Thursday, October 28, 2010

TSA Announces New EVP

James T. Perry

The Texas Society of Architects|AIA has named James T. Perry as Executive Vice President. Perry joins the organization on Jan. 17, 2011, and will be responsible for leading and managing the TSA staff and fulfilling its mandate to support the Society’s mission to be the voice for Texas architecture, supporting the creation of safe, beautiful, sustainable environments.

Perry is currently the CEO for the Florida Music Educators’ Association, the Florida School Music Association, and serves as the board consultant to the Florida Art Education Association. Under his leadership these associations have coalesced into an alliance known as “The Center for Fine Arts Education,” which works for the advancement of Fine Arts education in Florida. He also serves on the board of directors for the Florida Cultural Alliance and has served as chair of the Task Force on Government Relations for MENC: The National Association for Music Education.

A native of Austin, Perry is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin and attended the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music for graduate study. His classroom teaching experience included sixteen years of music education (band) in grades 6-12. He has performed with the American Wind Symphony Orchestra, the Texas Brass Quintet, and the Austin Symphony Orchestra as bass trombonist. For the last eleven years, he has resided in Tallahassee, Florida. He retains a life membership in the Texas Exes, is an alumnus of the University of Texas Longhorn Band, and enjoys being with family in Central Texas whenever possible.

“The entire TSA family is excited about James Perry’s return to the Lone Star State and looks forward to his assuming the role of EVP in January. I am personally pleased to see another trombone playing, McCallum High School Knight, U.T. Longhorn Band member brighten our staff,” says TSA Interim EVP Tommy Cowan, FAIA.

Cowan has been serving as the Society’s Interim EVP since July 2, 2010. He recently retired from Graeber Simmons & Cowan, where he was a founding principal and managing partner of the 50-person architecture firm, which specializes in education, healthcare, financial, and advanced technology. Previously, David Lancaster, Hon. AIA, served as EVP for 22 years and is now dedicating a full-time focus of his talents and efforts on TSA advocacy issues and legislative affairs in the role of TSA Senior Director of Advocacy.

Bill Reeves chaired the TSA Search Committee, with members Mary Crites; Elizabeth Chu Richter, FAIA; Jim Doche, FAIA; and Bryce Weigand, FAIA. Ex-officio members were TSA President Heather McKinney, FAIA, and President-Elect Dan Hart. 


The Coxe Group, a Seattle-based management consulting firm, was hired to manage the search. 


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