CSI Blog

Every CSI certification tells a story. For Kathryn E. Fuller, CSI, CDT ® , CCCA ® , earning her certifications helped expand her expertise, strengthen her career, and deepen her understanding of construction documentation and contract administration. In this Q&A, Kathryn shares her journey, study tips, and advice for professionals considering a CSI certification. Tell me about your career and why you chose to work in this industry. And why earn a CSI certification? I decided to become an architect the summer before entering 8th grade. It was the only profession I could think of that combined all my interests of math, science, art, ...

Hundreds of AECO professionals from across the country got a live look at the new CSI Dynamic Standards℠ during a virtual webinar on June 25, featuring an interactive demonstration detailing the development of the resource, its primary functions, and its purpose to help professionals find relevant information faster across the industry, accurately navigate connected standards and classifications, and confidently verify the most recent, relevant information regarding products and specification protocol. CSI Dynamic Standards℠ (CDS) was built to combine MasterFormat ® , UniFormat ® , and OmniClass ® into one accessible and always-current ...

CSI members and community, The CSI Board met June 27 in Phoenix, and I want to follow through on the commitment I made in my last message : providing a fuller picture of where things stand on the four priorities (Trust, Value, Communication, Future) shaping the Board's work this year. Trust: The fact that so many members are engaged, asking questions, and seeking more clarity on Board priorities reflects how deeply this community cares about CSI, and that itself is a form of trust worth acknowledging and a foundation to build on. That trust was built over more than 75 years through the work of CSI volunteers ...

Below is a letter from Incoming CSI Board Chair Jarrod Mann, P.E., FCSI, CCCA, CDT. To the CSI community, On Saturday, the CSI Board of Directors held its June meeting in Phoenix, AZ. It was a full day of work on the issues that matter to this community and on the direction of this organization going forward. I am writing to you as your incoming Board Chair. William Sundquist passed the gavel, and I want to begin this role the way I intend to continue it: by communicating directly with the members I serve. What the Board Addressed The meeting covered five areas that reflect what this community ...

To the CSI community, This past weekend, I had the high honor of handing the board chair gavel to Jarrod Mann — and reflecting on my past two years in service to the board and all of CSI. When I came into this role, I set out to focus on three things: building up our people, building up the profession, and building better projects. I am proud of the progress we've made on all three fronts, and I am grateful to every board member, staff member, and volunteer who made that possible. What I did not fully anticipate was how much the ground would shift beneath us in two years. AI went from a topic on the horizon to a tool ...

If you've been a product rep for any amount of time, you've probably noticed something: the reps who perform best aren’t necessarily the best salespeople. They're the ones who actually understand the project. They show up at the right time, with the right information, and they know how their product fits into the bigger picture. They're not pitching. They're contributing. Imagine an architect calling you to use your product on their next project, all because of the fantastic experience they had working with you and your team last time. That's what happens when you stop selling and start being a genuine resource. So here's ...

CSI member spotlights highlight the skills, professional areas of interest, and daily contributions members make to the architecture, engineering, construction, and owner (AECO) industry. Meet Angela M. Hamill, CSI, CDT ® , who is a document controls manager at Lochner Egis Group. How did you become a professional in the AECO industry, and do you have any specific projects you would like to share? I began my career in the AECO industry more than two decades ago through document control and configuration management roles supporting major capital programs. Over the years, I’ve developed a specialty in establishing document ...

The State of Tennessee honored all that CSI does to advance building information management and the education of project teams to improve facility performance within the commercial construction industry, with a state proclamation recognizing CSI. CSI Board of Directors Chair William Sundquist accepted the honor at the office of Representative Yusuf Hakeem, along with Tara Mitchell, Harry Harris and Lynn Jolley of the CSI Nashville Chapter. In the same kind of clear, specific language many specifiers would respect, the state presented, “A resolution to honor the Construction Specifications Institute for outstanding service to the ...

What does certification mean after 20 years in the industry? What about at the very start of your career? For these recent certification earners, the answer is the same: growth. Though they’re at different stages in their careers, all found that certification sharpened their knowledge, strengthened their confidence, and reinforced their commitment to the architect, engineer, contractor, and owner (AECO) industry. Their stories highlight an important truth: professional development doesn’t have a finish line. In this Certification Spotlight, each share why they chose certification, how they prepared, and how earning their credentials continues ...