Governance and Leadership

2022 President-Elect Speech: SuLin Kotowicz, ASLA

"Real change, enduring change, happens one step at a time." ~ Ruth Bader Ginsburg
 
Hi, my name is SuLin Kotowicz, and I’m a landscape architect in Grand Rapids, Michigan. I am deeply honored to be before you today as a candidate for President Elect of ASLA. I never expected to be considered for 'President' as a first-generation immigrant by adoption and naturalized citizen. It was a running joke in my family as I was growing up that neither I nor my brother, both adoptees from South Korea, would be eligible to be POTUS. I am grateful to the nominating committee and Executive Committee for their belief that I am not only eligible but exhibit the qualities they expect in ASLA’s next President-Elect. 35 years ago, ASLA elected its first woman president, Darwina Neal, and I welcome the opportunity to become ASLA's first woman of color President-Elect.
 
I recently concluded my service on the Executive Committee as Vice President of Finance. The role was a perfect match for me, combining financial literacy education, clear communication, accountability and leadership. I'm left-brained, detail-oriented, and I prefer to plan ahead. I certainly didn’t foresee and couldn't have planned for the complexities and unpredictability in my term! However, our current realities would not be possible without the journey, including the CEO search and welcoming Torey Carter-Conneen to ASLA, free ASLA membership for students, the nationwide racial injustices and protests, and the COVID-19 pandemic and how ASLA rallied, adapted and persevered. We have celebrated in times of joy and toiled through times of turbulence.
 
Change is inevitable. Today's ASLA is vastly different than its origins in 1899. From 11 members to 14,976, we encompass a depth and breadth of diversity within our brilliant and passionate members.
 
With a goal of sowing seeds for the future, in late 2020, ASLA took the step toward real and enduring change and began a three-year strategic planning process. This timing aligns with the first two of three years I am offering to serve you as your next President-Elect. As a planner, of course, I have a three-year plan.
 
It all starts with our why. This can be simply defined in the inspiring words of author Simon Sinek as our chief purpose, cause or belief. My belief is landscape architects' why - why we do what we do - is to save the world. We do this in myriad ways, one class, one project, one community, and one source of potable water at a time. By having a focus, we can achieve success by pursuing programs and policies which are in alignment with our why.
 
President-Elect, 2022
 
Beginning by serving as President-Elect in 2022, I am excited for the opportunity to meet members across the nation and listen to people's authentic stories.
 
To define our purpose and priorities for ASLA's current evolution, it's critical for ASLA to continuously engage with and empower all members, especially our students and emerging professionals, to share what's important to them and their unique perspectives and to engage with future members as well. This intentional inclusivity will strengthen us as an organization and inform our strategic plan. It will also reinforce the simple message: every member, along with their authentic story, has immense value to ASLA.
 
One of my greatest priorities will be the 'action' in our new Racial Equity Plan of Action. It is time to throw off numbness and apathy toward bigotry and racism and continue the difficult conversations with intention and accountability. I support CEO Torey Carter-Conneen, who said in this plan of action, “The landscape architecture profession and global design community needs ASLA’s leadership now more than ever, and I am firmly committed to position us to meet the moment.” I do not know what experiences others in our BIPOC communities have had, but I am open to actively expanding my understanding, sharing my own experiences, and leading the way through implementing the five-point plan.
 
President, 2023
 
Year two, 2023, will be my year to serve as your president. Starting with our why, we will move forward with new strategies, services and products, building on previous strategic planning steps and identified ‘by the people, for the people.’ We will also position ASLA to adapt to the changing world to ensure we remain relevant and fruitful for generations to come. The responsibility will be on our leadership to process this input, create SMART goals, and then, most importantly, follow through with action. Once completed, it will take clarity, discipline and consistency to implement the strategic plan and to make it a living document. I will be rolling up my sleeves for the hard work ahead along with our ASLA team and volunteers!
 
Fiscal responsibility will be key as we roll out new initiatives or retire old ones. As an organization, we need to be intentional about revenue diversification. We weathered the pandemic of 2020 and see light at the end of the tunnel thanks to intentional saving done in our past, ASLA’s leadership fulfilling their fiscal responsibility for our assets, and careful stewardship of finances by our ASLA team. We proudly have a green portfolio (in our long-term reserve), which has performed very well. To continue the good work, rather than limiting ourselves to a few revenue sources, we will be best prepared for whatever the future brings us by developing many types of revenue sources. The ‘three-legged stool’ model of ASLA revenue can become a relic and we can move forward with our multi-legged octopus!
 
Immediate Past President, 2024

I will serve as Immediate Past President in 2024. This will be a big year, as we will be celebrating the 125th Anniversary of the American Society of Landscape Architects. It seems like we just celebrated in Boston in 1999! That was my first Annual Conference as a starry-eyed student, coincidentally. On our anniversary, ASLA will reflect on where we’ve come from, what our legacy has been, and where we’re headed.
 
We can increase the diversity of people which comprise our profession, but first we need to be visible early and encourage all students with an emphasis on BIPOC communities.

As Immediate Past President, I will serve as the Chair of the ASLA Fund Board of Directors. We have a great resource in the ASLA Fund we can leverage with your help, to provide opportunities and reduce barriers to entry in the profession. We’ve had great success in providing student scholarships through this 501(c)3.

We will wrap up another great initiative around this time-our Frameworks project. While the general populace intrinsically understands the value of what we do as landscape architects, we must shift the public’s understanding of our profession. This social project will guide us with actionable ways to align how we view ourselves and what we do with public perception. These ‘frames’ are going to change the game. Imagine having the ability to use a frame to concisely encapsulate our profession and what we do which anyone can grasp?

The End

I have used the ‘planting seeds’ analogy pretty freely. Every action we take in leadership is like planting a seed. This isn’t instant gratification, but establishing and nurturing our current and future members, programs and policies to empower landscape architects for growth and thriving. Leadership is all about the notion of planting a tree which you won’t benefit from, because the reward will be realized far into the future. It’s about working hard to clear a path for others so they can confidently go on to do bigger and better things.
 
In November, we will gather together – in person – for the Conference on Landscape Architecture in Nashville, Tennessee. We will share fellowship and grow through educational sessions. We will once again experience the energy and renewal of being together, with gratitude after the emotional stress of 2020. We will also look toward the horizon as an organization and what we can aspire to next.
 
The time is now for the next evolution of the American Society of Landscape Architects, or as I heard recently, a launching point. Let’s seize this influential moment and invest our time and energy in a bigger and better organization. We can deepen connections between students and members, Chapters and national, Chapter Presidents Council and Board of Trustees, and between you and me. We can position ASLA to be stronger and more resilient.
 
My three-year plan is ultimately to share my authentic voice, be an active listener and work with you to empower landscape architects to save the world. I would be honored to have this opportunity for new beginnings with ASLA as your next President-Elect, and will leave you with a quote from Mr. [Fred] Rogers:
 
"Often when you think you're at the end of something, you're at the beginning of something else." ~ Fred Rogers