WHHA + Ionic DeZign Studios expands RVA office

With the new year arriving we have BIG news.....We are getting BIGGER!

Eugene has been working with the landlord in Richmond at our current office location on Church Rd to extend our office footprint so we can accommodate additional design and production staff. The expanded office will allow for an additional eight design members plus give office space for general administration and an executive office for Eugene no that he will be spending more time in RVA assisting the growth of the firm.

The new space will allow for the creation of an open office plan in the production area much like we already have in Virginia Beach. The principle and founder of Ionic DeZign Studios, Eugene says, "The new renovations will promote the interaction of the design team during the collaboration of a project development. We have been successful with this concept in Virginia Beach and feel it will likewise be so in Richmond."

While WHHA previously focused primarily on church and other religious centered projects. With the merging of the two firms, Eugene indicated, "We are beginning to focus on introducing our current VB portfolio of offices, retail, restaurants and financial institutions. In order to do so, the interior renovations will depict our design skills and creativity for these markets. We have excelled in using technology to help promote our designs and present our concepts. The plan for the renovated conference rooms, materials library and reception will continue that theme. We look forward to sharing the new space with our clients and consultants."

WHHA + Ionic DeZign Studios hopes to have an open house in the fall to share in the new renovations and celebration of the first year of combined firms. The new space will reflect the vitality and creativity that has embodied the firm over the many years in business. It is expected to be unique in nature and surely a one of a kind statement. Eugene will likely create some of the architectural features himself. "Expect to see some fun ideas presented in the custom light fixtures, conference tables and reception desk just like we have done in VB. It has become a little bit of a 'brand expectation' that our clients see one of a kind chandlers or some type of lighting made by us for their spaces. We will continue to share those ideas within our own walls."

Those interested in joining our team add becoming associates of a fast growing and rewarding design practice, please reach out and contact us with your resume at info@WHHAdezigns.com. We would love to chat with you after the adventure we are planning.

Be on the look out for an invite this fall for RVA but until then feel free to join us at our Open House Event in VB on the 18th of February. We look forward to seeing everyone and sharing in our continued growth.

Eugene Thompson

Founder + President

Ionic DeZign Studios, Inc.

"Where art and architecture come together."

www.ionicdezigns.com

www.WHHAdezigns.com

Team IONIC welcomes Cami Hahn

We are all very excited about Cami joining our family here at Ionic DeZign Studios. She will be our new Director of Business Development as we continue to grow and expand.

Cami Hahn joined Ionic Dezign Studios in November of 2015. Mrs. Hahn is a successful sales & marketing professional with over 25 years of securing business to business sales in the fields of architecture, economic development, commercial flooring and packaging.  She has extensive experience interacting with corporate CEO’s, CFO’s and related industry professionals.  Prior to joining IONIC, Cami spent 13 plus years successfully directing business development and marketing activities for a similarly sized Virginia Beach based architectural and interior design firm.    Previous experience includes four years as a Global Project Manager with the Virginia Economic Development Partnership attracting new business investment and jobs to the Commonwealth of Virginia as well as being a territory manager with Shaw Commercial Carpets. She has a BS in Finance from Virginia Tech and is an active member of several commercial real estate and economic development organizations.  In 2010 she was honored by Inside Business Magazine as one of the region’s “Top Women in Business” and is a 2014 graduate of the CIVIC Leadership Institute.

 

EDUCATION: 

B.S. Finance, 1989, Virginia Tech

 

Current Industry & Community Association Participation:

CIVIC Leadership Institute

HRACRE:  Board of Directors, 2005 – Present

CREW Hampton Roads:  Charter Director, 2004 – 2009, & 2011, Past President (2008)

VEDA (Virginia Economic Developers Association) 1998 – Present

Hospice House of South Hampton Roads, Charter Director & Secretary 2015 - Present

We are all excited about what the future brings us in 2016 and beyond and look forward to making and securing relationships and the opportunities they provide.

D. Eugene Thompson, AIA

Ionic DeZign Studios, Inc.

President + Founder

"Creating places and spaces that enrich the lives of those who use them."

Expanding and Hiring in RICHMOND

Team IONIC seeks additional talent

Ionic DeZign Studios is looking for several positions for our new expansion into the Richmond market. Production Architect

Junior Architect/Designers

IONIC is a Virginia Beach based Architecture and Interiors firm along with its newly acquired location in Richmond, WHHA + Ionic DeZign Studios. We work on a variety of project types, including retail, restaurants, hospitality, corporate offices, mixed-use and commercial, financial, municipality projects as well as a being a significant player in Religious Architecture. WHHA formerly known as Wm Henry Harris and Associates has a strong history of over thirty years doing work in the church community. IONIC is a firm that strives to set the bar higher in terms creativity and ingenuity throughout the design process. Team IONIC is about relationships. Within a supportive and mentorship philosophy, IONIC provides a climate where you'll succeed and be a part of a continuously growing and evolving family of designers.

We are immediately seeking individual/(s) to join our team specifically in the Richmond office but possibly both offices for new construction and renovation type work. Bulk of Richmond work is church related however we will be expanding our portfolio of work in that office. Junior Architect/Designers responding must be capable of working on multiple projects in various phases simultaneously. Proficient in Revit, AutoCad and 3D Max is preferred for production of construction documents. Must work well with others for team collaboration. 

We also seek a Production Leader for the Richmond office capable of multi-functioning and coordinating all work within the office as well as with our Virginia Beach office. Organizational skills are a must as well as leadership qualities. Responsibilities include managing projects, coordinating work, creating construction documents, time management of others. Qualified individual would initially meet and understand workings of Virginia Beach office to fully understand how the expanded practice will function.

Qualifications Summary:

Completion of three to five years in architectural degree program.
Minimum of 3 years total professional experience; experience required in construction documents; beneficial for all other phases of project work including preparation of conceptual, schematic, design development and supporting materials.

Proficient in AutoCad, Revit a plus.
Licensed or actively seeking licensure.

Send resume and references to info@ionicdezigns.com

D. Eugene Thompson, AIA

Team IONIC welcomes Bart McElfresh

Ionic DeZign Studios is excited to announce our new design team member Bart McElfresh. Bart joins us from a well established career participating in the design and development of many many church projects throughout Hampton Roads.

Previously with Barnes Design Group as an Assoicate, Bart was directly responsible for a sizeable number of projects handled from the initial client contact through long range master planning concepts,  preliminary/final building design, construction drawings and consultant coordination, negotiated (partnered) bidding and construction administration.
He  has been the lead Design Architect on more than 300 church projects which have varied in scope from small additions and renovations to the design of entirely new facilites, some of which approached or exceeded the 500,000 SF threshold. 

Notable buildings around the Hampton Roads area designed by Bart include  the Calvary Revival Church facility adjacent to Military Circle Mall, Christ The King Catholic School Cafeteria addition on Tidewater Drive in Norfolk, the New Life Deep Creek facility on Shell Road, Oak Grove United Methodist Church in Great Bridge, the initial River Oak Church facility off of 168 in Great Bridge, and most recently the Jolliff United Methodist Church expansion in Chesapeake. Other projects in Hampton Roads he has designed include Thomas & Thomas Dental Practice in the Great Bridge area of Chesapeake, VA, Plaza Azteca Restaurant adjacent to Chesapeake Square Mall and the Town Center IHOP site retail redevelopment in Virginia Beach. 

We are excited about him being involved in our new growth into the church market especially after our recent acquisition in Richmond of the newly rebranded WHHA + Ionic DeZign Studios. A valuable added asset to our team in helping establish IONIC not only as a local anchor for all church work but securing us as the "go-to-architect' on the east coast.

Welcome to the team Bart!

www.ionicdezigns.com

www.WHHAdezigns.com

Creating places and spaces that enrich the lives of those who use them.

You Got Your Peanut Butter on My Chocolate

Do you remember that old commercial.....okay maybe I'm certainly dating myself now. I don't remember how long ago that was advertised on television.

Regardless, if you haven't already heard.....IONIC and WHHA are now one firm. In seeking to grow and provide more and better services to our clients, Ionic DeZign Studios has come together .....like peanut butter and chocolate.....SWEET! with William Henry Harris & Assoc. Our office in Richmomd now supports our long endeavors to participate in more church relat d architecture.

Please take a look at our website.....it is still under construction.....but getting there, and check out some of our work. We will be adding some new projects soon that are under construction as well as just beginning construction documentation.

2016 looks to be a fantastic year....thank you for allowing us to serve you.

D. Eugene Thompson, AIA

President + Foumder

Ionic DeZign Studios

www.ionicdezigns.com 

www.WHHAdezigns.com

Check out our Facebook pages too!

Creating places and spaces that enrich the the lives of those who use them.

NERVE 2015 - Nashville

Be Legendary! For my first experience at a global EO function, this was LEGENDARY! The amount of learning and note taking I did over the few days we stayed in Nashville was massive. About 50 pages of written notes filled my iPad. I tried to capture all that I could. Numerous speakers filled my head with self-motivation and focus on being a better leader and business man. They provided I site how to grow your business to points that are beyond your expectations. They encouraged you to share your knowledge with your own team/staff and allow them to better their abilities.

Each day was filled with speakers during the day and networking opportunities each evening. From keynote speakers to breakout sessions and even celebrity country singers, Nashville was filled with more than I could imagine. To make a choice of which breakout speaker I intended on hearing was probably the toughest decision. None we bad....all were awesome. I emerged with an enormous amount of learning.....including a pile of books to add to my reading list! I can't wait to get through them all.

I connected with several individuals including the great Jack Daly. What a huge motivator! Not only did I hear him speak but got the opportunity to run with him Thursday morning and chat a bit. There were about a dozen of us. I feel I am going to be adding an Ironman to my bucket list. What an amazing way to start off my first Global EO experience!

 

Day one was filled with multiple speakers (9 in total) brain was about to explode and I filled my iPad with notes. Here is my day one take-aways. There were many!

Verne Harnish: Locamotion of Species; "With enough pieces of ribbon I could conquer the planet", Napoleon; The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing; In the 21st century we are not confined to our four walls; Passion Purpose & Persistence.

John DiJulius: They don't put people in Disney, they put Disney in people; Day in the Life of a Customer; Making price irrelevant; SIGN: We do $10 haircuts....SIGN: We fix $10 haircuts!; Customer Bill of Rights...never & always.

Jack Daly: Systems and Processes; If you don't have an assistant you are one; Vision = Magnetic + Compelling; Keep people in Key spots; Hire slowly, Fire quickly; Always looking for the number 1 salesman.

Cameron Herold: The little engine that could, I think I can; Ride the roller coaster and scream, or wave and laugh.

Tim Corbin: people are like: Marshmallow-soft outside and inside, Jelly Bean-hard on outside and soft in the middle, Rock-hard on both because of experience; Life isn't fair, it rewards us on its own clock; Don't judge every season by the outcome of the last game; The first part of teaching is trust.

Ron Friedman: Intelligent risk taking; Mistakes are the tuition you pay for success; Exercise makes you smarter.

Biz Dev Done Right: Right Target, Right Message, Right Answers to objections, Right Door Opener, Right execution; 1st 10% improvement, 2nd 10% price change.

Andy Bailey: 7000 thoughts in one day, only ONE task account mp,I shed at a time; You get what you're focused on.

Tommy Spaulding: His story was amazing.....can't wait to read the book after listening to him for just a few minutes.

And the the day was over and off we went to dinner. Right there in the hotel at the Country Music Hall of Fame with entertainment by John Rich who had spoke to us earlier in the day too.

 

All in all it was a fantastic event with lots to learn from. A great time getting to know my fellow members and many of their wives better as well as a lot of others from around the country.

 

D. Eugene Thompson, AIA

Ionic DeZign Studios

 

www.ionicdezigns.com

www.WHHAdezigns.com

 

Team IONIC welcomes Melinda

Melinda joined IONIC in September 2015 after relocating to Virginia from Colorado. Since receiving her communications degree from Oklahoma State, she has explored all aspects of her field of study. Melinda expanded her technical skills and experience as the videographer and editor for a state training agency in Oklahoma. From there, she gained valuable experience as a project manager and grant writer for a small agency in Colorado. Most recently, she began polishing her marketing skills while working as an executive assistant at a financial planning company. 

Melinda brings a varied skill set as she joins the team at Ionic DeZigns. Her experience will allow IONIC to expand their presence in additional markets along the east coast and throughout the mid and southwest. Effective in communications, Melinda will promote further awareness of IONIC's architecture and design talents through various websites and social media venues. Her former project management experience will allow her to effectively help with CA and assist the project managers.