Maryland Board of Architects January 2026 Business Meeting Minutes

DATE: January 28, 2026
TIME: 11:00 AM
LOCATION: 100 S. Charles Street, 3rd Floor Conference Room, Tower 1, Baltimore, MD 21201
Video Teleconferencing
Phone Number: (US) +1 567-250-3071 PIN: 211 193 419#

MEMBERS PRESENT:

• Cynthia Shonaiya, Chair, RA
• Paul Edmeades, RA
• Douglas Polt, RA
• Kevin Sneed, RA
• Kuo Pao Lian, RA
• Gretel Lott, CID
• Casey Dawkins, PhD

STAFF PRESENT:

• Zevi Thomas, Executive Director
• Raquel Meyers, Assistant Executive Director
• Matthew Venuti, Board Counsel
• Aajah Harris, Policy Director, O & P Department
• Noraida Lozano, Board Administrator

OTHER PRESENT:

• Sherry Nickerson, Representative, AIA Maryland
• Mellissa Cannata, Representative, Amber Books
• Warren Johnson, Consumer

Call to Order

Ms. Cynthia Shonaiya, Chair, called the Business Meeting of the Maryland Board of Architects to order at 11:02 a.m. virtually, via Google Meet, Phone Number: (US) +1 567-250-3071, PIN: 211 193 419#.

Approval of Minutes

The members reviewed the minutes of the Business Meeting held on December 17, 2025. Motion (I) was made by Mr. Dawkins, seconded by Ms. Lott, and unanimously carried by the Board to approve the minutes without corrections.

Complaint Committee Report

Mr. Dawkins presented the following report on behalf of the Complaint Committee:

• 03-AR-25 - Final Order being prepared for the Board Chair's signature
• 11-AR-25 - OAH Hearing scheduled for March 2026
• 13-AR-25 - OAH Hearing scheduled for March 2026
• 14-AR-25 – Recommended closure
• 02-AR-26 - Recommended closure
• 03-AR-26 - Recommended closure
• 04-AR-26 - Recommended closure
• 05-AR-26 – Followed up with the respondent
• 06-AR-26 – Followed up with the complainant

One conduct review is pending and awaiting further information from NCARB.

Motion (II) was made by Mr. Lian, seconded by Ms. Lott, and carried by the Board to accept the Complaint Committee Report.

Review of Applications

Applications for the Architectural Registration Exam (ARE)

Mr. Edmeades presented the report for the Architectural Registration Exam (ARE) and reciprocity applications.

There were eight (8) ARE applications administratively approved:

• GONZALEZ, Rafael
• PAPPAS, Dilsad Oyku
• LOPEZ-MENDIOLA, Diana Cristine
• BERMUDEZ-RIOS, Hector
• McINTURFF, Jeffrey
• THORNTON, Jacqueline
• MICHIELS, Maeva
• YOUNG, Nia

There were five (5) ARE applications approved by the Board:

Applications for Reciprocity – None

Motion (III) was made by Mr. Edmeades, seconded by Mr. Dawkins, and unanimously carried by the Board to approve thirteen (13) ARE applications. Three applications were pending: one (EM) for an incomplete ERC form, one (HL) for work hours clarification, and one (ES) for supervisor's seal verification. No reciprocity applications reviewed for this meeting.

Old Business

Pathways to Licensures Forum

Mr. Dawkins reported that the committee will meet in two weeks to discuss a potential initiative to contact Architecture Registration Examination (ARE) candidates and identify those who have been approved but have not completed the licensure process. Ms. Shonaiya agreed that this outreach program could help ARE candidates become aware of licensure resources.

Mr. Edmeades recommended revisiting the same universities after two years to offer the same presentation. Ms. Shonaiya suggested including this in the next committee meeting, and Mr. Dawkins agreed.

Audience Participation

Mr. Edmeades commented on the discussion with Ms. Sherry Nickerson, AIA representative, at the last meeting regarding the proposed legislation to expand the State Board's authority to include individuals, not only registered architects, who fraudulently utilize an individual's architectural seal or registration number. He stated that this is already part of Maryland Law. These set parameters were delineated in Sections §3–602, §3–603, and §3–604, which use the word "person," not "architect." Any person who violates these sections is subject to the board's jurisdiction.

Ms. Nickerson gave an overview of the past seal fraud incident to elaborate on the discussion from the last meeting. She emphasized that State Senator Cheryl Kagan is proposing a bill requiring local government agencies to authenticate the seal before issuing building permits.

Mr. Edmeades agreed with the intent of the proposed legislation. He mentioned that the Board is already working with the code officials in Maryland and encouraging them towards the same goal.

Ms. Nickerson announced that the AIA Maryland is holding their Architect Legislative Day on February 26, 2026 (Thursday). They will be meeting for breakfast at the AIA Maryland House in Annapolis. She encouraged the Board to attend.

New Business

The delegates for NCARB's Regional Summit scheduled for March 20-21, 2026, in Oklahoma City, were recorded as follows.

• Ms. Shonaiya (NCARB fund)
• Mr. Edmeades (Region II fund)
• Mr. Sneed(NCARB fund)
• Mr. Dawkins (NCARB fund - public member) - not sure
• Mr. Lian (NCARB fund - new member) – not sure

Mr. Edmeades switched his funding schedule with Mr. Sneed to be available for the Strategic Plan meeting.

Ms. Shonaiya encouraged Mr. Lian to attend the NCARB Annual Meeting this summer, even if he cannot attend the Regional Summit in March.

Correspondence – None

Executive Director's Report

Mr. Thomas reminded the Board that the Annual Maryland Board of Ethics financial disclosures are due April 30, 2026. He will send a copy after the meeting and is available to assist first-time Board members with this process.

Mr. Edmeades confirmed the NCARB Annual Business Meeting will be on June 25-27, 2026, in Minneapolis, MN.

Board Counsel's Report

Mr. Venuti reported that the Legislative Task Force has not met. He will schedule a meeting to finalize the Maryland Law and Regulations for Architects.

The Board of Landscape Architects Act revisions have been introduced in both chambers of the Maryland Assembly and are moving forward. Among other changes, the name of the Board would change from the Board of Examiners of Landscape Architecture to the Board of Professional Landscape Architects.

Executive Session

Motion (IV) was made by Mr. Edmeades, seconded by Mr. Dawkins, and unanimously carried by the Board to enter the Executive Session at 11:44 a.m., virtually via meet.google.com/sob-mouk-cop or by Phone (US) +1 801-878-4424 PIN: 171 444 900#. This session was permitted to be closed pursuant to General Provisions Article, Annotated Code of Maryland, §3-305(b)(7) to discuss a complaint related to complaint #13-AR-25.

Motion (V) was made by Mr. Edmeades, seconded by Mr. Polt, and unanimously carried by the Board to reconvene its public meeting and leave the Executive Session at 12:19 p.m. virtually via meet.google.com/sob-mouk-cop or by Phone (US) +1 801-878-4424 PIN: 171 444 900#.

Adjournment

There being no further business to discuss, Motion (VI) was made by Mr. Edmeades, seconded by Mr. Polt, and unanimously carried by the Board to adjourn the meeting at 12:20 p.m.

The next Board Meeting will be on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, at 11:00 a.m.