CJMW President Kathleen Warner Named to 2026 Outstanding Women in Business

CJMW Architecture is proud to share that President Kathleen Warner has been named a 2026 Outstanding Woman in Business by the Triad Business Journal. The distinction recognizes an exclusive group of 25 women whose leadership is shaping industries and communities across North Carolina’s Triad region.

For many at CJMW, the honor brings to mind a pivotal moment in the firm’s recent history. A few years ago, CJMW had the opportunity to sell the firm. Kathleen helped guide the discussion toward a different kind of future, one that prioritized internal succession and long-term relationships.

 As she shared in her acceptance remarks regarding the decision to develop an internal succession plan: “It was not the easiest choice, but it was the right choice for who we are today. Our team is thriving, our client partnerships are deeper, and we’re building a 120-year legacy in a way that truly reflects our values.”

She went on to share a reflection that resonates across the firm: “Sometimes the biggest risk isn’t taking the deal. It’s choosing to carry forward and build on something meaningful together.”

A Winston-Salem native and graduate of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University with a Bachelor of Science in Interior Design, Kathleen first joined CJMW as a design intern in 2000. She is a LEED Accredited Professional, a Registered Interior Designer, and a longtime member of the International Interior Design Association. Her trajectory at the firm reflects the trust and respect she has earned along the way: Associate in 2003, Principal in 2011, Director of Interior Design in 2012, Board Member in 2013, and Managing Principal in 2022 as part of CJMW’s ownership transition, and at each step her instinct has been to invest in the people around her and strengthen the firm as a whole.

Board Chairman, Principal and CFO John Drinkard, AIA, LEED AP, who has worked with Kathleen for many years, put it simply: “There is no better president who could have been chosen for this firm. Kathleen’s leadership is remarkable, and I appreciate serving alongside her.”

Kathleen’s leadership is reflected in the projects CJMW delivers. That includes taking CJMW’s interior design practice from a small internal support function and building it into a nationally recognized studio, earning more than 60 national, regional, and local design awards and contributing a meaningful share of the firm’s annual revenue. Today, she leads a fifteen-person team of interior designers across hospitality, senior living, higher education, and workplace environments, mentoring emerging leaders and pushing innovation throughout the studio.

Principal and Director of Marketing Susan Perkins, said, “In the more than 20 years we’ve worked together, I’ve seen Kathleen’s leadership evolve into the force it is today. She is energetic, powerful, and intelligent. I am honored to work with her.”

Kathleen’s commitment extends beyond the firm as well. She serves on the Board of Directors of Greater Winston-Salem, Inc., where she chairs the current Emerging Leaders Cohort, and on Virginia Tech’s Residential Environments and Design Advisory Board, helping connect students, faculty, clients, and international collaborators around issues like adaptive reuse and aging. She mentors interior design students at Virginia Tech and UNC Greensboro, is an active member of Rotary International’s Winston-Salem Downtown chapter and stays continually engaged in organizations and activities that give back to the profession and the community.

A designer at heart, Kathleen carries those same instincts into the way she leads the firm. Asked about the most unusual thing she carries with her, she answered with a smile, “I carry a tape measure and a mini level in my purse everywhere I go…you just never know!” That same attention and care shows up in how she leads the people around her. Comptroller Jennifer Martin sums up what many at the firm feel: “She leads with a rare blend of vision and heart, treating CJMW not just as a business, but as a community.”

For Kathleen, being named an Outstanding Woman in Business circles back to the people of CJMW. The recognition ultimately remains rooted in the team. “What inspires me every day is this team and serving our firm,” she says. “It’s a remarkable experience. Every single person is so talented and special. I am truly honored.”