The recently elected CSI Board of Directors begin their term July 1. Here, in their own words, they discuss their history with the association, how it has benefited their professional experience, and the immediate and long-term opportunities they see for CSI in the years to come.
Meet Secretary of the Board Jori Smith, CSI, CDT
How did you first become involved with CSI, and how has that helped your professional experience grow?
While building a new elementary school 14 years ago, architect Peter Holloway and I discussed continuing education opportunities and he mentioned that I might want to get involved with CSI. “In fact,” he said, “we need an industry Director on our chapter board. You should think about it.” I innocently followed up on his suggestion, received a call just days later from Lee Orosco letting me know how much I needed to get my CDT, and I was in!
I’ve never regretted the time I've invested in CSI, and I’m convinced that the network of professional relationships developed through CSI have consistently benefitted my daily work as well as my career path. There is trust among the members, which far outlasts the relationship of a single project.
What are the top opportunities you see for CSI?
This is a pivotal moment in the AEC industry, and CSI has a vital role to play. BIM’s evolution toward the final deliverable document will substantially alter the form of our future work product, permitting, bidding, and project management. CSI must work quickly to ensure that the new forms of communication maintain the clarity we’ve worked so hard to establish. CSI’s leadership in this transition will firmly establish our future place in the industry and impact construction documentation for the next few decades.
Not too much further on down the road, I’d like to see CSI get back to work on establishing the Building Technology Education Certification. Too many young building professionals are without appropriate mentorship, and are left cobbling together their education about materials, systems and assemblies after leaving college. CSI has the ability to step into the void and provide an organized approach to the basic education they lack.
Do you have a favorite project, or work experience you would like to share?
It's not always the easiest, smoothest projects that are the most memorable. I had the opportunity a few years ago to do a project for a repeat client, which involved total renovation of one of the oldest adobe buildings in Albuquerque, dating back to the 1680's. (Actually, it was built of Terron blocks, which are sod cut with a spade then laid out to dry).
This charming old home was being used as a private school’s administration offices. It was unlike anything I’d ever done before, and I had to learn everything about a completely different type of construction! This is one of the reasons building can be so much fun – it’s more challenging on a daily basis than any other industry I know.
Is there anything else you would like your fellow members to know?
I truly believe that CSI’s diverse members have the best chance of positively impacting our industry, by working together to acknowledge the challenges we face daily, some of which can be quite frustrating and costly, and solve them - together. Single trade/industry associations provide significant value, but only CSI puts all of us in the same room to listen to each other.