Two native sons are drawing on the strength of character they gained growing up here in the hopes of providing a brighter future for the Pittsburgh area.

One of them is Tom Briney, chairman of the Oakmont Planning Commission and president-elect of the American Institute of Architects, Pittsburgh Chapter. When asked to find a keynote speaker for that group's annual spring conference, he reached back to his high school years. There, he found the governor of Iowa, fellow 1968 Shady Side Academy graduate Tom Vilsack.

With the AIA's 150th anniversary coming up in 2007, planners chose a futuristic topic for the keynote of this year's Pittsburgh conference: "Renaissance and Renewal: Pittsburgh's Heritage and Future." The speaker was to address the region's struggles and provide direction for change.

Briney, originally from Natrona Heights, realized he knew someone with national prominence who had been successful in making those kinds of changes elsewhere. He thought it would be perfect to bring back Vilsack, a native of Squirrel Hill, to "talk about how we can best position the Pittsburgh region for the future."

Briney said his friend has an "incredibly holistic view of how to approach problems," with his Vision for Iowa, a strategic plan to improve items such as the economy and education. He felt that Vilsack's view could be applicable to making the Pittsburgh region better.

Vilsack said he was flattered when asked to do something for his hometown.

"Pittsburgh is an important part of my life," he said. "You never want to forget where you came from."

Vilsack said he sees enormous opportunities for Pittsburgh, which has a history of understanding the need for periodic renaissance and renewal. He envisions a successful future for the city if it calls on that tradition and uses resources such as the universities.

Vilsack said his challenge to the region is to "give people a sense of the possible." Architects such as Briney can have great influence in the community as designers and thinkers, he said. And while individuals don't think they can have an impact, he said, "Everybody has a role."

Vilsack challenged attendees at the conference to "get involved."

For Briney, involvement is nothing new. He has spent 24 years on the planning commission in Oakmont, with 14 of those years as chairman.

"I always felt it was part of my professional responsibility to give something back," he said.

The planning commission's efforts to develop a comprehensive plan for the borough are, in a small way, what Vilsack is advocating, Briney said. In his case, he is working to organize how the community will develop in the future. Building Pittsburgh is just putting that involvement on a larger scale, he said.

The ability to re-create itself is one of Pittsburgh's great strengths, Briney said, adding that he wants to help make that re-creation happen again.

Vilsack has no qualms about expressing his affection and admiration for the city. When asked how the father of two boys could bear to leave this area, he responded that he loved his city but "loved my wife just a little bit more." His wife, Christie, is a native of Iowa.

For Briney, who has a son and daughter, such a difficult choice was unnecessary. His wife, Becky, is a native of Arnold.

Pittsburghers are a lot like Iowans, Vilsack said. Love for your native area gets into your heart, he said, and you never stop considering yourself a Pittsburgher.