SEVA design build

Suffolk News Herald

Entrepreneurial Woman of the Year

By Ashley McKnight-Taylor

Thursday, March 6, 2008 8:48 PM CST

As a woman who has succeeded in what was once a male-dominated field, Cathy McEntire knows the amount of hard work and dedication it takes to be at the top of the game.

This month, she will be honored for her talents.

The National Association of Women Business Owners, Southeastern Virginia Chapter, has named McEntire the 2008 Entrepreneurial Woman of the Year.

"It is an honor," she said.

The National Association of Women Business Owners is headquartered in Washington, D.C. The organization, with more than 80 chapters in the country, represents the interests of all women entrepreneurs in all types of businesses. Vivian M. Honeycutt, a past president of the Southeastern Virginia Chapter of NAWBO, said there were quite a few nominations this year.

The award recognizes women who own their own businesses and are examples of the entrepreneurial spirit of ingenuity, resourcefulness and community service. Nominees must be able to demonstrate success in leading a business and excellence in facing challenges, as well as demonstrate innovation.

McEntire more than fits the bill.

She knew from the early age of 10, after helping her father build family homes, that she wanted to be an architect. Despite being told that it was a man's job, and despite being the lone woman at the drafting table throughout her career, McEntire worked harder and smarter.

In 1999, she opened her own firm. What started as a one-woman operation now is McEntire Davis Architects, an eight-person team with an office in downtown Suffolk.

The firm has thrived, winning a multi-million dollar design contract for Department of Defense Homeland Security Projects, and being named Architect of Record for the Hampton Roads Transit Light Rail Project in Norfolk, as well as handling a variety of private sector projects, include several multiple story condominium buildings, office buildings and more.

After years of designing commercial projects, McEntire wanted to get back to her first love: building homes and seeing the project through construction. Nowadays, most architects don't have that luxury, she said. To make it happen, she started ArchiStructures Design-Build, a construction management division.

Having control over both the design and construction components gives McEntire and her staff the flexibility and freedom to create customs homes that meet owner's needs. Don't bother asking what style they do or if they have floor plans for sale; each and every project is unique to the client, she said.

"It's the most satisfying work that we do," McEntire said. "This is a one-on-one making a difference in people's lives."

McEntire said she was surprised to have been chosen the 2008 Entrepreneurial Woman of the Year, but figured it was her aforementioned efforts that led NAWBO to name her. Of course, it doesn't hurt that in the last three years she has seen 60 percent growth in revenue and doubled the size of her staff.

She doesn't consider herself a trailblazer in the industry as much as she hopes she is an example for young men and women - she would like them to see that women can be successful, can be leaders. To reach that point, though, it took more than her own determination, she said. Having a husband - Joe - who encouraged and sacrificed for her, as well as children who were understanding and proud, were keys to achieving her goals.

She is no stranger to recognition. The Business Community of Hampton Roads recognized her as "Outstanding Professional Woman" in 2003, and The Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce named her one of the "Rising 25" small businesses in 2005.

McEntire is on the board of directors of the Greater Suffolk Council and is a member of the North Suffolk Rotary Club, as well as various other professional organizations.

While McEntire is appreciative of the NAWBO award, she said she hopes one day honors like it won't exist.

"There will come a time when there is less of a need to award women," she said. "What I want to be recognized for is (being) an architect, as opposed to woman architect."