I am Dean E. Hawkins, Virginia L.A. #008. I am a graduate of Virginia Tech (1977) with a 5-year BLA degree. Upon graduation, I worked as an apprentice for another design firm for 4 years prior to my passing the Maryland state L.A. exam in 1980. I obtained my Virginia certification by reciprocity when it was first available, thus my low license number. Ironically, I have often felt like I was behind the 8 ball as, over time as again now, I have had to address the issue of certification, licensure and acknowledgement when the next questioning of our profession arises. In one such personal instance, I requested an audience and was heard before a meeting the DPOR in 2007 to plea my case of discrimination and damages due to the unethical and injurious remarks made by a state agency to my client questioning my qualifications. Because of this remark, my client terminated my involvement on that particular project. The person from the state agency making the statement to my client was not a licensed professional and the same opinion was echoed by their supervisor in a letter to the board. The DPOR board, along with an associated letter to me from the Office of the Governor in my favor seemed to quell the matter and I have never been questioned since in any of my dealings with local and state regulatory officials.     

I am a sole practitioner, having started my firm in 1982. In that time, I have been involved in many commercial and industrial projects for private developers and owners in the central Virginia area. My work has evolved over time, along with everchanging regulations, to address the various aspects of land development planning. The complexity of my design, the calculations and other aspects of my work has only increased over time. I attend yearly continuing education courses to ensure updates on the latest technology and permitting issues.

I find myself today now, after these many years of work and experience, to again having to justify my practice and work to those who either want to narrow the number of those who are able to provide professional design services or consider Landscape Architects as expendable and unworthy of professional designation. I urge all who have a vote in this issue to continue the regulation of Landscape Architects in Virginia for the health, safety and welfare of the citizens of the Commonwealth of Virginia.