MEET THE 2026 AIA CORPUS CHRISTI BOARD OF DIRECTORS & STAFF
Madeline Dykema, AIA – 2026 President
Madeline is originally from Durham, North Carolina. She moved to Corpus Christi from Broken Arrow, Oklahoma after completing a Bachelor of Architecture from Oklahoma State University. Madeline attained her License of Architecture in 2022, one of the first in the AIACC chapter to do so in many years. Madeline is currently the in-house architect for Pillar Engineering.
Madeline has served as the Director for Emerging Professionals for AIACC and headed the committee for the AIACC Canstruction team in 2022. Madeline married James Dykema in 2025.
Victor Cruz, AIA – 2026 President-Elect 
After earning his Master of Architecture from Texas Tech University in 2011, Victor R. Cruz commenced his journey with LaMarr Womack and Associates, LP as an intern. Over the past 12 years, he has played a key role in production management, overseeing and assigning tasks to the CAD team, managing computer systems, including BIM processes and workflows. Victor has been integral to design processes during the Schematic and Design Development Phases of all projects. Victor now holds the esteemed position of Partner at LWA, playing a significant role in contributing to the firm’s overall success.
Outside of design, Victor enjoys Lego building, travel and home renovation projects.
Toan Huynh, AIA – 2026 Treasurer 
Toan is the newest member of the AIACC Board or Directors. He is originally from Vietnam where he earned his architecture degree. He came to Corpus Christi, TX to attend Texas A&M University-CC where he earned an MBA – Business Administration & Management in 2014.
Toan attained his License of Architecture in 2023 and works at Richter Architects as a Project Manager.
Nallely Chavarria, Assoc. AIA – 2026 Secretary & Associate
Director For Emerging Professionals
Nallely is an architectural candidate at Richter Architects. She moved to Corpus Christi a few years ago, and fell in love with the laid back lifestyle here! Spending time with family and friends, traveling, and being involved in her local church are a few things that she enjoys doing in her free time. In 2021, she graduated from Texas A&M University (whoop!) and now is on the path to licensure.
This will be Nallely’s first year to serve on the Executive Committee for AIA Corpus Christi. She has served as the Associate Director For Emerging Professionals for several years and has been instrumental in connecting with other local young professionals by hosting joint mixers. Nallely received the 2024 “Associate Honor Award” for her mentorship with other emerging professionals in the community.
Rob Garcia, AIA, NCARB – 2026 Past President
Rob grew up in the Corpus Christi area and attended Calallen High School. After graduation he attended Texas A&M College Station where he received a Bachelor’s in Environmental Design – Architecture in 2001. After graduation Rob worked with multiple firms in Texas before moving to the Greater New Orleans, LA area. He continued his passion for architecture working with several firms, as well as becoming and Adjunct Instructor for Tulane University.
“I believe that design can impact lives. I believe we should honor the communities we touch with our work through innovation, respect, collaboration, and artistry of space.”
Rob returned to the Corpus Christi area in 2021 and is now a Studio Director/Architect for Levy Dykema Architects. Rob is a family man with wife, Amanda and two children attending Incarnate Word Academy.
Alex Garza, AIA – 2026 TxA Director
Alex grew up in Laredo, TX. He attended Trinity University in San Antonio followed by the University of Texas at San Antonio where he received a Master of Architecture. He is a registered Architect with over a decade’s worth of experience in thearchitecture and planning industry. Skilled in Building Information Modeling (BIM), Virtual Design and Construction (VDC), sustainable design, project management and document production through all phases of project delivery. Alex worked with firms in San Antonio and Austin before settling in Corpus Christi in 2021 working with Richter Architects as a Project Architect. He is currently with the firm Pfluger Architects.
Alex has also served on the Texas Society of Architects TAC committee for the past 3 years. He will serve AIACC as their TxA Director for the next two years. Alex enjoys outdoor activities, especially fishing. You will find him at all hours of the night and day fishing for that catch of the day.
Brad Eilering, AIA – 2026 At Large Director
Brad is an Assistant Professor of Architecture at Del Mar College. Brad approaches both fine art and architecture as a multi-disciplinary artist with a practice at the nexus of art and design. Formally educated in fine art and architecture holding terminal degrees in both areas. Work experience as a practicing architect in a progressive design firm and as a regional exhibiting sculptor. Portfolios that explore the relationships between disciplines and a teaching record that advances design education. He believes making should be reflective through the applied development of hands-on craftsmanship. In addition, expression should be relevant to the times. Brad encourages creativity that frames our time and believes fine art/architecture has the responsibility to connect with humankind in a capacity to inspire, motivate and even question the content of our existence.
Connie Rivera, FAIA – 2026 At Large Director 
Connie G. Rivera, FAIA is the Managing Principal of the Corpus Christi office of Pfluger Architects; her current work revolving around the long-range planning and design of educational facilities. Her professional history has been multi-faceted, including teaching at the Department of Architectural/Drafting Technology at Del Mar College, working with CCSW, an architectural graphics company, and managing the operations of AIA Corpus Christi as their Executive Director.
She has served on the Texas Society of Architects (TxA) Board of Directors as VP of Professional Development and of Advocacy and led as president in 2020. However, she is most recognized for her leadership in TxA’s Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee.
Named by Architect magazine In October 2024 as one of Nine Hispanic and Latinx Architects You Should Know, she received the 2019 Y Women in Careers Award from YWCA Corpus Christi, the Outstanding Member Award from AIACC in 2016 and was recognized for her service to AIA with the 2018 Texas Society of Architects Award for Young Professional Achievement in Honor of William W. Caudill, FAIA.
Connie was elevated to the AIA College of Fellows in 2026, an honor that had not taken place in the Corpus Christi AIA Chapter since 2009.
John Montalvo, Assoc. AIA – 2026 At Large Director
John is a senior construction manager with over 40 years of experience in the construction industry in civil and architectural engineering, architecture, construction, construction management and inspection, and program management. He has deep roots in Corpus Christi and grew up around construction starting in junior high school helping his dad on weekends and summers working as a carpenter’s helper on small residential and commercial projects. After graduating from King High School, he attended Del Mar College before obtaining his Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Design from Texas A&M University then his Master of Science in Architectural Engineering at the University of Texas at Austin.
While in grad school he worked for the director of the Construction Industry Institute as a graduate research assistant researching and drafting chapters for a National Science Foundation publication on the Japanese construction industry and was selected for a graduate internship with the Taisei Corporation (a large full service engineering, architecture and construction company) in their Tokyo, Japan headquarters in their research and development division.
After grad school, John worked for a large national general contractor, Hensel Phelps Construction Co., traveling around the country and overseas working on a wide variety of large and complex projects ranging from military engineering schools, aviation and light rail to high tech multi-billion dollar design-build semiconductor facilities, quickly rising through the ranks to work concurrently in their program management, general construction and international divisions in California and Texas before shifting careers to settle down in Houston to start a family. John went on to work for 23 years and counting with Lockwood, Andrews and Newnam, Inc. (LAN), initially with their former architectural division and then in their infrastructure division first in their Houston and Conroe, Texas offices and currently in their Corpus office, working on a wide variety and numerous architectural, aviation, port, coastal, infrastructure, program management, civil and architectural engineering projects. He is a former board member of the Houston Hispanic Architects and Engineers and past president of the Nueces County Historical Society. John is currently pursuing his Doctorate at Texas A&M University.
AIA Corpus Christi Staff
