April’s Section Meeting will feature information from the City of Eugene, and BRING Recycling.
The City of Eugene will present ways to develop a practical waste management and salvage‑reuse approach that aligns with CMRR practices, AIA requirements, and ICC code pathways to enhance safety and long term building quality.
Then BRING will provide an overview of their core programs—Material Recovery, Rethink Business Certification, Reframe Donors, and our retail reuse store—with a focus on how these efforts support safer material handling, reduce exposure to harmful substances, conserve resources, and contribute to healthier indoor and outdoor environments. For architects and design professionals, these programs offer practical strategies and partnerships to support material reuse, reduce waste, and improve environmental and human health outcomes across the lifecycle of buildings.
CE Pending
Free for AIA Members and Students, $15 for non-members
Presenters
Garian Cika, AIA
Waste Prevention Analyst, City of Eugene
Garian is a material culture optimist with 15 years of experience shaping built‑environment projects and advancing waste reduction strategies. Currently working as a Waste Prevention Analyst for the City of Eugene, she thrives on bringing together people and policy to create shared goals around practical, scalable solutions - supporting economic development, local innovation, and more resilient communities. Garian and her work team find purpose via community collaboration to connect material flows with real‑world outcomes.
Outside of work, Garian enjoys open water swimming with friends all year long in Oregon’s beautiful lakes and spending time with her family. She has been a proud AIA member for nearly two decades and maintains her architectural license in Oregon.
Sonya Carlson
Executive Director, BRING
Sonya Carlson is the Executive Director of BRING, where she works to advance waste prevention, reuse, and sustainability. She is passionate about fostering opportunities for learning and reuse consciousness in the built environment and helping businesses and communities reduce waste, conserve resources, and lower costs through practical environmental solutions. Through BRING’s Rethink Business program and community initiatives, Sonya collaborates with local governments, businesses, and nonprofit partners to promote resource conservation and circular economy practices. She is committed to transforming spaces and systems into more eco-friendly environments and believes strongly in building a greener future through collaboration, innovation, and community action.
BRING is a nonprofit dedicated to advancing sustainable practices through reuse, waste prevention, and environmental education. For over 50 years, we have worked at the intersection of materials management, business engagement, and community education to reduce environmental impact and support healthier built environments.