OUR STAFF

Michael Chusid, RA, FCSI, CCS
Principal
michael@chusid.com

Michael Chusid has more than 30 years of experience in the building products industry. Before starting Chusid Associates in 1985, Michael studied in Buckminster Fuller’s design department at Southern Illinois University, earned a master of architecture degree from University of Illinois, worked for Inryco – a major building product manufacturer, completed an architectural internship, and was director of specifications for a major architectural and engineering firm.

Michael is a licensed architect, a Fellow of the Construction Specifications Institute, and a Certified Construction Specifier. His architectural projects have won design awards from the American Institute of Architects and the American Society of Interior Designers. He is a member of Construction Writers Association, Specification Consultants in Independent Practice, and American Concrete Institute.

For additional information on Michael Chusid, click here to read “The Road Less Traveled”.

Sandra Goodman, PhD, CSI
Research Director
sandra@chusid.com

Sandra brings 30 years of experience in clinical psychology to the study of market behavior and the interpretation of customer attitudes and industry trends. Her interests also include color trend analysis, interior design in the workplace and sustainable design. She earned her BA at Mount Holyoke College and her master and doctorate degrees at California School of Professional Psychology – Los Angeles. She is currently a candidate in the Interior Design Program at the University of California Los Angeles and conducts design research and post-occupancy evaluations for a major architectural firm in Los Angeles.

Steven H. Miller, CDT
Writer and Creative Director
steven@chusid.com

An award-winning writer and photographer with over a quarter century of experience, his work has appeared in The Construction Specifier, Construction Canada, The Journal of the Post-Tensioning Institute, The Concrete Producer, The Los Angeles Times, The Village Voice, L.A. Weekly, and on numerous promotional websites and advertising campaigns. In addition to his extensive writings on construction materials, he has done promotional writing on topics as diverse as motion pictures, fashion retailing, law practice, travel, and real estate. He is also an internet pioneer, having created concept and content for some of the first promotional websites as early as Spring 1995.

OUR ASSOCIATES

Michael Chambers, FAIA, FCSI, CCS worked for many years as a marketing consultant to building product manufacturers before returning to architectural practice. He is recognized for his leadership in continuing education for design professionals.

 

Kenneth A. Hooker has been producing technical and marketing communications for the A/E/C industry for nearly 30 years. Before launching his consulting practice, he served in writing, editing, and management roles for Hanley Wood, USG Corporation, and CTLGroup (formerly Construction Technology Laboratories). Ken has built his career by expressing complex information in terms readers can understand and enjoy. His experience has encompassed trade journalism, both in print and online; brochures and collateral literature; website development; media relations; and editorial staff development, evaluation and training.

Vladimir Paperny, PhD is an award winning graphic designer, multimedia designer, photographer, video producer, and author. With a doctorate in architectural history, he has a profound understanding of how to manipulate visual information to communicate with architects and design professionals. He lectures worldwide on architecture and design and has written a series of articles for Architectural Digest for which he has interviewed the leading architects of the day including Frank Gehry, Richard Meier, Cesar Pelli, and others.

Vivian Volz, RA, CSI, CCS, LEED AP is a Certified Construction Specifier, the President of the San Francisco Chapter of CSI, and a licensed architect with sixteen years of experience in architecture and interior design. As Gensler’s Northwest Region Specifications Leader, Vivian prepared master specifications and trained architects to edit and coordinate project manuals. Vivian’s commitment to design detail has contributed to many awards for her projects and to LEED certification of many projects. Vivian is a CSI chapter leader and is a member of the Institute’s Strategic Planning Task Team.

Rico Mandel is an experienced hand at advertising, photography, and graphic design, including work for Putzmeister and Multiquip, leading producers of construction equipment. He is an accomplished fine art photographer, and is a trained chef with a degree from Cordon Bleu Schools.

Laurie Burton was on the faculty at the University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts for over twenty years teaching filmmakers and directors, in both graduate and undergraduate programs, how to work with actors and to develop their communication skills to improve their personal and professional effectiveness. Laurie enjoys international recognition as one of the innovators in redefining the way people present themselves and thus providing the key to the art of expressive communication. She has worked extensively with thousands of individuals in her seminars and with dozens of Fortune 500 companies such as IBM, Mattel Toys, Digital Equipment, Merrill Lynch, ITT and, most recently,Twentieth Century Fox. She has helped people at all levels break through corporate communication barriers to establish a fresh and revolutionary new way to train people. Laurie has created the opportunity for people to overcome self-imposed limitations. Her breakthrough techniques teach the art of expressive communication in an enjoyable and accessible way. Through Laurie’s work, people enhance and strengthen their personal and professional lives and build newly energized, affirming and honest relationships with others.

Eric C. Stovner, S.E., CSI, LEED AP is a structural engineer with unparalleled expertise in the design and investigation of structural systems and materials.  Eric earned his Bachelor of Science in Architectural Engineering at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, and is licensed in New York and registered in California.  He has been in responsible charge of numerous successful, innovative and award-winning structures, with specialties including entertainment engineering and historic preservation.

Mike Mehlhoff, PE, MBA was in charge of new product development at Weyerhaeuser and responsible for the launch of several innovative building products. He has also been the facilities manager for a regional bank with responsibility for a wide-ranging construction program, an engineering and management consultant for many construction material producers, and the president or general manager of several building product companies.

Will Sherwood has an internationally-recognized advertising, graphic design, integrated marketing, and digital media practice with more than 20 years of experience helping clients achieve success by design. After identifying a client’s unique vision, he romances the benefits of their product or service, combining striking visual images with prose crafted to arrest attention, inspire clients and prospects to fantasize about ownership, and capture customer loyalty.

JD Standridge can help you get your next plant or business off the ground. He is an experienced Plant Manager, the type that can actually figure out what type of plant you need, design it, get it built, acquire the production equipment, and create plant operating procedures. He has worked at the leading edge of Building Information Modeling to create systems that can interface with the designer and run automated production lines. He has also been valuable to our clients in working with Building Code Agencies to get manufacturers quality assurance manuals approved.

OUR NETWORK

Chusid Associates also maintains an extensive network of experts in all aspects of construction and marketing. In addition, many of our past and current clients are also available as a brain trust to offer insight into your marketing opportunities.