senior living experts

With over 35 years of experience in design and project management, John has proven his leadership ability on many project types, including healthcare, life sciences, senior living, educational, and corporate. His range of experience and attention to detail has led multiple clients to make CJMW Architecture their architect of choice. As leader of the firm’s healthcare design studio, John has worked with long-time firm client Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center for over 20 years.

John specializes in consensus building and helping diverse groups of stakeholders and users to become part of the design process. As such, he has led many of the firm’s largest projects to exceptional outcomes.

John has led or served on multiple professional and community organizations including past President of the AIA Piedmont Section and multiple AIANC committees including the Historic Resources Committee, Education Committee, and the Center of Architecture Task Force and Vision Committee. In addition, he served as co-leader for Creative Enterprises & the Arts Roundtable / Piedmont Triad Partnership from 2007-2010. John received recognition as one of the Triad Business Leaders of the Year in 2011 and served on the Center for Creative Economy Board of Directors. He is a member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA), is NCARB certified, and a LEED Accredited Professional.

As the firm’s Chief Financial Officer, John is a Managing Principal and serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors.

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Jim 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.

Jim is exceptionally detail-oriented and methodical. His passion is making designs a reality, taking design cues from his colleagues and executing the vision. Jim also excels at building code research, grasping the “why” behind the code, not just the “what.” These skills and focus make him an excellent project manager.

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.

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With nearly 20 years of experience across 13 states, John brings deep expertise in senior care, hospitality, multi-family housing, healthcare, and higher education. His unique approach blends architectural design with a strong passion for interior environments, helping create spaces that enhance the lives of residents and staff alike.

His dedication to senior living design is personal—shaped by his grandmother’s 30-year experience aging in place. That inspiration continues to guide his work: creating spaces where families feel connected, cared for, and at home.

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Beth has over 35 years of architectural and interior design experience, specializing in design for Senior Living for more than 24 years. Beth has been an Interior Designer with CJMW Architecture since 2000. Beth's architectural background provides her with a thorough understanding of construction methods and interior architectural detailing. 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 end result for each project. As a lead designer and project manager, Beth has led multi¬disciplinary design teams for all aspects of senior environments. Although her primary focus is senior living design, Beth’s experience includes work for multiple hospitality venues including hotels and restaurants, corporate, health care and higher education.

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 Conference.

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Palmer takes a collaborative approach to design, realizing innovative solutions for clients and integrating modern technology and strategies with timeless design principles. He has had a growing role in CJMW’s multi-family residential projects, including Brady Square, Huntington Village, Urbana at HiOaks, and The Coile, and has taken a leading role in complex higher education projects including Longwood University Music and Performing Arts Center.

Palmer has also contributed to performing arts and hospitality projects, including the Academy Center of the Arts, Mt. Airy Hotel and Performing Arts Center studies, and Villa Maria restoration and adaptive use.

Palmer joined the firm in 2016 after completing his B.Arch at Virginia Tech and is a member of the American Institute of Architects.

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Mike joined CJMW Architecture in 1999 as a founding member of the firm’s Lynchburg office. He is a managing principal of the firm and serves on the firm’s Board of Directors. As Director of Branch Offices, he guides operations and supports business development in the firm’s Lynchburg and Raleigh offices.

Over the course of his 30+ year career, Mike has honed his strong design and management skills in a variety of markets, including multifamily, higher education, and civic. Many of his projects have utilized the National Parks Services’ historic tax credit program. He has developed an exceptional capability to maintain schedules and budgets, fostering a collaborative approach on each project. Notable award-winning projects include the Fralin Center for Science and Health Professions at Virginia Western Community College, the Academy Center of the Arts, and Woodlawn School Apartments.

Mike is active in his community, with leadership roles in his church and having recently served on the Lynchburg Regional Business Alliance’s Leadership Lynchburg Council. While serving as council chair, he presented at the Association of Leadership Programs national conference in Huntsville, Alabama. He has also participated on panels at the annual Virginia Housing Credit Conference in Richmond, Virgina, with a focus on providing affordable housing to those in need. Mike is a member of the American Institute of Architects.

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Susan works across offices to manage the firm's marketing and communications efforts ranging from strategic planning to developing and implementing initiatives in support of the firm and its clients. She applies her strong visual and analytical skills in crafting materials that express the story behind the work and the essence of what the firm has to offer clients and communities. Susan brings a creative approach and a unique perspective informed by her education as an architect and years abroad working in the field of architectural education.

Susan's passion for communication and story led her to become part of the development of StoryLine, a project by Winston-Salem's ECHO Council dedicated to building social capital through the sharing of stories by everyday people. As part of the project, she and a team from CJMW transformed an ice cream truck into a state-of-the-art mobile recording studio.

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Julie is a certified professional Interior Designer, having earned her National Council for Interior Design Qualification Certificate and is a Registered Interior Designer in North Carolina. She has focused on a wide variety and style of commercial projects from leading edge corporate office to historic and adaptive use.

In addition to Julie’s workplace and adaptive reuse projects, her experience includes hospitality, multi-family, retail, transit, and performing arts projects for clients both private and public. Julie is an experienced project manager, tracking schedules, costs, and details from start to finish. She is currently managing the team working on the renovation and expansion of the historic Pittman Auditorium at Saint Mary’s School.

Julie serves on the Board of Directors for NAIOP Raleigh Durham as well as the Advisory Board for the ECU School of Interior Design.

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Keagan joined CJMW Architecture in the summer of 2008 after completing her B.Arch at UNC-Charlotte, where she graduated with Honors and received the AIA Certificate of Merit Award as salutatorian.

With over 15 years of experience in design and project management, Keagan serves a unique role as an Architect and Interior Designer in CJMW’s Interior Design Studio. Prior to joining CJMW’s Interior Architecture Studio, Keagan played a pivotal role in the Architecture Studio on projects such as the Boeing Delivery and Welcome Centers in Charleston, SC, Greensboro Day School’s new Middle School building, and Forsyth County’s Administrative Upfit in Winston-Salem’s Public Safety Center.

After joining CJMW’s Interior Architecture Studio, Keagan honed her skill set by specializing in Renovations and Adaptive Re-use projects such as Bailey Power Plant’s Turbine Hall Renovation, which received a 2018 Merit Award from the Winston-Salem Chapter of the AIA, and PepsiCo’s commercial office upfit at the University Corporate Center Building in Winston-Salem. Keagan had a significant team leadership role in High Point University’s Nido and Mariana Qubein Arena and Hotel. She has extensive experience in all phases of design as well as project types of various scale ranging in cost from $10k to $180 million.

Keagan values client, contractor and consultant relationships, and feels a project is only successful when one works as part of a team, with humility and dedication to the project’s success. Keagan has served on multiple professional and community organizations such as AIA Winston-Salem Chapter as Secretary, President-Elect, and President. She is registered a member of the American Institute of Architects, is NCARB Certified, and a LEED BD+C Accredited Professional.

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With 13 years of experience in the field, Rachel brings not only significant experience in hospitality, workplace, and senior living design, but a focused, creative approach and a dedication to client services. Rachel’s expertise includes managing projects large and small. She has a thoughtful and detailed approach and is committed to providing her clients with quality results that fall within both budget and timeline. Rachel is known for her thorough investigation and attention to detail that she consistently brings to all her projects.

Rachel is a member of the International Interior Design Association and served on the North and South Carolina IIDA chapter board for 8 years. She is NCIDQ certified and a registered interior designer in the state of North Carolina.

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Britton is the Director of Information Technology and a principal of CJMW Architecture, where he has worked since January 1990. Specializing in IT and Technical Design, Britton uses his 30+ years of experience, together with a focus on organization and an exceptional dedication to managing all technology firmwide, while keeping a keen eye on the firm’s bottom line.

Throughout his years within the firm, Britton has focused on working drawings, creating CAD Standards, the implementation of and staff training for several releases of CAD Software. In the mid-2000s, he moved into IT Administration and became the firm’s Director of Information Technology in 2010.

Britton is responsible for all the financial aspects of the IT Department. He also oversees a lot of the firm’s logistical operations and is an active member of the firm’s 401k Committee.

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Jeff is a managing principal and sits on the firm’s Board of Directors. As Director of Architecture, he brings his innovative approach and wide-ranging project experience to support and cultivate the firm’s culture of design.

With 35 years' experience, Jeff’s portfolio and award-winning work show the breadth and diversity of his design skills, from restoring historic properties to creating cutting-edge, innovative designs. He is accomplished at incorporating the natural world with the built environment through landscape design and planning.

Jeff received awards from the AIA's Winston-Salem chapter for the design of the Boeing Company Welcome Center in North Charleston, S.C., and the Center for Design Innovation in Winston-Salem. The BB&T Leadership Institute received an NAIOP award in 2019 for New Development Project of the Year in the State of North Carolina, Merit Award/AIA North Carolina, Project of the Year/Carolinas CORE award, and named as Top Overall Design in Business North Carolina Magazine’s 2018 edition.

Jeff is well known for his work in historic preservation, having served as a Board Member of the Forsyth County Historic Resource Commission from 2009-2017 and as its vice chairman from 2012-2017. His work with the Charles Pfohl House Restoration in Old Salem was featured in This Old House magazine. He is a current member of the National Historic Trust Foundation. Jeff also served as treasurer of the AIA Winston chapter from 2014 to 2017 and as co-president of the Salem Resident Association from 2014-2015. He is a member of the American Institute of Architects and is NCARB certified.

(336) 724-1503 (ext. 1327) office

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A managing principal in the firm, Kathleen is CJMW’s President and serves on CJMW’s Board of Directors. As Director of Interior Design, she also oversees the firm’s Interior Design Studio, which accounts for approximately 25% of the firm’s business across multiple markets.

Kathleen is a leader in CJMW's hospitality practice, with extensive experience in design for hotels, restaurants, and other hospitality focused venues. In addition to her expertise in hospitality design, She has led teams designing a diverse range of projects including senior living, performing arts, corporate, health care, cultural, and educational. Her work across numerous market sectors has been awarded National and Regional recognition by peer organizations including the International Interior Design Association and the AIA.

Excellent customer service standards guide Kathleen’s skill set and personal business perspective. She is a former participant in Greater Winston-Salem, Inc.’s Emerging Leaders program and was a member of the advisory board for the University of North Carolina at Greensboro’s Interior Architecture program for ten years. Kathleen volunteers as a mentor to interior design students and regularly speaks to classes about professional practices, and the social and behavioral aspects of interior design. She is currently a member of Virgina Tech’s Residential Environments and Design Industry Advisory Board and is active in her church. Kathleen is a Registered Interior Designer in North Carolina, an NCIDQ-certified interior designer, and a member of the International Interior Design Association.

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As a Principal, Project Manager, and Senior Designer for CJMW Architecture, Peter has been involved in the planning and design of Senior Living Communities throughout the Southeast for more than 25 years. His attention to client service as well as effective project management has earned praise from clients, many of whom have worked with him over many years. Peter's designs have received recognition from peer groups including Society for the Advancement of Gerontological Environments (SAGE), LeadingAge, and the American Institute of Architects (AIA).

In addition to his expertise in Senior Living Design, Peter has also been involved in the planning and design of a variety of different project types including Residential, Multifamily, Mixed Use, Retail, and Commercial projects. Peter is a member of the American Institute of Architects, the Society for the Advancement of Gerontological Environments (SAGE), and LeadingAge. He is an NCARB certified architect.

As a longtime supporter of Habitat for Humanity, Peter was recently awarded with a Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award for his +20 years of design and volunteer service at his local Habitat affiliate.

(336) 724-1503 (ext. 1235) office

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A pioneer in de-institutionalizing environments for seniors, he has been bringing innovative ideas to senior living clients for more than 40 years. Alan's work has appeared in multiple publications and has been consistently recognized by organizations focused on improving the quality of life for seniors including LeadingAge, the Society for the Advancement of Gerontological Environments (SAGE), the Center for Health Design, and the American Institute of Architects (AIA). He routinely speaks on topics related to design for aging at regional and national conferences, and has served as a juror for Design/Environments for Aging.

Alan balances his work in senior living design with the design of performance spaces; his work in this arena includes multiple schools of music and ranges from studio theatres to large performance halls. A member of LeadingAge, SAGE, and the AIA, Alan is registered in multiple states.

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