CSI is proud to welcome six outstanding professionals from the architecture, engineering, construction, and owner (AECO) community into the CSI College of Fellows. CSI Fellows are members whom their peers select for this distinction based on achievements in the industry and their above-and-beyond contributions to CSI. The CSI community will honor and celebrate these individuals at the 2026 CSI National Conference, October 7-9 in Phoenix, AZ.

Mary-Alice Avila, FCSI, CDT® Joined CSI in 1989 Mary-Alice Avila exemplifies problem-solving and generosity in sharing knowledge, qualities likely instilled while growing up with seven siblings on a dairy farm in Kings County, California. She went on to earn a Bachelor of Architecture and Master of Science in Architecture from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo.

Licensed as an architect since 1982, she started in private firms before moving into public sector work, serving as an owner's representative, planner, and project manager for local and federal agencies and state universities.

In 2018, Avila began teaching an online Project Delivery course with other CSI West Region professionals. When the course moved to a prerecorded format, she built 75 individual lessons totaling 12 hours, covering everything from project inception to facility management. That work grew into CSI's enhanced Project Delivery Education Program, which has reached students at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, staff at UC Riverside, and professors across ASC Regions 6 and 7.

Avila has also given long-term service to the Fresno Chapter, serving on its board and committees and leading its revival after the pandemic. She's known for writing specifications that are easy to understand for people with dyslexia, a technique she continues to apply. Her driving goal is to help project teams understand their roles and responsibilities, which she believes is key to delivering successful projects.

Kristopher Benton, FCSI, CDT® Joined CSI in 2003 Kris Benton clearly grasps the importance of strong organizational foundations and has used that perspective to fuel CSI engagement, obtain fiscal support, and strengthen governance. Benton got his start with CSI as a student while studying architecture at the University of Tennessee, where he earned a five-year Bachelor of Architecture degree in 2005.

In 2017, he added a master's degree in Construction Management from Western Carolina University.

Now an experienced project manager and architectural designer, Benton has worked across a wide range of building types: municipal facilities like fire stations, police stations, and city halls; religious facilities; healthcare projects including hospitals, medical office buildings, and senior living centers; commercial office buildings; industrial facilities such as distribution centers; and projects for the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Over more than two decades with CSI, Benton has revitalized regional conferences, grown student engagement, and secured record-breaking sponsorships while strengthening governance at the chapter and regional levels. He's served as a mentor, advisor, and liaison throughout, always focused on advancing CSI's mission.

Outside of work, Benton is a devoted Tennessee Volunteers football fan and enjoys spending time with his dad and traveling.

Matthew Gregory, FCSI, Member Emeritus, CCS®, CDT® Joined CSI in 1977 Matt Gregory has spent 50 years connected to the AECO industry through CSI, and those decades of experience and accumulated wisdom are as evident as they are valued. A 1971 graduate of California Polytechnic State University and grandnephew of H. Mead, FAIA, he became a CSI Specification Writer in 1976 and earned his CCS in 1982.

He has been a project architect, specifier, and principal focused on medical, educational, and veterinary facilities across Washington, Oregon, and Idaho, work that earned him an S&PM/CEFPI Impact of Learning Award, VE Hospital Design Merit Awards, WACA awards for Excellence in Concrete Construction, and the WSVMA's first-ever Allied Industry Award.

Gregory has held roles across CSI, the CSI Foundation, and public-facing positions. Coming out of retirement during the pandemic, he stepped back in to lead the CSI Puget Sound Chapter, helping the chapter earn three national awards and rebuilding its foundation. He now serves on The Construction Specifier's Editorial Advisory Board.

Beyond CSI, Gregory is a 44-year Kiwanian and blood donor. His public service includes VISTA, the Kirkland Planning Commission, and the Lake Washington School Board. He's served two Presbyterian churches as elder and deacon, helping form three educational foundations along the way. An avid swimmer, he has traveled to 60 countries. As he puts it: "Life is more than one's ambition and career, it is sharing talents and time for the benefit of the community and profession."

William "Chip" Hayward, FCSI, CCS®, CCCA®, CDT® Joined CSI in 2006 Chip Hayward’s professional track record is impressive, but his involvement with CSI and the overall AECO community speaks volumes about his commitment to helping others advance in their profession.

Hayward is Vice President of Architecture for American Infrastructure Development, Inc. (AID) in Tampa, Florida, where his work totals more than $3.2 billion in successful construction across the southeastern United States. His work spans aviation projects, high-rise condos, office towers, hotels, and major sports facilities. He earned his master's degree in architecture from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 1981. Among his notable projects is the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Raymond James Stadium, including its famed Pirate Ship and the team's NFL training facility.

Hayward has led at every level of CSI with more than 20 years of active membership. He served two terms as CSI Southeast Region President (2014 and 2024) and two terms as Treasurer on the CSI Board of Directors. He's remained deeply engaged with the CSI Tampa Chapter and has taught a CDT prep class for more than 18 years, helping countless candidates prepare for and pass the exam. Throughout, he's been a steady advocate for CSI, working to grow its membership and elevate the design and construction profession.

Frank Mruk, FCSI Joined CSI in 1990 Frank Mruk is an architect, strategist, educator, and internationally recognized thought leader in design and innovation. Actively engaged in CSI, he has advocated for the importance of innovation in thinking, systems, and processes.

A Fellow of both the American Institute of Architects and the Strategic Planning Society, he's taught at the New York Institute of Technology, Parsons School of Design, New York University, and the Rhode Island School of Design. As a prolific author and sought-after speaker, his work has shaped thinking among architects, business leaders, and educators worldwide, and he has guided organizations across public and private sectors in applying design thinking to drive innovation.

Within CSI, Frank currently serves as Director for the Northeast Region on the Board of Directors, following past terms as President of the CSI Northeast Region and the CSI Metro New York Chapter. For more than 30 years, he has built educational pathways rooted in CSI principles and mentored emerging professionals who now hold CSI leadership roles themselves. He's also pushed specification practice forward through performance-based systems thinking, extending CSI's influence into material agency, regenerative design, decarbonization, smart building technologies, and AI-enabled construction intelligence, helping turn specifications from static paperwork into dynamic tools for building performance and lifecycle planning.

Thomas Scarlata, FCSI, CCS®, CCCA®, CDT® Joined CSI Member in 1993 Thomas Scarlata demonstrates the diligence and commitment required of leadership, earned over three decades in the AECO industry and just as many in support of CSI and its future. He is a registered architect and Principal at Bargmann Hendrie + Archetype, Inc. in Boston, specializing in community and athletic facilities with a focus on aquatic design and ice rinks.

A Syracuse University graduate, he blends art and technology in his practice, prioritizing technical precision, constructability, and thorough documentation.

After earning his CDT and CCS credentials in 1993, Scarlata joined the CSI Boston Chapter and quickly took on leadership roles, joining the chapter board in 1995 and serving as Chapter President and Certification Committee Co-Chair by 1996. During his tenure as President, he managed the W.R. Grace-sponsored student scholarship program, wrote technical articles for The Parameter, and organized the chapter's monthly educational programs. For more than 30 years, he has served as the CSI Boston Chapter Certification Chair, personally teaching CDT exam prep classes. For the past three years he has extended that instruction to the CSI Northeast Region's program. Today, he continues sharing his knowledge as a Chapter Director, fueled by a lasting passion for technical excellence and mentoring the next generation of industry professionals.