ASLA UTAH SEPTEMBER 2026 NEWSLETTER

LEADERSHIP EXPRESS

Devon Dillinger, ASLA Utah President

Hello Utah ASLA! As I begin my term as President of the Utah Chapter, I thought I should start by introducing myself to those of you I have not had the chance to meet yet.

I am a landscape architect with Confluence, Inc. and am based in Salt Lake City, Utah. I have been involved with ASLA for much of my career, including service on national committees and as President of the Iowa ASLA Chapter (2022-2023). Since moving back to Utah in 2025, I served as our Climate Action and Biodiversity Chair until deciding to run for the Utah Chapter Executive Committee. I also currently serve in the SITES AP seat on the GBCI Credentialing Steering Committee, and I recently completed a 4-year term as a L.A.R.E. Exam Committee Writer with CLARB. I am excited to now have the opportunity to serve as your Chapter President.

My term officially began at the conclusion of the 2026 ASLA Conference on Landscape Architecture in Los Angeles this year, which felt like a fitting way to start. Before the conference, I attended the Fall Chapter Presidents Council meeting with chapter leaders from across the country. CPC gave us the opportunity to talk openly about what is working within our chapters, where we are struggling, and what we can learn from one another.

We discussed member engagement, awards programs, sponsorships, chapter operations, K-12 outreach, and ways to make it easier for people to volunteer and stay involved. On the first day of CPC, one thing that stood out to me was how many chapters are working through the same challenges. People want to be involved, but everyone is busy. That makes it even more important that we create opportunities to participate that are worthwhile and realistic.

On the second day of CPC, ASLA leadership gave us a look at where the organization is headed nationally. ASLA is currently in the second phase of its Vision 2030 strategic plan, focused on strengthening the profession’s voice, supporting the long-term health of landscape architecture practice, and expanding the resources available to members. National is now beginning work on the final 2028 to 2030 phase, and chapters will have a direct role in helping shape those priorities. Throughout 2027, ASLA will be asking members across the country what they want the organization and profession to accomplish next. I want to make sure Utah is part of that conversation and that what we are experiencing here, the opportunities and challenges of practicing in our state, are represented.

After CPC, the ASLA National Conference itself was a great few days of education, tours, reconnecting with colleagues, and meeting new people. There was a lot of discussion about the future of landscape architecture, including climate action, new technology, professional practice, and how our role continues to evolve.

One of my favorite parts of the conference was spending time with our Utah students, faculty, and other practitioners. It was a good reminder that some of the most valuable parts of ASLA happen outside the formal sessions. Sometimes it is lunch, a conversation between sessions, or simply meeting someone you had not crossed paths with before.

As I look toward the coming year, I want us to build on the good work already happening within ASLA Utah. I would like to strengthen connections among members across the state, continue supporting our students and emerging professionals, and make sure the Chapter is providing real value to its members. I also want us to keep looking for ways to increase awareness of landscape architecture and the work our profession does throughout Utah.

I want to thank our outgoing leadership and everyone who has volunteered their time to the Chapter. ASLA Utah only works because people are willing to get involved and help.

I also want to give a sincere thank you to our sponsors and corporate partners. Their support helps make our conferences, educational programs, student activities, and Chapter events possible. We are fortunate to have industry partners who continue to invest in Utah’s landscape architecture community.

Most importantly, thank you to our members. Whether you have been involved with ASLA for years, recently joined, are still a student, or have not made it to a Chapter event in a while, I hope you will find a reason to reconnect with us this year. Come to an event, share an idea, volunteer when you can, or simply reach out and say hello.

I am looking forward to the year ahead and to working with all of you!

UPCOMING EVENTS

**Watch your inbox for details about each upcoming ASLA Utah Chapter Event**

**LuckyDog Virtual Lunch & Learn** **The Future of Play:** *STM Updates, Design Innovation & New Products from Playcraft* **Wed, Oct 7th**
**12:00–1:00pm MT**

**REGISTER HERE**

**Indigenous Right Relations: Design Alignment Through Cultural Humility Webinar Series**

**CLICK HERE TO REGISTER**

**A free webinar series Climate & Biodiversity Action 101 - free Webinar Series**

**CLICK HERE TO REGISTER**

Celebrate Your Favorite Historic Landscape with a Short-Form HALS!

Do you enjoy research and writing?

Sharpen your skills by completing a short-form Historic American Landscape Survey (HALS). Why complete a HALS report? HALS documentation is useful for educators and researchers and often provides a basis for preservation easements. HALS can also inform landscape rehabilitation. Perhaps most importantly, the stories historic landscapes reveal can live on through the HALS program even if the landscape disappears.

The 2027 HALS Challenge theme will be announced soon! In the meantime, learn more about cultural landscapes HERE or contact Amy Reid, Utah ASLA HALS Liaison.

I recently visited the International Peace Gardens at Jordan Park in Salt Lake City. Founded in 1939 by Mrs. Otto Wiesley and dedicated in 1952, it is one of the only historic parks on Salt Lake City’s westside. What historic landscape inspires you?

ASLA National Meeting - Los Angeles, CA 2026

Bryce Ward, ASLA Utah Chapter Trustee

And the Emmy goes to....ASLA!

One of the main highlights of my trip to L.A. was bumping into the actor who plays one of my favorite characters on Ted Lasso (Roy Kent), but the real excitement was being around fellow Landscape Architects and people passionate about designing and saving our world one landscape at a time. And as Ted Lasso has taught me, the power of "Believe" showed up in the conference presentations and the national ASLA BOT and CPC meetings. This gathering was a joy and privilege to experience and represent.

At both the Chapter Presidents Council and Board of Trustees meetings, our leadership was debriefed on the actions ASLA is taking to improve membership services, defend our licenses across the country, and prioritize federal and state policy issues that impact climate resilience, biodiversity, and other environmental and social justice issues. We also enjoyed a combined panel of representatives from CLARB, ASLA, CELA, and LAAB to discuss how to increase our pipeline of new registered landscape architects. It was also announced that,

"The Council of Landscape Architectural Registration Boards (CLARB)... announced a $500,000 gift to the ASLA Fund to launch the CLARB Exam Success Grants. This new initiative will provide financial support to eligible Landscape Architect Registration Examination (L.A.R.E.) candidates who face economic challenges in pursuing licensure. Subject to program requirements, the grants will reimburse eligible exam costs and help reduce financial barriers on the path to becoming a licensed landscape architect."

As someone who started taking the L.A.R.E. exams when five exams were issued, then it changed to four, and I had to forfeit two passed exams, this kind of assistance during a recession would have been very beneficial. As we discussed and questioned this issue during our meetings, I am confident that ASLA and CLARB will continue to improve the cost and administration of the L.A.R.E. to make it more accessible to those seeking licensure.

Next year's ASLA National Conference will be held in Chicago, IL, with the leadership and members of the International Federation of Landscape Architects (IFLA). This will be the largest gathering of landscape architects EVER. The combined event will take place September. 21-24, 2027, at the McCormick Place Convention Center. We are thrilled to host our international friends for their World Council meeting and join them in helping practitioners and communities alike.

Special Thanks to ASLA Utah 2026 Sponsors & Corporate Partners for their Support!

Platinum Sponsors
BioGrass | Great Western Recreation | Rain Bird

Gold Sponsors
Belgard | Hunter/FX Luminaire | LuckyDog Recreation | MADRAX/Thomas Steele | Victor Stanley

Silver Sponsors

Corporate Partners