IA Announces Winners of 2024 IAct Awards

IA is excited to announce the firm’s annual IAct Awards program winners. This year, while we celebrated IA’s 40th anniversary, IAers took the time to nominate 480 colleagues for an internal award program that demonstrates the strength of IA’s community and the depth of our culture. In addition to celebrating our foundational four categories of Leadership, Innovation, Service, and Rising Star, we brought back a special category that debuted in 2023, the “Spirit of IA” Award. This category honors an individual within the firm who embodies all of IA’s values: a passionate and innovative leader who always goes the extra mile to benefit IA’s project work, internal culture, and the larger community.

The 2024 IAct Award for Leadership was presented to Paul Briggs, a Quality Assurance Manager based in Charlotte and a member of our Retail Studio. Nominators praised Paul for the depth of his knowledge and how he mentors equitably. One nominator said that Paul “create[s] an environment where everyone feels comfortable asking for help or clarification,” and another shared that “his knowledge is impressive, but what really stands out is how [he] shares it. [He is] one of those people who can take complex topics and make them easy to understand.”

“Paul’s widespread internal and industry respect is borne from a deep breadth of technical knowledge across various design and construction practice areas. His understanding of project delivery methods and strategies, unending pursuit of continual learning, paired with his drive to mentor, coach, and teach others, make him an incredible teammate and an invaluable asset to IA and our clients.”
Mike Riggs, Principal, Managing Director of IA’s Retail Studio.

The 2024 IAct Award for Service was presented to Riché Wiley, Cyber Security Specialist and part of IA’s Information Technology team. Riché is well known for her tireless dedication to supporting often urgent technology needs. She received a record-breaking number of nominations from across the firm, reflecting her positive impact. Not only is she truly solution-oriented, as one nominator notes, “she is patient beyond measure, cheerful, helpful, and truly wants to see the best outcome for every situation she faces. She puts others first and does it without it being a conscious decision,” she also always seeks to elevate her professional expertise, having just completed an additional degree and obtained multiple Global Information Assurance Certifications (GIAC). Another nominator called her “the wizard behind the curtain,” saying, "It's not only their work that is excellent; they are very kind, always pleasant, and patient.” 

“Riché brings tremendous enthusiasm and value to each task, project, and interaction in which she’s involved. Her industry expertise and positive demeanor has earned her the respect of her department and others across the firm, and she completely deserves this award. IA is lucky to have her.”
Tobin Schroeder, Senior Director of Information Technology

The 2024 IAct Award for Innovation was presented to Gary Bouthillette, Senior Director of Lighting Design, based in IA’s SoCal Studio. Gary joined IA 12 years ago and quickly became an influential and singular presence. Having established IA’s lighting practice, he is known as a “maker” and builder who always seeks to evolve the complexity level of his creations. Gary prioritizes research and development, which includes creating a lighting lab that he and his team use to experiment, leading to the best possible solutions for our clients. One nominator said Gary “is a visionary whose relentless pursuit of innovation sets them apart in the field. [His] creativity knows no bounds.” Another nominator noted that his “innovative spirit extends beyond traditional methods. He is constantly experimenting with new materials, techniques, and technologies and always seeking ways to push the limits of what is possible.” 
 
“Gary has been a colleague of mine for nearly 20 years, and from the outset, his design talent, with a strong technical foundation, was remarkable.  When he joined IA, Gary identified an opportunity to elevate IA’s design – specifically through elevated lighting design solutions.  His avocation became his vocation.  He has a unique and awe-inspiring passion that impacts one of the most important components of IA’s design practice – lighting! Gary has the ability to elevate the ordinary and expected into extraordinary, the unexpected.”

Helen Watts, Managing Principal of IA’s Southern California (SoCal) studio

The 2024 IAct Rising Star Award was presented to Morgan Sartory, a Job Captain based in IA’s Austin studio. Morgan has been on an impressive trajectory since she joined IA several years ago when she began her career as an intern. From the outset, she showed incredible potential and has taken on every challenge with a willingness to learn and grow. One nominator noted that her “level of professionalism is light years beyond their experience. They have handled many projects almost entirely solo, which have involved challenging issues and clients. This person’s passion and attention to design details is unmatched.” Another nominator said, “Morgan embodies the qualities that make an exceptional rising star—dedication, enthusiasm, and a genuine desire to help others. She consistently goes above and beyond, whether offering mentorship or answering a complex Revit question.”  

“Morgan is unwavering in her dedication to the success of her teams and her projects.  Always eager to learn, Morgan is also a champion of mentorship within our studio and her professionalism sets a high bar for all.  I’m so excited to see Morgan achieve this incredible recognition for her work at IA, and I know it’s just one of many impressive steps in a successful, meaningful career.”
Stephanie Long, Managing Director of IA’s Austin Studio

Last but definitely not least, the 2024 Spirit of IA award winner was Valerie Jardon, a Strategy Director based in our Chicago studio. This is an especially significant accomplishment because the winner in this category is an individual who truly exemplifies the values of IA, has provided service both internally and outside of the IA community, and holistically represents all our category nominations. Valerie was nominated by many people in multiple studios and practice areas, a testament to her impact both within the firm and externally with clients, colleagues, and industry professionals. She is committed to research and mentorship, always seeking to share and learn from others. One nominator praised her for her innovation: "As a thought leader in the field, Valerie consistently challenges assumptions, pushing the boundaries of conventional design thinking to achieve excellence.” Another shared they always “appreciate her thoughtfulness in gaining perspective from other studios. She is a wealth of knowledge…intentional and eager to help better our strategy and design process.”

“Valerie’s dedication, positivity, and unwavering commitment to IA's values inspire all of us. This award is so well-deserved and recognizes the energy and passion she brings to everything she does. Chicago is extremely proud to have her as part of our local team and appreciates her consistent ability to share her expertise firmwide.”
Carolyn Tucker, Managing Principal of IA’s Chicago studio.

The awards were presented on December 11, 2024 during a live-streamed global event.