James McReynolds - Center

James McReynolds
Associate AIA
Project Manager

James graduated from Virginia Polytechnic and State University with a Bachelors degree in Architecture with a minor in Industrial Design. Also, taking some courses in Business and Economics to better prepare himself for a career in Architecture.

Before joining IONIC, James worked with a firm where he was given the chance to gain experience as an Intern Architect. He was a contributor in the design of numerous hospital additions and commercial projects. James has become our facilitator to our multiple location clients like Wendy's, Star Express and others.

In addition to working on these projects, James also gained vast experience creating BIM models to better convey our architectural concepts and ideas.

www.ionicdezigns.com

 

April Thompson - Right Field

April J. Thompson
Administrative Assistant

April has recently joined our office full time and assists in many of the needs around IONIC. You will hear her lovely greeting just about every time you call our office and will most certainly see her smiling face when you walk in the door. The first impression is said to be the most important and April's extends that without delay.

She has recently taken on the task of re-organizing the entire office.  As we grow and stretch and "bulge" out within the office we are constantly trying to maximize the use of our space....just like our clients. She has been the force behind us finally setting up a small dedicated materials room for our vendors and to display their samples and catalogs.

Among other things April diligently puts together the responses to our Request for Proposals as well as maintaining the database for Contracts with Subcontractors and Vendors. She also maintains project accounts, both billable and receivable, send out invoices and assists in tracking all project hours and expenditures in order to assure office productivity and profitability.

In her role as marketing coordinator, she handles some photography, project marketing sheets, marketing events, lunch and learn events for our staff and various marketing mailings that IONIC does through the year.

Be sure to say hello to her when you visit us. Oh yeah, and by the way.....she did play a mean softball in her day!

www.ionicdezigns.com

Abby Hoffman - Left Field

Abby Marie Chryst Hoffman, Assoc AIA

Project Manager

Abby graduated with her Bachelors in Architecture from Temple and her Masters from University of Virginia with an interest in regenerative design processes, urban reactivation, and cultural preservation. She has previously worked with a small firm in Pennsylvania prior to completing all of her studies. Abby brings a wealth of educational knowledge to IONIC.

 

As the newest member of the team she has jumped right in with helping design and produce the construction documents for several of our current projects. Her studies will allow her to further our urban planning and development departments. With a background in Graphic Design, Abby will help with the element of our firm we have always preached, “Where Art & Architecture come together.”

 

IONIC has always tried to add “Art” to our projects and with Abby’s help we should continue to do just that.

 

Regaina Thompson - Catcher

Regaina J. Thompson

vice president
director of operations

Regaina studied business management at Oklahoma State University. Serving as Vice President and Director of Operations at IONIC, her responsibilities include general business administration, oversight and management of the firms finances, and human resource matters. She currently participates in networking organizations to assist in building business opportunities with other companies.

Regaina has incorporated her connection from the company to enhance her involvement in the real estate market to help some of our client with their concerns.  These affiliations have allowed for a better understanding for the goals and needs for all those involved.  In early 2006, she became incorporated ownership in CCIV7 - Corinthian Capital Investments that has holdings in several properties in the Tidewater area and beyond.  In 2009, she became a licensed realtor in the state of Virginia and actively works with William E. Wood Real Estate Company here in Virginia Beach.

www.ionicdezigns.com

Matt Mazzoni - Third Base

Matthew Mazzoni Assoc. AIA, LEED AP, CD

project manager
construction administrative coordinator


Matt Graduated from the University of Tennessee College of Architecture and Design with a Bachelor of Architecture in May 2007. When taking classes outside of his major he focused on sustainability and achieved a minor in business administration. Matt also participated in the student chapter of the American Institute of Architects and spent several summers interning in the facilities department of Education Management Corporation.

Before joining IONIC, he has worked for several offices and has been recognized for several achievements. He started out working for Michael Brady Inc. of Knoxville, Tennessee where he focused on design build and hospitality projects, and became a certified Constructions Documents Technologist (CDT) through the Construction Specifications Institute (CSI). He then moved onto Stuck Associates Architects of Jonesboro, Arkansas where he was involved in nursing home design, updating existing facilities for ADA compliance and worked on LEED Certified projects. While there he graduated from the chamber of commerce's Leadership program, received his LEED accreditation, and was the winner of the 2010 USGBC Natural Design Competition for emerging professionals in the state of Arkansas.

Matt brings a vast knowledge of Building Information Modeling to IONIC. Considered the future of the design and construction industry, BIM allows for better coordination between architects and engineers, contractors and architects, and provides project owners with great amounts of data to manage their facilities more efficiently long after construction.

 

www.ionicdezigns.com

 

Dahlia Pecka - Short Stop

Dahlia Pecka, Assoc. AIA
project manager

production coordinator

Dahlia comes to us from upstate New York as an Architect Intern working her way up into position of Project Manager. Her involvement in our firm at an early beginning in her career has allowed to tailor her education and provide an enormous amount of field experience. She has assisted other designers and architects within our office in the development of construction documents and has found that to be an interested focus thus far in her career.

Dahlia first began working with us as a college student and has worked several days a week during school and full time during summer and holiday breaks. Her enthusiasm and work ethics are comparable to none when it comes to her coordination and drive for perfection. Her employment with IONIC has proven beneficial for her own experience in addition to having been an excellent asset to the company. Our office benefits from the diversity she brings with her through her education and experience.

You can see much of her work on our website.
www.ionicdezigns.com

13 YEARS OF SUCCESS

It is hard to believe that we started IONIC over 13 years ago. A bit amazing at times when we realize it wasn't a planned agenda of beginning a design firm. It just kind of happened. Yeah, I know, you were hoping for some sort of giant planned organized development of a business plan sort of corporate agenda story.  Sorry to disappoint.
It just happened.

One day in the fall of 1999, I came home from work and told my wife I was going to quite my job....I had always told her that if I decided to leave the firm I was with that I would begin looking at other local firms.....it didn't quite happen that way. No planning, no preparation no searching for other work.  Just decided it was time to leave. Usually it is a good idea to find other employment before you give your resignation.  My method isn't highly recommended. But that was the way it happened.

We went to church the Sunday after my discussion with my wife, a normal occurrence with our family. I decided to ask the congregation for prayers has I intended to go in the next day to work and give my resignation. They thought I was a bit crazy.....brave, but crazy none the less. Prayers were certainly needed as we had four children and my wife was pretty much a homemaker. Yep, wisdom might not have been a major element of this decision but faith certainly was.

About four days later, I was coaching our boys in football when my team mom came up to me (she was team mom for the last five years) and said that she was impressed with my decision. Maybe that was her way of saying that I was crazy too. After all, I always wanted a full time job of volunteer coaching a recreation league football team for no pay.  Well, I do love football. She was the office manager of a major corporation and they were getting ready to do a full scale interior renovation of their local corporate headquarters.  Another friend and fellow coach was a general contractor and had offered to introduce me to several other architecture firms in the area if I was interested. Yet another football coach was a millwork fabricator and they all became part of the beginning of Ionic DeZign Studios. McDonald's Corporate office was our first project 13 years ago in downtown Norfolk.

I thank my friends Cheryl, Adam and Ron for supporting me and making sure I didn't goof something up on that firs project. I guess I should thank football too! Later still, a dad called my house to check when practice was scheduled for that evening and got a message saying to press one for IONIC, press two for Shaklee, press three for flute lessons and finally press four to reach the Thompson family. Yep, those early years we did all we could do to survive. Mike mentioned that he heard all the "stuff" on the answering machine and wondered what I did.  I guess I didn't do a very good at marketing back then  and had to explain that I was an architect. He mentioned that he might have a few things for me to do. That began a long relationship with many of our friends at Great Atlantic Properties. A few multi-family projects, a library, and office space and on and on. Thanks Mike for calling my house that afternoon!

That was 13 years ago when I worked out of my dining room in my home. The kids would interrupt their piano playing when the phone rang for business and then start right up where they left off once I set the phone down.  The dog would announce the arrival of the UPS or FEDEX man each day....who needs a doorbell? I painted the walls around me bright purple and the IONIC blue for inspiration....the same colors that now adorn our walls in Pembroke when we moved in 9 years ago.

We have grown a lot over the years.  Learned a lot too.  Made a bunch of friends and hopefully turned out a few really nice projects for our clients. Success is not measured by how much money you have  in the bank or even how many projects you have completed.  BTW we have completed nearly 1000 projects in these last 13 years. I believe it is measured by the relationships that you create along the journey. We have had a great journey so far.

Thanks again to all those that have supported us and we look forward to continuing our work for many years. We wish you the best from your friends at IONIC.

Be sure to look back at the blog over the next few weeks as we introduce the individual members of TEAM IONIC.
www.ionicdezigns.com

2012 Race for the Cure

October is finally here.  Not sure why I would say FINALLY, but 2012 has certainly flown by fast. This month is a busy month for IONIC as it has been a long time tradition to support the Race for the Cure. My mother-in-law is a two time breast cancer survivor so it has significant meaning to our family as I am sure it has with many others. Regaina and I got started running many years ago and the race came up on our agenda.  It was a fun group of people supporting a great cause. Shortly there after, we felt it was something as a firm that we needed to support. A little exercise and a little fun.

This year we joined forces with (AIA) American Institute of Architects and (WiD) Women in Design. Both are local Hampton Road Chapters that IONIC has active involvement in. A good group of people this time totalling 31 with 11 coming from IONIC.

The Thursday evening before, the team got together to celebrate, hand out race packets and congratulate those who contributed funds. Special attention to those in IONIC who helped with the event: Abby worked on the layout and design of the team t-shirt.  April was recognized as the most PINK!

A great time for all!
www.ionicdezigns.com