SEI Design Group BlogBlog about news, information, happenings and mojo at SEI Design Group

One of our favorite sites, A Daily Dose of Architecture, had a post about J. Crew including Charles Renfro in an ad campaign showing how different men personalized one of their suits.  As you can see from the picture, it was all about the socks.  Question to all readers:  do you rock your socks?  If so, send us a picture of your socks by 1/31/12 2/6/12.   One lucky winner will get some new socks in this deal.  SEI friends and family may participate in this contest.  Let’s hear it for the socks!

We hope you are enjoying the holidays and preparing for a great New Year.  We thought you might enjoy some moments from the Rochester and Albany holiday parties earlier this month.

The hit of the Rochester party was “Architect Barbie”, as demonstrated by Bill.  Nancy Mountain did the Michael Jackson walk and it got her a visit to Next Door Restaurant.  Jimmi rocked the hat for a while and Karin had to actually bake after attending the party.  Kelly also rocked the hat, but seemed to enjoy air hockey much more, and it looks like Tom Caruso actually went home with the hat.  Last but not least, Office “Mom” (Manager), Paula looking lovely as ever with husband, Chris.

The Albany party was a lot of laughs and it looks like Armand is now working for SEI, or maybe Lisa is?  Matt Schools proclaims world peace, and Russ looks aggravated over whatever the women are enjoying.  Obviously there were also some serious moments (check the last photo).

As usual, you can click the photos to see them larger.

The Albany crew recently had a baby shower for Matt Schools and his wife, Sarah. The Schools are anticipating a new female arrival this February.

Recently, SEI Design Group hosted the first, hopefully to become annual, SEI Chili Cook-Off.  SEI staff brought in their homemade chili recipes and let them simmer all morning throughout the office.  At lunch everyone convened at the second floor conference table to partake in some spicy tastings. There were a variety of entries including a turkey chili, a venison chili, two types of Cincinnati chili, and two traditional chilis with kick!
Cooks included Kurt Vater, Kelly Wobser, Beth McFarlane, Ted Mountain and Brian Cieslinski. Other tasters/judges included Karen Caruso, Steve Staveski, Paula Cisterna, Bill Serow and Jim VanSchaffel.

Prizes were awarded as follows:

Fan Favorite
Prize:  $25 gift card to Chili’s Restaurant went to Ted Mountain with his stewed tomato base chili with Frito chips, sour cream and cheese.

Most Hot
Prize: (3) bottles of hot sauces; Tropical Pepper Co. XXXXtra Hot Habanero Pepper Sauce, Tabasco Chipotle, Tiger Sauce, went to Kelly Wobser with her venison chili and cheese accompanied with corn bread and honey butter.

A good time was had by all, and the jar of Tums is nowhere to be found. 

Thanks to Kurt Vater for organizing the event.

On Saturday, SEI participated again in a really great charity event, Canstruction. This is a design build competition for design professionals and students using cans. All the building materials (canned goods) get donated to food kitchens at the end of the event.   Since 1992, Canstruction has donated over 10 million pounds of food.  In Rochester, the cans are donated to Foodlink after the event.

Our entry ~ GENESEE Fed is on display and the Award Gala is this Friday in the Bausch and Lomb Wintergarden.   (read more)

The SEI Design Group Build Team

SEI: Brad Moreland (Team Captain), Jimmi Van Shaffel, Ted Mountain, Steve Staveski, Kelly Wobser, Kiel Wobser, Brian Cieslinski, Kurt Vater

Rochester City School District: Charles Nash, Andrew Hylton, and their mentors, William Broome (RCSD) and Wayne Williams (Gilbane)

We want to thank our sponsors: Engineered Solutions, M/E Engineering, Watchdog, Campus Construction Management, Walmart, and Genesee Brewing Company for helping us to compete.

As in 2010, 2009, and 2008, the Rochester office of SEI Design Group participated in the The Chase Corporate Challenge 2011.  Congrats to all who finished the race and thanks to Team Captain Ted Mountain who got us a prime spot for our tent.

The Albany office( and friends) participated in 2 events this spring, the most recent being the Friehofers Run shown here.

Jimmi and Karin welcomed Eli James Van Schaffel to their family on October 7, 2010.  Eli, turned out to be quite the bruiser, weighing in at 11 pounds 6 ounces.   We are not sure that “little” is the right adjective for a shirt that Eli is wearing! 

Congrats to Jimmi, Karin, and “big” sister Leiana.

The Albany office threw a shower for Laura in advance of her upcoming wedding.  Looks like a good time was had by all, and the decorations were very well coordinated!

It was all in good fun when we decided to have a surprise April Fool’s Party.  Brian led the charge with the grill in the parking lot for a great lunch and then we had some funny April Fool’s Day trinkets for all.  It wouldn’t be April Fool’s Day without some pranks, but the studio didn’t take kindly to one of the little annoyances, or rather the “annoyatron”.  Brian got the payback, but it wasn’t even his gig.  By the time they figured out that it was orchestrated by yours truly, there was a big payback being planned.  It was certainly more creative than the former antic.  Jimmi made 3 Star Wars movies with the partners taking parts from Brian as Luke Skywalker to myself as Princess Leia as you can see in the picture.

I promise to take an official picture once my hair is done up in that “doo”.  Unfortunately I didn’t publish this in a timely fashion, therefor the “uncle”.  An upcoming post will explain the ramifications.

As in 2009, and 2008, SEI Design Group participated in the The Chase Corporate Challenge 2010.  Congrats to all who finished the race despite the rain during the race.  As the race was finishing, the sun appeared and there was a beautiful rainbow.  Team Captain Ted Mountain says he doesn’t smoke, but here is Smokin’ Hot Ted in all his glory at the end of his 5K run.