The Knoxville Chapter is thrilled to receive architect Brian Sickles as a recent transplant from Montgomery this year. Brian relocated from Alabama as his firm, Sherlock Smith and Adams, Inc. (SS&A), opened a Knoxville branch in order to recruit top talent from our area. SS&A is an architecture and engineering firm specializing in technically complex building types, with a main focus on healthcare facilities for the Department of Defense. Brian serves as the Director of Construction Specifications and BIM Manager for the firm.
When asked about his firm, he explained, “Our success depends heavily on close coordination with our engineers and equipment planners. Most of the projects I’ve been involved in are healthcare projects for the Department of Defense: Hospitals, Clinics, Labs, and Research facilities. I’ve recently worked on a military working dog / veterinarian treatment facility for the Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, a dental clinic at Ft Hood, Texas, an intensive care unit renovation at Ft Campbell, Kentucky and a Medical Clinic at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. We have offices in Knoxville, Montgomery and Auburn, but most of our site visits and design review conferences involve plane travel. I really enjoy the specialized niche we work in and the clients we work with.”
“I joined CSI after moving to Knoxville. My new job description requires that I’m both CDT and CCS certified. CSI’s certifications and study materials have been very helpful filling some blind spots in my education.”
Brian didn’t just join CSI, he became involved! The board recruited him to be a member of the Knoxville Chapter Board of Directors. He is currently working with the UT student chapter to help them network with our local CSI members and connect them with resources for quality presentations in their monthly meetings.
Brian is a graduate of Auburn University where he met his wife Annie. They have 2 little boys and are enjoying their new home in Knoxville. Please join us in welcoming Brian to the Knoxville Chapter of CSI.
Institute Award - Knoxville Chapter Wins the Chapter Cup
Posted: Tue, Oct 15, 2019
The Chapter Cup is awarded each year to the CSI Chapter with the largest growth in membership. The Knoxville Chapter was recognized at the 2019 CONSTRUCT in Baltimore, MD for their tremendous growth in Membership during the 2018-2019 year. Knoxville had the largest percentage growth in the Institute for that time period. We are proud of this accomplishment and remember when the seeds were planted at the 2018 Planning Meeting where the leadership set outrageous goals and developed a plan to expand our membership. Congratulations to all the chapter members for doing your part to make our chapter such a success!
CSI Christmas Party & Candle Light Tour at Historic Ramsey House
Posted: Tue, Dec 03, 2019
Please join your CSI friends, dressed in your most festive Christmas attire, for fun, food, and candle light tour!
PLEASE RSVP to csiknox@gmail.com or call Suzan Jordan 865-389-9476.
Location:
Historic Ramsey House
2614 Thorngrove Pike
Knoxville, TN 37914
Guests:
Each CSI member may bring a guest, a spouse, or a significant other.
Attire:
Festive Christmas Attire for the "Most Festive Contest" or other seasonally appropriate finery or "Ugly Sweater".
Toys for Tots:
We will celebrate the memory of the late Curtis Rosenbaum, a CSI Past President, with donations to the Toys for Tots. Please bring a new, unwrapped toy that does not require batteries.... for Toys for Tots!
Food & Festivities:
Music by Denise Coleman, Paul Davis and Carolyn Rogers.
Catering by Big Fatty's Catering Kigchen, Lisa Jean Smith, chef.
Cash Bar
Welcome to Knoxville – Kathryn Fuller, AIA, NCARB, CSI, CDT
Posted: Fri, Aug 23, 2019
We are happy to welcome Kathryn Fuller. She is a graduate of Washington State University and practiced architecture in Spokane. Having family in Knoxville, she came to interview with a number of firms and landed at Michael Brady, Inc. At MBI she fills the role of architect/ project manager and quickly became involved in lots of projects including commercial retail, apartment restorations, industrial/ manufacturing, warehouse and roofing. She is also focused on updating the office master specifications.
When Kathryn was asked how CSI has been an asset to her, she replied, “Just being involved in the chapter made the principals of my former firm take notice. When the sole spec writer in our office indicated he was retiring, the firm asked me to fill his shoes. I then took classes, provided by my local chapter, and passed the CDT on the first try. My former employer was very impressed with my initiative and this credential, boosting my pay. I then proceeded to move from chapter communications chair, up through the ranks to chapter president (2016-2017)."
"CSI leadership classes helped focus my path of involvement and inspired me to remain an integral participant in the organization. I believe I was hired at MBI Companies partly because of the CDT credential and involvement in CSI. The people I have met at conferences, and through local chapter events, are always willing to help a fellow CSI member. I continue to be a go-to person for co-workers seeking advice on specifications and product information. "
So how is Kathryn fitting into her new chapter? She stepped up and assumed the role of chapter secretary as Susan Davis retired.
“The Knoxville Chapter is unlike any I have encountered. The people are so helpful and kind - yet professional. When I flew here for interviews, members of the board took time out of their day to meet my mother and I at the airport - with balloons and a goodie bag. Before we left, we were treated to dinner by CSI people at Calhoun's on the River. A month later, when I moved here, members of the board magically appeared again to help unload the moving truck” said Kathryn.
“The CSI Knoxville Chapter is one of the few growing chapters in the U.S. and I believe it is because they work well together as professionals who are working for the common good of the organization. They also like each other's company, and welcome anyone to the table; making people feel like their time is well spent. These things help make this chapter such a success! I am glad to have stumbled across this chapter in this beautiful, scruffy, city of Knoxville, TN - and can't believe I am really here!”
The Knoxville Chapter is very happy that you chose to join our family!
CSI Member Susan Davis Opens New Firm - Personal Space
Posted: Sat, Jul 27, 2019
Knoxville CSI Member Susan Davis, RA, CSI, CDT, PMP has recently opened her own construction firm – Personal Space– to provide residential construction services to the “typical East Tennessee family.
Susan received her Bachelor of Architecture in 2001 from Tennessee, where she also joined CSI and earned her CDT. She has a varied background, which includes residential and commercial design but her experience with a defense contractor allowed her to expand into project management. This got her out of the office and into the field, and some of those fields weren’t even in the US.
She has continued her project management pursuits while working with Hickory Construction and there she realized there was a nitch in the market that wasn’t being met. Thus she took the leap and Personal Space was born.
She needs those project management skills because she is a single mother of three (15, 13 and almost 2) and has lots of activities to juggle. But she is doing it well.
Susan credits CSI with providing her a “lasting support network. I always have someone I can call. If I need recommendations for someone who can do a particular kind of work, or supply a particular material, or if I need to know how to use a product correctly, I have someone that I know their face.”
