Dan has been serving the architects of Maryland (and the architects of the nation) for many years, in the following ways:

• Director, Maryland Society/AIA, 2003
• Maryland Board of Architects:
  • Member, 1983-1988
  • Chairman, 1989-1999
• A.R.E. Exam Juror, 1984-1996
• A.R.E. Exam Committee:
  • Assistant Chairman, 1996-1997
  • Chairman, 1997-1998
  • National Exam Committee, 1998-1999
• A.R.E. Mock Exam Grader, AIAPVC, 1993-2003

After 23 years in private practice, Dan became the Chief Architect for Howard County, Maryland, where he worked for 15 years before retiring.

His award states, "…for his exemplary service to the Maryland Society of Architects, the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards, and Interns of the Potomac Valley Chapter. His distinguished service as MSAIA Board Member, Chairman of the Maryland State Board of Architects, and as Mock Exam Grader for the AIA Potomac Valley Chapter’s ARE Seminars for many years, has set the standard for service to the profession and to his community."

Quality Buildings for Quality Education
Montgomery County Public Schools Director of Facilities Management, and prior Director of Construction, 1986 to present

Dick Managed construction programs that have built 42 new schools in the county and completed in excess of $1 billion of capital improvements to existing buildings as well as managing the real estate and maintenance/operations activities for 191 school facilities that now serve 140,000 students.

His award states, "...for his exemplary service as Director of Facilities Management for Montgomery County Public Schools and his previous position as Director of Design and Construction, where he has demonstrated a consistent pursuit of design excellence for the schools of Montgomery County. While overseeing the construction of 42 new schools and over $1 billion of capital improvements over the last 17 years, he has always made quality architectural design of our schools a priority. His work to improve the quality of the built environment for the 140,000 students in Montgomery County has benefited students, parents and the community, and is sincerely appreciated by the architects of Maryland and AIA Potomac Valley Chapter."

Stephen L. Parker, AIA becomes the first recipient of the Kea medal to receive it for Leadership (as chair or president of many architecture related organizations), Service to the Profession (for over 25 years) AND Architectural Advocacy (as chair of the Maryland Architectural Review Board for 16 years). Steve has served the profession of architecture for the last 25 years, 17 of which were in leadership positions, including:

• Chairman, State Board of Architects, 1999-present
• Chairman, MD Architectural Review Board, 1986-2002
• UMD Distinguished Alumni Award, 2003
• Advisory Board, UMD School of Architecture, 2000-present
• President, Maryland Society/AIA, 1994
• Board member, MSAIA, 1990-1995
• President, AIA Potomac Valley Chapter, 1989
• Board member, AIAPVC, 1978-1990
• AIA/CEC/DGS Joint Liaison Committee, 1986-1995
• Director, Housing Initiative Partnership, 1998-present
• Chairman, Maryland Board of Architects, 1999-present
• NCARB:
  • State Representative, 1999-present
  • A.R.E. Subcommittee, 1999-present
  • Committee on Education, 2003
• NAAB Accrediting Team, 2000-present
• Guest Lecturer: UMD School of Architecture and Catholic University School of Architecture

His award states, "…for his exemplary service to the Chapter, the Maryland Society of Architects, the Maryland State Board of Architects, the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards, the Maryland State Architectural Review Board and many other architecture and community-based organizations."

Coincidentally, Steve is now the principal of Grimm & Parker Architects, an 83-person firm with offices in Calverton and Bethesda, Maryland, and McLean, Virginia....a firm which is the successor of a firm originally founded by Paul H. Kea, FAIA, for whom the award is named.