ATLANTA, Georgia, June 23, 2023 – SSOE Group (www.ssoe.com), an internationally ranked architecture and engineering firm, is proud to announce that our HR Analyst, Vincent Lafitte, was installed as National Vice President for the Society for Design Administration (SDA), at its annual business meeting held recently in Tampa, Florida. SDA is an international organization that enhances the professional development and personal growth of those in the design profession.
A member of the SDA Atlanta Chapter since 2014, Lafitte recalled, “I was introduced to SDA by a colleague who recognized my desire to understand areas of the AEC industry that I was unfamiliar with. I got my certification that same year and joined the National Certification Committee immediately after. I was ‘hooked’ as they say!”
Lafitte has steadily risen through the ranks with SDA, serving as the Chapter Vice President in 2017, President in 2018, Past President in 2019, President in 2020 and 2021, Past President in 2022, and Director in 2023. He has also served on the National Certification Committee since 2014. As National Vice President, Lafitte will primarily focus on increasing SDA’s membership. His goals include extending the organization’s membership to new cities, expanding its presence internationally, and gaining members in new industries.
Lafitte said, “SDA is an organization that blends the boundary between competitor and collaborator towards the betterment of the AEC industry. The entire purpose of the organization is continuous improvement and efficiency gains. I’m excited to step into this role to focus on building our national and international membership base as the pandemic has helped remove our geographical boundaries.”
He continued, “While SDA is not for everyone, what it does really well is provide a home for people facing similar situations in the AEC industry. It’s a great forum for sharing ideas and information.”
Speaking to Lafitte’s promotion within SDA, SSOE Senior Marketing Coordinator Megan Kopacko said, “Vincent is a passionate, empathetic, and driven colleague. He shows up as his authentic self every day and provides a space for others to do the same, which is just one of many reasons I believe he will excel in this new and exciting role.”
Lafitte has more than 15 years of experience in all aspects of human resources. In his current role at SSOE, he leverages his knowledge and experience to drive efficiency in processes and system design. Additionally, he is tasked with interweaving all HR functional areas and their associated data to identify patterns and allow management to draw inferences to inform business decisions.
Lafitte holds an HR Analytics Certificate from Cornell University as well as both PHR and SHRM-CP certifications. He also holds a CDFA certification from SDA, which helps him stay abreast of AEC industry HR trends and best practices. In addition to his participation with SDA, Lafitte is also the treasurer for the Metro Atlanta Chorus and sits on the Board of the Parent’s Association for the Galloway School.
About SDA
For over 50 years, SDA has promoted education and best practices in management and professional standards of design firm administrative personnel. SDA membership stretches across the United States and Canada and is comprised of personnel in the design profession, including architecture, engineering, construction, landscape, and interior design.
