Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to John Dale. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, John thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?

The biggest and most recent risk I have taken is stepping out of the corporate world of architectural practice that has shaped my life for 25 + years and joining a small design-oriented firm where I need to be completely hands-on. I have moved from a salaried position to one where I have to create my own opportunities. I work directly with the founder of our company, Albert Sawano of Synchronis Architecture, on a daily basis. After 10 months of intensive effort, interesting opportunities are coming our way.

John , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My name is John Dale. Born in Ottawa, Canada and educated at the University of Toronto and MIT, I have been a practicing architect for over 35 years. I came to Los Angeles to practice architecture as an associate with Barton Myers after graduating from MIT. I thought I would return to Canada after 18 months, Instead, I stayed, got married, became a registered architect and worked for a number of leading architecture firms before joining Synchronis last year. I have always considered LA to be a place where the door is always open and over the years, I have had some interesting opportunities. I am a former President and current member of the Board of Directors for the Architecture and Design Museum, Los Angeles; I served as President and member of the Board of Directors for the Los Angeles Chapter of the American Institute of Architects; I served for over 20 years as a Board Member and Chair of the Building Committee for the Armory Center for the Arts in Pasadena and I am President and Co-Founder of the Council on Open Building.

What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?

Building opportunities around personal connections has always been my route to good opportunities. Like many of my colleagues in this profession, I do my fair share of writing proposals and competing in ‘cattle calls’ but the special opportunities are the result of being part of a community where I am a trusted advisor or responding to a personal invitation from colleagues to collaborate and pool our knowledge and resources to create a uniquely qualified team.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

Over 20 years ago, I was abruptly shown the door (corporate style!) from an established national firm. At the time, I was working on several projects including a personal one that I had brought to the firm to work on. The client of my personal project-a parish hall and chapel for the one of the oldest churches in the San Gabriel Valley wanted to keep working with me so I decided to form my own practice. In the space of a year, I completed the project with trusted colleagues (the project went on to win a National AIA Honor Award, was nominated to be President of the AIA /LA and I made as much money, with more vacation than I had at my previous firm.

Contact Info:

• Linkedin: www.synchronis,design
• Email: [email protected]

Recommendation – Who is the local entrepreneurs, professionals or creatives that you know and admire? Where can we learn from them (email address that might be relevant) ? (See below)

• My Partner and Founder of Synchronis, Albert Sawano: [email protected]

Attached Photos:  Church of Our Saviour, San Gabriel  (Grace Chapel and Cleaver Hall)

Photographer: Bill Youngblood