 recreation centers, 97 playgrounds, and 71 outdoor swimming pools. Previously, Focht served six years as executive director of Philadelphia's Fairmount Park System.

Along with Tavella and Focht, ASLA installed three new vice presidents:

• Annette P. Wilkus, ASLA, is the new vice president of professional practice. She is the principal of SiteWorks in New York City.
• Shawn T. Kelly, FASLA, is the new vice president of membership. He is the principal of Kelly Design Group, LLC in Williams Bay, Wisconsin.
• David L. Lycke, FASLA, is the new vice president of finance. He is the principal at PLaCE Studios in Charleston, South Carolina; and a vice president of P.M. Blough, Inc. in Grand Haven, Michigan.

The new vice presidents will serve two-year terms. Continuing service on the ASLA executive committee are Susan M. Hatchell, FASLA, immediate past president and president of Susan Hatchell Landscape Architecture, PLLC in Raleigh, North Carolina; K. Richard Zweifel, FASLA, vice president of education and professor and associate dean of the College of Architecture and Environmental Design at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, California; Mark H. Hough, ASLA, vice president of communications and campus landscape architect at Duke University; and Chad D. Danos, FASLA, vice president of government affairs and the director of landscape architecture at Duplantis Design Group, PC.