Three New Principals Named as Part of Ownership Team

Britton Sams, Beth Faircloth, and Jim Dumminger have been named principals at CJMW Architecture + Interior Design as part of the firm’s recently announced ownership transition.

Britton Sams is the Director of Information Technology and a principal of CJMW Architecture, where he has worked since January 1990. In his early years within the firm, Britton focused on working drawings, creating firm-wide CAD standards, and the implementation of and staff training for multiple releases of CAD Software. In the mid-2000s, he moved into IT Administration, becoming the firm’s Director of Information Technology in 2010.

Describe a time that your career was rewarding:  Being an integral part of planning and implementing the infrastructure of this firm’s first corporate office move in the last 40 years! If I could invent a holiday, it would definitely involve . . . no one having to be on call! What are the skills you bring to your career?  Organization, detail oriented, and emotionally steady!

Since then, Britton’s foresight, together with a focus on organization and an exceptional dedication to managing all technology firmwide, have helped keep CJMW connected and working efficiently. One of Britton’s best skills is his ability to remain composed while under pressure, whether responding to a panicked weekend call, having to work with his team to set up new network servers under only the dim lighting of flashlights, or responding to the pressure of daily and weekly shifts in company-wide needs as the result of an international pandemic.

As a principal, in addition to leading CJMW’s IT team, Britton will be putting his logistical and organizational skills to work leading several of the firm’s strategic planning groups focused primarily on firm operations.

Beth Faircloth is an Interior Designer who joined CJMW in 2000. Her experience includes work for multiple hospitality venues as well as for corporate, health care and higher education clients. Her inquisitive nature and joy of learning extends to her desire to understand her client’s needs and her approach to collaborating on solutions and the best result for each project. Beth applies knowledge gained from this range of experience to her primary focus: design for senior living. Her award-winning work has been recognized by organizations focused on improving the quality of life for seniors including LeadingAge, SAGE, and the AIA. Beth has also been a part of senior design presentations at LeadingAge NC, the Environments for Aging Conference, and at the national LeadingAge Annual Conference.

If you could give a younger person career advice, what would it be? Never stop striving to learn, ask questions, be proactive in all aspects as it is a journey of learning, and you will learn from even the most uncomfortable moments. As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? To travel the world as a National Geographic Photographer to learn and share knowledge. I still have that desire to learn and share, and feel it is why I have progressed in my career!

Beth has led multi­disciplinary design teams for all aspects of senior environments and appreciates the rewarding moments that come from working in that arena. For example, while working on the Garden Cottage project at Penick Village (a 10-bedroom small home for assisted living), Beth found the interaction and relationships developed with the residents particularly rewarding saying, “Seeing how impactful it was to develop and design a space that felt like a home instead of an institution make the difference in their quality of like and knowing that has brought me much joy. It was very rewarding providing this service for them.”

Jim Dumminger, AIA joined CJMW Architecture in 2005. His project experience has focused primarily on historic preservation and adaptive use projects for private, corporate, and institutional clients. Each of these projects has emphasized the leveraging of State and/or Federal Historic Tax Credits, as well as other incentives available, to promote community revitalization. In addition to his historic preservation and adaptive use work, Jim has also served a critical role in multiple performing arts projects, including Lynchburg’s Academy Center of the Arts and Longwood University Music and Performing Arts Building. Jim is a member of the American Institute of Architects, an NCARB certified architect, and a certified Golden Globes Professional.

What are the best skills you bring to your career? I am very detail-oriented and methodical person – my passion is in how to make a design a reality, taking design cues from my peers and executing the vision. I also excel at building code research, grasping the “why” behind the code, not just the “what.” Which talent would you most like to have? I wish I could play a musical instrument; I’d love to learn to play the drums.

Jim knew he wanted to be an architect long ago, explaining, “I am one of those weirdos that around ten said, ‘I want be an architect,’ and then stuck with it”. One of CJMW’s go-to code experts, Jim is an exceptional resource on projects with complex technical issues and is much appreciated by clients and team partners alike.

As a principal, Jim will be putting his logistical and organizational skills to work leading several of the firm’s strategic planning groups focused primarily on project process and methods.

Throughout the years, Britton, Beth, and Jim have each become a leader and backbone supporting CJMW’s ability to provide exceptional client service. We are honored (and fortunate!) to have these talented and dedicated individuals as part of our ownership team!