About the Board of Directors


What you should know about the Institute's Board of Directors:

  • The Board is made up of seven people. Every year, a new election will replace three or four of its directors.
  • The Board holds one-hour conference calls every week. Meeting minutes indicate who is responsible for following up with the Institute's initiatives and partners.
  • The meeting agendas contain initiative updates and updates about the Institute's operations. The board discusses new initiative ideas, analyses initiative proposals and makes decisions about the Institute's admin/financial issues.
  • After the meetings, the directors leave with a to-do list, containing items to follow up with those involved in the Institute's initiatives (typically 1-5 hours of work, depending on current projects, mostly communicating decisions and changes, and delegating work; however, the President and Treasurer positions generally require 15 hours or more per week).
  • Initiatives are split among the board members so there is always someone working as a link between the initiatives and the board. Each director reports to the rest of the board thus keeping everyone up to date with what's happening to the Institute as a whole.
  • One meeting per month the Board of Advisors join the call to discuss strategic issues.
  • Three of the Board members have roles mandated by our status as a nonprofit: Secretary, Treasurer and President. These positions are voted by the Board yearly after the new elections.
  • In addition, starting in 2006, the board now determines specific roles for each of the other board members, as a way of assigning portfolios of responsibility. In the current term, the other four roles have been Marketing, Events, IT infrastructure, and At Large.

The following details the responsibilities of the various roles of the Board of Directors. More details about the Treasurer, Secretary and President positions as well as board and election rules can be found on the Institute's Bylaws (PDF).

Secretary responsibilities:

  • Set agenda for board meetings (by keeping up with what's going on around the discussion lists, in person meetings, initiatives and new opportunities).
  • Keeps records of the meeting minutes, archiving them at the Basecamp site, and sharing them with the Board of Advisors.
  • Respond or coordinate responses to email received from the feedback form on the Institute's website.

Treasurer's responsibilities:

  • Pay bills, deposit checks, manage bank account and perform any other financial transactions on behalf of the Institute, working with bookkeeper to ensure that books are kept up and regularly reconciled, generating quarterly financial reports.
  • Work with accountant to ensure proper filings with IRS and monitor the Institute's financial status, providing financial input to Board decisions that have impact on finances.
  • Assemble financial component of Annual Report, verify membership for those who wish to join the members discussion list and investigate and help implement online transaction services (for membership dues).

President's responsibilities:

  • Provide leadership by working with the Board of Directors, the Board of Advisors, volunteers, and members to advance the organization's mission in keeping with the bylaws.
  • Serve as public spokesperson for the organization by participating in interviews, press releases, conferences, online discussions, and other communication forums.
  • Manage the Manager of Marketing and Communications (coordinated with the volunteer Communications Director).

IT Infrastructure Director Responsibilities:

  • Works with team to develop a web site that serves to promote the Institute and information architecture and evolves into a community infrastructure that supports communication and collaboration.
  • Acts as liaison for website, technology infrastructure, and web communications projects.

Marketing/Communications Director Responsibilities:

  • Acts to raise awareness of information architecture and its value among business decision-makers and decision-influencers, including members of the media, by providing IA practitioners with PR materials and tutorials.
  • Acts as liaison with press, members, volunteers, and proactively seeks ways to market and promote IA and the IA Institute.

Events Director Responsibilities:

  • Responsible for acting as liaison for sponsorships and events that support the Institute's operations and mission.
  • Works to promote the Institute through board and member initiated events as well as those of partners and selected groups.

Ombudsman Responsibilities - NEW Role

  • Works directly with Institute members to address their concerns and issues through full resolution, while operating independently from the Board of Directors or Institute staff.
  • Adheres to international standards of practice, including independence from the governing body to address issues, confidentiality to disassociate the issues from the people involved, neutrality and impartiality of conduct to ensure fair resolution and informality in how it operates to ensure no bureaucratic measures hinder transparency of activities.

Director of Professional Practice Responsibilities

  • Works to further develop the practice of Information Architecture for meeting new challenges brought by the rapid evolution of technology, design and business.
  • Provides guidance to current initiatives involving practitioner education and improvement.

Past and Current Directors:

  • Jorge Arango (2007-2009)
  • Samantha Bailey (2003-2005)
  • Peter Boersma (2007-2009)
  • Christian Crumlish (2006-2010)
  • Andrew Hinton (2008-2010)
  • Livia Labate (2003-2005, 2008-2010)
  • Victor Lombardi (2002-2005)
  • Jess McMullin (2004-2006)
  • Peter Merholz (2005-2007)
  • Peter Morville (2002-2004)
  • Eric Reiss (2004-2008)
  • Lou Rosenfeld (2002-2004)
  • Sarah Rice (2006-2008)
  • Donna (Maurer) Spencer (2006-2008)
  • Samantha Starmer (2005-2007)
  • Stacy Surla (2005-2009)
  • Russ Unger (2008-2010)
  • Christina Wodtke (2002-2003)
  • John Zapolski (2002-2003)

This page was last modified on August 12, 2009 03:38 PM.