P.O. Box 1323
Corpus Christi, TX 78411

AIACC Board & Staff

Meet the 2023 Board of Directors

 

 

Andrea Riojas, AIA – 2023 President

Andrea Riojas, AIA is a graduate of Texas A&M University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Design.  She has been practicing architecture in Corpus Christi and south Texas for the past 18 years and is a principal architect for CLK Architects & Associates, Inc.  Andrea enjoys the opportunity to work closely with clients from the inception of a project until the completion.  Her professional work has included a variety of project types throughout south Texas, namely healthcare, commercial, industrial, and religious.
Andrea’s husband, Gilly, is a fellow Aggie and they have a teenage daughter who loves reading plans and picking paint colors.  Andrea is happy to serve our local AIA chapter in her role as a board member and looks forward to the opportunity to be an advocate for the architecture profession in the Corpus Christi area.

 

Alejandro Garza, AIA, NCARB – 2023 President Elect

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 the architecture 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.  He is currently working with Richter Architects as a Project Architect.
Alex is currently serving with the Texas Society of Architects (TxA) as a member of the TAC committee.  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.

 

Rob Garcia, AIA, NCARB – 2023 Treasurer

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 lives with his family and new puppy, Beaux in the London area of Corpus Christi where his children attend London ISD.  Go Pirates!

 

Madeline Layland, AIA – 2023 Secretary

Architect for Levy Dykema. 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 also serving as the Director for Emerging Professionals for AIACC and has done so for the past 2 years.  She headed the committee for the AIACC Canstruction team in 2022.

 

Jay Porterfield, AIA – 2023 Immediate Past President

Jay completed an Associate in Architectural Technologies from Del Mar College in 1991, then Bachelor of Architecture from Texas Tech University in 1996. Jay began working for Bennett, Martin and Solka Architects in Corpus Christi while still attending Texas Tech and upon graduation continued full time for the firm currently known as Solka Nava Torno architects, LLC.
Jay first became active in the AIACC Chapter Executive Committee in 2001, serving as a Director, Secretary, Treasurer and finally Chapter President in 2006. He has been involved in many activities in the Chapter including maintaining the first Chapter website, the committee that hired the first Executive Director, the Fore the Birdies Golf Tournament, Changing Bayfront Initiative, the AIA 150 project, the annual Summer Code Academy, “So You Want to be an Architect”, and the CCISD Summer Academy.
He spends his free time woodworking, hunting, camping and enjoying family. Jay is an assistant scout master with his son’s Boy Scout Troop and is active with the St. Mark’s Episcopal Church ramp-building ministry.

 

Connie Rivera, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP – 2023 TxA Director

After growing up in the Coastal Bend and graduating from Carroll High School, Connie attended the University of Texas at Austin obtaining a Bachelor of Architecture degree in 1994.  She has been practicing architecture in Corpus Christi for over 20 years, currently working with Richter Architects as Project Manager. Her background includes teaching in the Department of Architectural/Drafting Technology at Del Mar College, working with an architectural graphics design company, and managing the operations of AIA Corpus Christi as their Executive Director.   She has managed challenging, award-winning preservation projects, and worked with many of her colleagues to facilitate the implementation of the vision of a local community college.
Connie first became active in the AIA Corpus Christi chapter in 2000 serving as Associate Director.  She later was hired as their Executive Director and served in that role from 2008 through 2011.  After stepping down, she continued to serve on the AIA CC board, becoming chapter president in 2014.  During her tenure at AIA CC she was instrumental in the launch of several programs such as Code Academy, Summer Architectural Academy, and Smart Growth Forum.
She later served with the Texas Society of Architects (TxA)  beginning in 2015 as Chapter Director, and continued as  VP of Professional Development, VP of Advocacy and finally as President in 2020.
Connie enjoys running, reading, traveling and visiting car shows and road rallies with her son.

 

Greg McCarn, Assoc. AIA – At Large Director

Greg grew up in the Coastal Bend.  He attended Flour Bluff High School.  He then moved to the San Antonio area for 16 years where he attended the University of Texas at San Antonio. He attained a Bachelor of Architecture followed by a Masters Degree in Architecture.
He returned to Corpus Christi and is now part of Fulton Construction.  Greg has been on the Board of Directors for AIACC for several years, beginning as an Emerging Professional Director.   Greg loves spending time out of doors and enjoys all types of outdoor sports, especially hunting and fishing.

 

 

Eric Rivera, AIA – At Large Director

Eric grew up in Corpus Christi and graduated from Carrol High School.  He attended Texas A&M University in College Station.  He is a licensed architect in the state of Texas with experience in all phases of planning and design for many different project types ranging from private, high-end residences to commercial structures in both the public and private sectors, and various building types for area counties and municipalities. He worked with several local firms including Dykema Architects, WKMC Architects and Hanson Professional Services, Inc., before opening his own firm, Rivera Architectural Services, PLLC in 2021.  Eric received his Registered Accessibility Specialist license in Texas in March, 2021.

 

 

Taylor Mauck, AIA – At Large Director

Taylor is a long time residence of Corpus Christi.  He graduated from Calallen High School, Del Mar College with an AAS in Architectural Technology, attended two years at University of Houston, School of Architecture and graduated in 1986 from The University of Texas at San Antonio with a BFA (concentration in architecture).
He came back to Corpus and started working for Island Architects in 1987 and has been a principle of the firm for the past ten years.
He has served on the Corpus Christi Zoning Board of Adjustments five terms and one as chairman.  He has also been a member of Padre Island Rotary Club.
He enjoys traveling, hiking, biking (both kinds) and anything outdoors.  He is married and has two adult children.

 

 

 

 


AIA Corpus Christi Staff

Suzan Rozypal

Executive Director

Suzan began serving as the part-time AIACC Executive Director in 2021.  She was a Flight Attendant for Southwest Airlines for over 25 years, retiring in 2022.  She has a BA in History from Texas A&M University College Station.  Her love of history is also why she started Italy With Friends Tours over 15 years ago.  Guiding small group tours to Italy and Southern France is her true love and before the pandemic, she spent several months a year in Italy.  History and architecture go hand and hand, so serving as the Executive Director for AIACC provides many opportunities for learning new and interesting subjects.  Suzan grew up near Sinton, Texas and currently lives on her family’s ranch near Lake Corpus Christi with her many friends that include cats, longhorn cattle and chickens, and yes, they all have names.