CSI Blog

This year, CSI welcomed Charles Hendricks, FCSI, CDT ® , to the 2025 College of Fellows. Hendricks is a partner at The Gaines Group Architects in Harrisonburg, Virginia. He is one of only four distinguished professionals in the architecture, engineering, construction, and owner (AECO) industry named to the 2025 class. Hendricks was nominated through a rigorous application process, then elected by the Jury of Fellows for membership, one of the top honors given by CSI. Hendricks is a CDT ® advocate and has held positions at the chapter, region, and national levels of CSI. He served two years on the CSI Middle Atlantic Region Board of ...

This year, CSI welcomed Cam Featherstonhaugh IV to the College of Fellows. Featherstonhaugh—FCSI, Lifetime Member, and former National Board Chair—is one of only four distinguished professionals in the architecture, engineering, construction, and owner (AECO) industry named to the 2025 class. Featherstone was nominated through a rigorous application process, then elected by the Jury of Fellows for membership, one of the top honors given by CSI. Featherstonhaugh is a licensed architect in Vermont and holds a Master of Architecture from Norwich University. As a senior associate and leader of the K-12 Education Studio at TruexCullins, ...

This year, during the 2025 CSI National Conference, CSI gave special recognition to Nick Franjic, Executive Director of Construction Specifications Canada (CSC), who was named an Honorary Member of CSI. Honorary Membership is considered to be the most prestigious honor of the Construction Specifications Institute. It is conferred on individuals who have performed distinguished services to the construction industry in fields of activity related to the purposes of CSI. CSI Board Chair William Sundquist, FCSI, said, “Nick’s three decades of leadership have shaped collaborations across North America and elevated both CSC and CSI. Nick's vision ...

If you've ever spent more than five minutes on LinkedIn , or gotten an email from someone's work account, you've probably noticed the prevalence of people adding credentials (all those capital letters) after their names. It's easy to feel like everyone else has their professional development figured out while you're still trying to understand what all those letters even mean. You start wondering if you should be collecting capital letters after your name, just to keep up with your peers. But before you start throwing money around, let's talk about whether getting more credentials is even for you. Investing in Yourself First ...

For James Lawless, working in construction has meant seeing projects from both sides—first as a general contractor intern, then as a mechanical engineer on the design team. Along the way, he discovered a key truth: high-quality construction documents can make or break a project. That insight led James to pursue CSI’s Construction Documents Technologist (CDT ® ) certification in spring 2025. In this Q&A, he shares why understanding the full process of writing, interpreting, and managing construction documents matters so much, how he prepared for the exam, and the biggest lesson he learned: that preventing problems is always better than fixing ...

This is the third in a three-part series on this blog addressing interpretations and clarifications of construction documents, comprised of: (a) Part 1 – Introduction to Resolving Conflicts, Ambiguities, and Discrepancies in Construction Documents; (b) Part 2 - Procurement and Construction Stages, and (c) Part 3 - “Order of Precedence” Clauses. Provisions in construction contracts establishing the priority order in which the contract documents take precedence and will be interpreted, often known as “order of precedence” clauses, are quite common. Drafters of construction contracts who include such clauses are often seeking to reduce the potential for ...

When Hayley Skladanek started working in the built environment, she was eager to learn as much as she could. In just three months, she not only earned her Construction Documents Technologist (CDT ® ) credential but also set her sights on the Construction Contract Administrator (CCCA ® ) certification. For Hayley, the process wasn’t just about passing an exam, it was about unlocking a deeper understanding of the work she did every day. Using everything from color-coded note cards to flashcards on the go, Hayley’s preparation was both determined and creative. In this interview, she shares how she approached studying, what she learned along the way, ...

As your Board of Directors , we’re focused on delivering the standards, formats, professional development, and community you need to thrive in the AECO industry. When we do this well, we are curating a CSI that builds up both ourselves and the profession, enabling us to all reach our full potential. Looking Ahead, Together At our June Board meeting, we spent time discussing the future of professional learning at CSI. We believe in developing modern programs designed to reflect how people learn and grow today. Your responses to our first CSI-Connect “Question of the Month” helped guide those conversations. (Check ...

With more than three decades of experience in both construction and architecture, Ernesto Lassus has seen projects from every angle. But even with years of hands-on knowledge, he recognized the value of formal training and certification. After earning his CDT ® in 2013, Ernesto decided to take his expertise even further by pursuing the Construction Contract Administrator (CCCA ® ) credential in spring 2025. Here, Ernesto shares why certifications matter even for seasoned professionals, how he prepared for the exam, and the career benefits that came with it—from greater respect and recognition to more confidence in delivering successful projects. ...