Background: Kirk Horner, AIA, is vice president and a partner of Hollis + Miller Architects, one of the leading architecture firms in the Midwest. Hollis + Miller Architects was founded in 1950. Kirk joined the Hollis + Miller in 1989 and has been with the firm for more than 20 years. He became a partner in 1992. Kirk is a registered architect in several states, including Kansas, Missouri, Texas, Iowa, and Oklahoma. Kirk is passionate about good architectural design, especially educational/sustainable design that impacts learning and community involvement. Co-author of Technology & Schools Design – Creating Spaces for Learning – NSBA, he has also served as a key participant in the development of a national model for district-wide master planning for NSBA. He has embraced the benefits of sustainable design in school construction. Kirk regularly works and presents with school boards at conventions and to doctoral candidates in education. The presentation topics include the concepts of LEED for school construction and learning in the 21st century. LEED is the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Building rating system developed by the U.S. Green Building Council. He is the partner in charge of several first project types: the first high school, middle school and elementary school to become LEED Silver certified in the Greater Kansas City Area. A well-known speaker in the field of education, Kirk has been a keynote speaker for a variety of organizations and associated conferences, including: NSBA, MSBA/MASA, Midwest Energy Manager’s Organization, AIA-Kansas City, Kansas Conference on Preventing Violence in Schools, KASB Convention – The Role of Your Architect in Capital Improvement Planning; and, Missouri School Superintendents. Kirk is a member of the American Institute of Architects, the Council of Educational Facility Planners International (CEFPI) and the National Coalition of Education. Kirk has been a scout leader with Boy Scouts of America and has been involved with scouting for more than 14 years. He has participated in several high adventure activities from canoeing the waters of Canada to kayaking through the keys of Florida and backpacking more than 200 miles of the mountains at Philmont, New Mexico. Kirk has a bachelor of architecture from Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kan. and attended business graduate school at the University of Texas in Dallas, Texas. Kirk Horner is available on short notice and is also available for interviews via Skype. For more information, visit: http://www.hollisandmiller.com Suggested Interview Questions: What is LEED design? What can you tell us about the ideas behind the designs of the first LEED-certified K-12 educational facilities in the Midwest? What constitutes good LEED design for K-12 education? Why is LEED/Sustainable design important for our communities/schools? What is your educational design philosophy? As an owner of a growing architecture firm, what has been the secret to the firm\'s successes? Business owner, Boy Scout Troop Master, Mentor, Architect. Father and Husband. How do you keep a well-balanced life? How do you mentor and develop leaders in your architecture firm? How do you keep clients happy at your architecture firm? What should citizens do to encourage building of ''green'' schools? Contact Contact: Jennifer Baldridge Telephone: 913-451-8885 or 913-231-4748 Email Address: jbaldridge@hollisandmiller.com Guest Location: Kansas Guest Time Zone: Central