With the recession finally dwindling down a bit, companies within the design and architecture field are hiring again and interviews are beginning to be scheduled. With that, questions such as, “How did you spend your time while you were unemployed?” are being asked.  Fortunately, many members of our field can respond: “LMNOP”.

LMNOP (Leadership, Mentoring, Networking & Opportunity for A&D Professionals), is a professional development and networking society organized by and for the unemployed architecture and design community  to connect, support, and mentor each other.

Inaugurated in February 2009 with a small collection of e-mail addresses of recently laid off professional colleagues who all wanted to stay in touch within the industry, LMNOP has since grown into a professional organization of training, workshops and mentoring opportunities for and involving over 160 professionals.

With a strong commitment to giving back to the industry and helping industry professionals through the recession, LMNOP has reached out to the New York City A&D industry and has partnered with both industry organizations such as International Interior Design Association and companies such as Herman Miller, Humanscale and Carnegie.  Already, the organization has become nationally known and was mentioned in International Interior Design Association’s Summer 2009 issue of Perspective magazine and in Cindy Allen’s Editor’s Letter in the June Issue of Interior Design magazine.

LMNOP Leadership wishes to help as many others as possible. Kristen Mucci, Director of Administration, explains, “I hope that members are able to use LMNOP as a catalyst in developing the tools necessary to achieve their full potential in the design industry and in life.” The support structure that has evolved among LMNOP membership has also produced meaningful experiences and friendships. AIA Liaison Ryan Clarke hopes that “members feel the community of LMNOP: the support, the service, the sharing, the caring,…the respect.”

The organization’s website launched July 15. If you are interested in learning more or know someone else who may benefit from LMNOP’s offerings, please visit the website at www.lmnopnyc.org or contact info@lmnopnyc.org.