ASLA Presidential Candidate - Bradley McCauley, PLA, ASLA

ASLA Presidential Elections: May 7 - June 7
by Staff

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The American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) is hosting elections from May 7 through June 7. Bradley McCauley, PLA, ASLA and Jeanne Lukenda, FASLA are the two candidates running for ASLA president for the 2025-2026 term. LASN has reviewed the professional backgrounds and qualifications for both candidates and condensed the findings into candidate profiles.
McCauley's profile is outline below including his biography and his major themes, positions, and statements. ASLA's original press release for McCauley can be found at the bottom of this page. Lukenda's profile was posted yesterday and can be found here: https://landscapearchitect.com/landscape-articles/asla-presidential-candidate-jeanne-lukenda-fasla
All full, associate, student, and international members in good professional standing are eligible to vote. Individuals who meet this criteria will receive a paper and/or email ballot.
McCauley received numerous attempts from LASN to discuss his candidacy and positions, but he failed to respond.

Big Themes:
Licensed in 14 states.
Expand the business of Landscape Architects and individual firms.
Advocate for collaboration among landscape architecture firms.
Partner with educators to facilitate student employment opportunities.
Improve exposure of Landscape Architects.
Led licensure reclamation initiatives in Illinois.

Biography:
Graduated from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
Currently serves as the managing principal at "site design group."
Advocacy efforts have led to increased ASLA membership, STEM designation, and heightened awareness of the profession.
Manages a firm portfolio valued at $2 billion.
Served as ASLA's VP of Membership and Illinois Chapter President.
Led a five-year campaign to reclaim licensure in Illinois.
ASLA member, contributing at local and national levels.
Seeks to provide resources to firms, with the understanding that many landscape architecture firms lack formal business training.
Recognized with national and regional awards.
Oversaw firm growth from 10 professionals to over 60.
Held leadership roles with The Cultural Landscape Foundation's
Stewardship Council and the University of Illinois Department of Landscape Architecture Resource Committee.
Intends to work with educators to aid student job placement.

Why do you want to be ASLA President?
He is focused on enhancing business development, fostering professional growth, and facilitating student employment.
McCauley will address unique challenges such as exposure, recognition, workforce development, and project management.
He envisions creating platforms for knowledge exchange, collaboration, and equipping firms with necessary tools.
Bridge the gap between education and industry.
Provide resources for integrating cutting-edge technologies.

Bridging Society Gaps Through Landscape Architecture:
Landscape architects seamlessly connect the built environment with the natural world.
Landscape architects act as intermediaries between architects, engineers, government agencies, and the public.
We are skilled at listening to stakeholders' needs and synthesizing them into actionable plans.
We serve as stewards of the built environment.
Community engagement is fundamental to Landscape Architects.
Translate policies into accessible, contextual spaces resonating with communities.
Through intentional design, community engagement, and advocacy, Landscape Architects promote unity, understanding, and shared values.

ASLA's Biography:
Meet Brad McCauley, a passionate advocate for landscape architecture, who has spent the last 17 years putting people first and making a difference in the profession. A dedicated member of ASLA, Brad has tirelessly served the profession on local, regional, and national stages. This service has resulted in increased membership, advocacy for STEM designation, and a broader awareness of the profession.
As a practitioner, Brad has led the team at site design group for the past decade as the Managing Principal. The recognition of awards throughout the Midwest and on a national level has been a testimony to Brad's leadership. More important has been the steady and managed growth of the firm from ten professionals in 2012 to over sixty professionals today, including full-time employees in Tokyo, Brazil, and an entire team based in Kyiv, Ukraine. Brad's commitment to inclusive recruiting, hiring, and retention has transformed the culture of the firm to meet today's market demands and leadership expectations. Under his guidance, the firm's $2 billion portfolio reflects his commitment to design excellence improving the quality of life for all. For him, good design is not a luxury; it's a right that should be accessible to everyone.
Brad extends his leadership to various organizations, including The Cultural Landscape Foundation's Stewardship Council and his Alma Mater's Department of Landscape Architecture Resource Committee at the University of Illinois. His involvement in local and regional consortiums, panels, and publications showcases his dedication to the broader profession.
Within ASLA, Brad has played a pivotal role in steering the organization toward bold achievements. His contributions as Vice President of Membership led to strategic program revamps that fostered membership growth. Brad's advocacy efforts span a wide spectrum, from representing business owners and students to international practitioners, municipal members, and women in the field.
In his home state, Illinois, Brad's impact has been transformative. As the Chapter President during the 2015 Annual Meeting in Chicago, he later took on the role of Chapter Trustee. Brad's most noteworthy accomplishment was leading a dedicated five-year charge that successfully reclaimed licensure in Illinois, leaving a lasting legacy for the profession.
Goals and Directions Statement

Over the past few years, ASLA has made significant strides with initiatives such as the 2020 Racial Equity Plan, the 2022-2024 Strategic Plan, and the 2022 Climate Action Plan. Now, as we stand at the threshold of a new strategic plan and a need to grow, we have a unique opportunity to focus on collaboration, strategic scaling, and inclusivity that will elevate the profession and the lives of practicing Landscape Architects.
Collaboration

ASLA stands alongside organizations like TCLF, LAF, CELA, and CLARB, each pursuing unique missions. Initiatives like STEM Certification that will catapult enrollment come out of necessity and our educators locking arms with the society to push something major forward. A focus on collaborative growth, leveraging our collective energies to avoid duplicating efforts and maximizing our impact, is the only way forward. Together, we can create a more cohesive and powerful force, advancing the goals and missions of landscape architecture on a unified front that increases visibility.
Scale

To ensure the continued success of landscape architecture, we must focus on scaling up our profession with keen attention to our youth and our member firms. Further locking arms with our educators will create the pipeline of students and practitioners needed to carry out our mission and ensure those students get jobs. Focusing on providing resources and a platform for sharing successes amongst firms, which are by far small businesses led by individuals with no formal business training, will not only enhance the business skills of our members but will bolster the success and overall growth of the profession.
Diversity and Inclusivity

Diversity is not merely a checkbox; it is the essence of our strength. We need to champion diversity in all its forms, acknowledging differences in age, practice types, geographic locations, and parental status. We are missing opportunities with women, people of color, non-member licensed LAs, and government employees. Creating a truly inclusive society will make us more accessible and our members more profitable. We are a diverse community bound by our shared passion for landscape architecture, and by fostering inclusivity, we will create an environment where everyone can thrive.

For more information on Bradley McCauley and opposing candidate Jeanne Lukenda, go to https://www.asla.org/land/LandArticle.aspx?id=65045

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