MEET OUR TEAM
MARGIE LONGSHORE, AIA
President
A graduate of Auburn University, Margie has practiced architecture in the Charleston area since 2000, and in 2021, she became president of SMHa. With a deep appreciation for the rich architectural and cultural context of the South Carolina Lowcountry, Margie appreciates the opportunity for the firm’s design work to contribute to the overall sense of place and character of the area. Over recent years, her work has focused adaptive reuse, renovation, and educational projects. She serves as a mentor for students at Clemson’s Architecture Center in Charleston, is a member of the Charleston County Historic Preservation Commission, and is a Past Board Member of AIA SC and Past President of AIA Charleston.
CHRIS ALTMAN, AIA
Vice President
Chris received both his Bachelor's and Master's in Architecture from Clemson University, and in 2019, he became a partner at SMHa. Chris believes that, through good design and planning, our built environment can have a positive impact on our daily lives and add to the rich heritage of the Lowcountry. He is an avid outdoorsman, and on a crisp fall day, Chris can be found on a creek or in the woods enjoying the wonderful natural environment he, his wife, and two boys calls home.
BILLY CONNELL, AIA
Vice President
Raised in Mount Pleasant, Billy Connell, AIA, is a graduate of Clemson University and North Carolina State University. Named Vice President in 2019, Billy focuses much of his work on civic and municipal projects, bringing extensive experience and passion especially to larger, complex projects. He enjoys working closely with the Owner’s leadership and staff to get to the heart of their project goals and solve their specific issues. Billy’s valuable leadership on projects like the Town of Mount Pleasant Municipal Complex and City of North Charleston Public Works Complex benefit residents through the delivery of high-quality projects that realize the goals of the community.
JEFF JOHNSTON, AIA
Vice President
A graduate of Auburn University, Jeff believes architects have a responsibility in providing spaces that exceed client needs and enhance our culture by creating proudly inheritable structures for future generations. Jeff is proud to be third generation in the construction field and, as a child, remembers visiting model homes under construction, fascinated with how all of the pieces fit together. All these years later, he is still in love with buildings and has found even more depth and joy to this profession and the people he works with and for. Jeff is a local leader in the field of architecture, having served on the City of Charleston's Design Review Board and currently on the Daniel Island Architectural Review Board and Point Hope Design & Use Board.
CHARLES MULDROW, AIA, NCARB
Founding Partner
Charles is a founding principal of SMHa along with Sidney Stubbs (retired) and Sam Herin. A graduate of Clemson University's Bachelor's and Master's in Architecture, Charles is an advocate for architectural excellence in design and building performance and believes architects have only succeeded when the building solves the complex array of technical issues imposed and lifts the spirits of its users. He is quick to note that the firm’s award-winning designs are a result of the collaboration amongst its very talented staff who all share a profound sense of responsibility in how architecture influences and contributes to the beautiful South Carolina Lowcountry.
SAM HERIN, AIA, NCARB
Founding Partner
Sam Herin is a South Carolina native, past president of AIA SC and member of Mount Pleasant's Design Review Board, and has been named Architect of the Year by Charleston Contractors’ Association. Sam received both his Bachelor's and Master's from Clemson University, where he met his wife Tamie. Sam most enjoys the challenge of developing creative solutions that are responsive not only to the aesthetic design goals of the client but also to their economic and technological goals. He is proud of the SMHa staff for receiving the AIA South Carolina Firm Award and being named Architectural Firm of the Year by the Charleston Contractor’s Association.
JENNIFER SCHUTTE, AIA
Project Architect
Jennifer enjoys exploring new building concepts and materials, as well as figuring out how best to achieve the needs of its users. Each client, site, and building has its own unique goals and challenges that must be explored and creative solutions developed in order for the project to be successful. What excites Jennifer the most about architecture is that it is one of the few professions that people engage every day through the places we live, work, and play, and her goal is to make these encounters positive - even inspiring - and to build lasting relationships along the creative journey. A graduate of Kansas State University, Jennifer has been honored with three Council of Educational Planners International Awards.
BROOKE RIESBERG-LYNESS, AIA
Project Architect
A Charleston native and Auburn University graduate, Brooke is the daughter of a forensic architect. From an early age, an awareness of our built environment, problem solving, and high attention to detail were ingrained in her. She's also always been intrigued with how buildings are such an integral part of our lives and how their design can impact our quality of life. Brooke’s focus on historic restoration and renovation comes from her belief that the most sustainable building is the one that’s already built, and she has a passion for discovering and adding a new chapter to the story of a building and its occupants and loves the challenge of problem solving within existing constraints.
EMILY LIOLLIO, AIA
Project Architect
A lover of storytelling, Emily feels that what gives a story such a sense of place, identity, and anchor is its physical setting, and these settings profoundly affect our lives with many of our memories dwelling within a specific building or structure. A graduate of Virginia Tech, Emily was drawn to architecture because she wanted to create these settings within which people live their stories. For architecture to be good, Emily believes it must be functional, spatially well organized, aware of both the natural world and the human scale, and it must be of its time, place and culture. She is most inspired by the work of true creative geniuses, of people who see the world in a different light than the rest of us yet are able to share that vision.
SAMANTHA MEINDERS, AIA
Interior Architect & Designer
Samantha grew up around construction and graduated from Oklahoma State University. Her father was a Navy Seabee, and when he wasn’t building something for the military, he was working on a project for the family. Samantha and her family even built her parent’s retirement home from the ground up. As an adult, she still loves creating things we can see, move through, and rely on and believes architecture is the perfect juncture of logic and art. Architects solve problems with space, material, light, and color. Everything has reason, and when done correctly, there is beauty. Fully understanding the client’s vision is the first step, and then bringing that vision to life while surpassing the client’s expectations creates the most beautiful solution.
CORINNE CORTE, AIA
Interior Architect & Designer
Interior architecture and design is in Corinne’s DNA. The daughter of a scientist and an artist, her love of both art and applied reason and logic made architecture a natural fit. Not afraid to get her hands dirty while also passionate about leaving the world a better place, Corinne is hands-on with clients, helping them discover innovative solutions that are not only esthetically pleasing but also sustainable. She developed this skill set while at her alma mater UNC-Charlotte, where she had the privilege to work on the Solar Decathlon house competing with international teams to design the most energy efficient home.
HAYLEY MILLER
Architectural Intern
Fascinated by the downtown city grid in Hayley’s hometown of Chicago, she became intrigued by the making of our built environment. With every place, various in scale and in function, she was captivated by their success in providing unique experiences for the end user. She then found this same connection in the Lowcountry while studying at the Clemson Design Center in Charleston. Hayley believes we should feel a strong personal relationship in the places we spend time, and as a designer, she is eager to create those spaces.
ERIN DOERING
Architectural Intern
A Lowcountry native and daughter of a cabinet maker, Erin’s love for design, dedication to craft, and improving communities drew her to join the world of architecture. With Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees from Clemson University, Erin realizes the importance of designing a sense of place in a sustainable way. Through her studies at the Clemson Design Center in Downtown Charleston, she participated in its design-build program to increase her knowledge and appreciation for well-crafted design that serves the client’s vision.
IAN KROHN
Architectural Intern
Growing up in Chicago, Ian was fascinated by the urban landscape, with its varying buildings and forms, instilling in him a desire to design buildings that coexist within the built environment while standing the test of time. A graduate of Auburn University, Ian was drawn to Charleston to realize his passion of commercial building revitalization and to design in a way that blends the new with the treasured historic.
CAMERON KRAUS
Architectural Intern
A South Carolina native, Cameron received his Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Design from Auburn University. Cameron was drawn to architecture to contribute to creating a better built environment for our everyday lives and believes architecture is where logic meets creativity, in which the design not only needs to be aesthetically pleasing beautiful but also has to function effectively.
SARAH EDWARDS
Architectural Intern
Receiving both her Bachelor's and Master's in Architecture from Wentworth Institute of Technology, Sarah started her career in the Boston area before relocating to Charleston, a dream come true for Sarah as she vacationed here with her family as a young child and is continually inspired by how buildings and spaces evoke feelings and a sense of place, with the power to improve communities and creatively solve problems. An avid traveler, Sarah has visited more than 25 countries on 6 continents and enjoys wandering the aisles of local bookstores and libraries. She also seeks ways to give back to her community and regularly volunteers for various causes, including the ACE Mentor Program.
RICKY JONES
Construction Administrator
A Charleston native, Ricky has been a leader in the A/E/C industry for over 40 years, overseeing numerous projects across the Tri-County, including the construction of SMHa’s office years ago. A graduate of the College of Charleston, Ricky is a South Carolina Licensed General Contractor. He and his wife have been married for over 40 years and are active members of St. Andrews Church.
MARIE DELCIOPPO
Executive Director of Marketing & Business Development
With a dedication to serving her childhood home, Marie is proud to share SMHa's commitment to this region through sustainable and appropriate architecture. A graduate of University of Florida, Marie returned to Charleston where she has served on Charleston City Council, Berkeley County Board of Elections & Voter Registration, Berkeley County Sheriff's Office Citizen Advisory Board, March of Dimes Signature Chefs Auction Gala chair, National Alliance on Mental Illness, and National Eating Disorders Association. Additionally, she volunteers with several local arts-based organizations, including The Gibbes Museum of Art.
ERIN BRANHAM
Office Manager
A Charleston native, Erin graduated from the University of Alabama, after which she quickly returned home to begin her career and family. Erin's warm, welcoming personality and organization skills keep the office running smoothly while, at the same time, providing an exceptional experience for our clients. She is a proud wife and mother of two and enjoys playing tennis, traveling, and spending time on the boat and outdoors with her family.
TAMIE HERIN
Finance Manager
A graduate of Clemson with a Bachelor's in Design, Tamie quickly found her niche in the business side of architecture. Her contributions to the firm's finances and business management afford architects the time to focus on what they most enjoy: bringing clients' dreams to reality.