HISTORY
Board members from the San Diego and Orange County chapters met regularly and engaged in thoughtful discussions about the future of SDA in the SoCal region and to explore opportunities for greater collaboration and regional engagement. These discussions ultimately led to the formation of a unified Southern California chapter. As part of this change, the San Diego chapter was suspended, and Orange County was reestablished as the Southern California chapter. We look forward to expanding our reach and fostering connections among SDA members across Southern California.
The former San Diego and Orange County SDA chapters each have their own histories and accomplishments over many decades, and this page is a brief summary of those memories, added to important dates for the entire organization. For further information on either chapter, download the PDF for SDA OC here, and the PDF for SDA San Diego here.
TIMELINE
1965
ASA (Architectural Secretaries Association) was founded as a national organization by administrative professionals who recognized the need for industry-specific support in architecture and engineering firms. A chapter in Los Angeles was one of the first.
1973
ASA, Orange County chapter was formed with Kathleen Flangan as the first chapter president. Chapter members enlisted the help of their bosses to hold meetings and subsidize trips to national conventions, held in concert with AIA conventions.
That same year, San Diego founding members Mary George and Sher Prince formed the San Diego version.
1983
Following great starts but needing a new official chartered status, the Orange County chapter was reorganized by co-founders Geri Eckner and Betsy Nickless. The organization had become SAA (Society for Architectural Administrators) when the title “secretary” began to evolve to “administrator”. Including AIA Affiliate status on logos and all correspondence was continued for all chapters, as well as nationally.
1988
The organization’s name was updated to the Society of Design Administration sometime in the 1980’s, and in May of ’88 the San Diego chapter was reorganized, using the official name of San Diego “America’s Finest City” Chapter. Sher Prince remained as a long time memorable charter member, and Nancy Gypins was Chapter President for this now official chapter.
1992
Canstruction was created by Cheri Melillo, then SDA National PR Chair and valued New York chapter member, as a way to bring the design and construction community together to compete in friendly competitions while giving back to the community. This important and fun annual event continues to this day and has become an international charity competition where architects, engineers, contractors and students they mentor compete to design and build giant structures made entirely from full cans of food. At the close of the competition all of the food is donated to local food banks where the competitions are held. In this same year, the Orange County chapter began volunteering with the HomeAid Orange County Project Playhouse event, continuing until its final year in 2014.
2000’s
By the mid-2000’s, the organization’s name changed once more, slightly, to become the Society for Design Administration. What we called the group never changed the quality of the organization and its members. Chapters formed all over the United States and in Canada. The Orange County chapter expanded member networking by moving to lunchtime meetings in local restaurants from the evening ones in the AIA office, holding potluck holiday parties and starting one of the most successful chapters of Canstruction – eventually becoming one of the largest chapters of the organization.
2001
The San Diego chapter formed CAN Diego, the local chapter of Canstruction, with Julie Hedrick as chair until the last event held in San Diego in 2015. This San Diego event raised 20,000 – 50,000 pounds of food annually.
2006
SDA San Diego, as well as CAN Diego, officially registered with the IRS as a 501c3 corporation, confirming the non-profit status for this educational society.
2010’s
As the decades rolled on, SDA worked hard to not remain “the AEC industry’s best kept secret” and both chapters continually offered informative meetings where members could learn, grow in their careers, and network with others in similar career paths. Having colleagues who understood the struggles of getting timesheets completed, and who could share resources to prevent constant needs to recreate the wheel, proved invaluable.
2025
Board members from the San Diego and Orange County chapters met and had multiple discussions to ultimately make the decision that our Southern California chapters could only continue to thrive if we joined resources. San Diego’s chapter was suspended, and Orange County was reestablished as the Southern California chapter. Our goal is to continue to grow and include new and established SDA members from all over the region.