Blog Viewer

Happy National Volunteer Week! To celebrate the occasion, CSI would like to give a resounding round of applause to all our current and past volunteers. All week, we are putting the spotlight on CSI members who go the extra mile for their colleagues and the built community at large.   Today’s spotlight is on Billy Mathis, FCSI, CDT®, who volunteers as beta tester for Crosswalk® and as a peer reviewer of session proposals for the CSI National Conference.

How did you get involved in the architecture, engineering, construction, and owner (AECO) industry, and what is your specific area of interest?
I retired from the Air Force in 1997 and was looking for a job. I was having no luck, so I went to an employment agency and ended up with my first temp job at Taggart Architects. After one day they hired me to do the administrative work. I was vaguely familiar with the contracting and construction world through my work on the staff at my last three bases. I was advised that if I wanted to get a handle on what I needed to know, I should look up Ms. Betty Hayes. I contacted her and she invited me to my first Little Rock Chapter CSI meeting. I went hoping to be a wallflower and just see what it was all about, but Betty, Jan Sanders and Michelle Beard sat me at their table, and we discussed CSI and what it did for people. I was intrigued, so I came back for a second meeting, then a third. Finally, I decided this was an organization that offered me just what I needed to do my job right, and I joined.

How did you decide to share your time and expertise to volunteer for the benefit of other AECO professionals to help them reach their goals?
I was invited to sit in on a board meeting to see how a chapter operated in the hopes I could find something I could feel comfortable doing within the chapter. During the meeting, the discussion moved to someone taking over as treasurer for the upcoming fiscal year. The discussion piqued my interest. Even though I had no background as a treasurer, I left the meeting as the nominee for the position. I worked with the outgoing treasurer, Mr. Mark Seiter of Nabholz Construction in Conway, Arkansas, learned the basics, and took over as treasurer. From there, I was business manager, then moved to awards where I found my true calling. Since then, I have been chapter president, chapter secretary, chapter director, and chair of several committee. I have also served as region vice president, president elect, and president as well as the region awards chair. I was also on the Awards Committee  eventually becoming the committee chair and have served a term on the Institute Board of Directors.

Why is the work you do as a volunteer important to you?
Being a volunteer was ingrained from childhood. My mom and dad were volunteers through many organizations, including our church. From what they taught me, my philosophy when dealing with any job or position has always been to leave it a little better than when I started. Since being a volunteer and volunteer leader are very important to me, I tried to make sure that I gave 110 percent to everything and that I made sure that I trained and mentored my replacements. The latter is the most important, because I cannot be there forever, and if I don’t make sure those coming behind me are ready, then I am failing at one of the most important jobs I have.

What impact have other volunteers had on your career?
Many people I have come to know as friends and fellow CSI leaders have taught me what it means to be part of a larger community. We are all part of the greater construction community and need to work together to keep the community moving forward. Many people taught me about relationships within the construction world, how drawings and specifications come together to make a complete picture of a project, and how important a single individual can be to the overall completion of a successful project. Using what I have learned, I have worked with the people in my office to create and maintain a standard that helps us provide successful services to our clients and work with contractors to make the project come together as stress-free as possible. I have also learned that being a leader in CSI gives people the experience they need to be a leader in their occupations and improves their confidence and self-esteem. I have not observed leadership training to this level since I left the military. This says a lot about where CSI places its emphasis.

Why do you think other members might want to consider volunteering?
Most people volunteer because they feel called to help out, which is why Habitat for Humanity, Goodwill, Salvation Army, and so many others are so popular. Volunteering in a professional organization requires a desire to not only improve your knowledge and experience but help make the organization stay relevant to the community it serves. With CSI, there is so much you can get out of the opportunity. Besides the education you have access to, the information that will be shared, and the camaraderie you experience is the ability to hone your leadership skills and make connections all over the country that will help you both professionally and personally.

Favorite book or binge-worthy TV?
My current book is always my favorite. I am a World War II buff as well as a science fiction connoisseur.  I am also a Trekkie and a Star Wars fan. As for television, I look for entertainment first, education second, and try to avoid anything with “socially redeeming storylines” and what some call “chick flicks.”

Favorite hobbies?
I like to get out and walk short distances to see the beauty this county offers. I also like to visit museums, especially the smaller local museums that tell you a lot about the local area and its history. If you listen to my wife, my favorite hobby is watching television. While I can’t argue that I do watch more than I should, I would hardly call it a hobby.

Are you ready to volunteer? Find out all of the many ways you can contribute to the success of your CSI Community and earn up to two Learning Units in the CSI Volunteer Portal. https://www.csiresources.org/communities/volunteer