GMK Adds Construction Project Manager Interiors Division

COLUMBIA, SC – GMK Associates, Inc., announced today Joni L. James has joined the firm’s Interiors Division as a construction project manager. In this role, Ms. James will oversee individual construction projects delivered through GMK’s “Pink Hard Hat” design-build delivery method.

Throughout her career, Ms. James has exhibited strong managerial and planning skills in a variety of professional environments. Most recently, she served as the director of security and facilities for South Carolina State Credit Union where she was responsible for the planning, development, budgeting, and on-time completion of facility construction projects. For example, she maintained full responsibility for oversight and management through completed construction of multiple new or upgraded credit union branch facilities, as well as a new 40,000-sf operational center. Prior to her work in the construction industry, she held positions of progressive levels of responsibility within the Loss Prevention Division of Macy’s.

“We are extremely pleased to add Joni’s managerial and construction oversight skills to our staff,” said Barbara Summerford, president of GMK’s Interiors Division. “As our firm continues to expand its menu of services in the senior living environment, Joni adds additional construction management depth to our current talent pool of interior designers.”

Ms. James has studied business at Coastal Carolina University and Midlands Technical College and is extremely active in multiple philanthropic organizations and causes, including the Richland County Sheriff’s Foundation, the Ray Tanner Foundation, and the Reece Holbrook Win Anyway Foundation.

As one of five distinct divisions of GMK Associates, Inc., GMK Interiors has a national reputation specifically in senior living/retirement, continuing care retirement community (CCRC), resident-centered care, hospice, and hospitality facility design and construction. GMK Interiors delivers enhanced design environments that drive heightened marketability of facilities through traditional interior design and innovative delivery methods such as limited design/build services (known as Pink Hard Hat). 

GMK Associates, Inc. (www.gmka.com) is a multi-disciplinary planning, design, and construction services firm focused on the healthcare, education, government, utility, senior living, and hospitality industries. Established in 1966, the firm is based in Columbia, SC, with satellite offices in Greenville, SC, Raleigh, NC, and Augusta, GA. GMK employs close to 70 professionals and is comprised of five distinct divisions — architecture, engineering, interior design, design-build, and construction services.