My name is Charles Hendricks and I am an architect, Rotarian, and father living in the Shenandoah Valley, Virginia. I design projects of all types and styles (residential, multi-family, office, commercial, school, ecclesiastical, industrial, new construction, renovation, modern, traditional, and contemporary) for a variety of clients. There is no project too small or too large, if you value design, I am thrilled to help.

In 2014, our firm was named “best small architectural firm” by the United States Green Building Council Best of Building Awards due to our work on sustainable, LEED Certified, EarthCraft Certified, and Energy Star projects in the residential, commercial, and industrial segments. We have been fortunate over the years to have clients that wanted to create buildings, businesses, and homes that are healthy, energy-efficient, and durable.

I have dedicated my professional life to learning as much as possible about building science and functional design solutions. After graduating from Virginia Western Community College in Roanoke, where I grew up, I graduated from the University Of Virginia School Of Architecture. I then spent several years working with Ray at Gaines Group Architects learning the trade before going to and graduating from The University of Tennessee School of Architecture with a MARCH degree. I have a diverse background of work experiences, from life-guarding, delivering newspapers, managing Burger Kings, a line cook in the kitchen at The Virginian Restaurant, and selling t-shirts at Mincer’s. All of these opportunities coupled with my studies at UVA, Tennessee, and hands-on in the field have provided me with the skills to be able to better deliver efficient and functional design solutions.

I am active in many community efforts including the Construction Specifications Institute, American Institute of Architects, National Home Builders Association), Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance, Harrisonburg Rockingham Chamber of Commerce, and the Shenandoah Valley Partnership. In addition, I volunteer my time to Eastern Mennonite School, Park View Mennonite Church Creation Care Committee, Rotary Club of Rockingham County, Harrisonburg Soap Box Derby, Bowl for Kid’s Sake, Real Men Wear Pink, Harrisonburg City Schools, and Massanutten Technical Center Foundation.

My greatest joy in life is being a father to Charlie’s Angels. My girls, Hannah and Sophia, and I live in Harrisonburg, VA.

Adrienne joined The Gaines Group in June 2006, just after graduating from the University of Virginia’s school of architecture. She is a project manager in the Charlottesville office, managing many of our Earthcraft multifamily projects. Adrienne has a special interest in accessible design and designing for aging-in-place thanks to her father-in-law who had been confined to a wheelchair due to MS. She also serves on the board of CSI, the Construction Specifications Institute, and has earned her CDT certification.

Adrienne lives at Lake Monticello with her husband, Andrew, their son, Alister, and their rescue pugs, Spudnik and Daisy. Andrew is an illustrator and graphic designer, and they travel to many different events with his business, Stronge Designs. Adrienne and Andrew also run a small business selling vintage toys, books, and other collectibles both online and at their antique store booths. Adrienne enjoys hunting at various thrift stores, yard sales, and flea markets for their business, or to add to their robot and space toy collection at home.

James Halstead has served as our Structural Design Director since 2013 and brings a depth and understanding of fundamental structural solutions and technologies. It’s common to overhear our team members collaborating on an idea and inevitably ask, “James, can we do this?” As often as it is said, James plays a critical role in ensuring the integrity of our work and making our ideas fit structurally into the overall design.

James is a native of Albemarle County and enjoys living and working in the community he was raised in. From a young age, he recalls his close relationship with his grandfather as a source of inspiration that guided his future. As a carpenter, his grandfather could construct almost anything, and James remembers learning as much as he could from him. These early years of learning how things were built led James to study at Piedmont College and eventually begin a career in structural design. He developed much of his skill set while working at a local engineering firm that partnered with the Gaines Group on numerous projects. Their partnership led to a strong relationship over the years, and it was a natural fit for James to join the team at the Gaines Group once his employer retired.

Since joining the firm, James has elevated our team’s ability to support all phases of the design process. His skill set allows our team to find solutions that meet overall design goals. In his words, “Charles and I make a good team. He creates the big picture and I help make it come together with all of the details.” He loves the wide range and diversity of projects but specifically enjoys working on custom residential designs. To date, his most memorable project was the Penn Laird custom home in which the design was centered around a full-size, half-court basketball court in the basement.

Outside of work, James devotes much of his time to his family and community and prioritizes spending time with his wife and daughter. He also serves as the Captain of the Reserve program at the Albemarle Sheriff’s Office and has been an active board member on the Fluvanna County Board of Building Code and Fluvanna County Planning Commission. When he has a free moment, you can also find James unwinding on the golf course.

With over forty years of experience, Raymond Gaines has built a reputation for quality, functional, and beautiful projects for hundreds of clients. Mr. Gaines’s background as a builder gives The Gaines Group, PLC their fundamental strength in designing buildings that work, that are economical to build, and that are aesthetically pleasing. Mr. Gaines Has been a Fellow of the Construction Specifications Institute since 2009 and is a Certified Construction Specifier.

We’re thrilled to introduce Lindsey Kohler-Austin, who has joined our team as Office Manager and will be your primary point of contact for all client needs. With her extensive background in banking and a genuine passion for creativity, Lindsey brings both professional expertise and a fresh perspective to our firm.

Lindsey describes herself as “an open book,” and that transparency will be invaluable as she helps navigate your architectural journey with us. Whether you’re planning a new build, renovation, or simply exploring possibilities, Lindsey will be there to ensure clear communication, smooth processes, and exceptional service every step of the way.

Aimee attended the University of Florida, earning a B.S. in Architecture with minors in Sustainability and Landscape Architecture. Now she works as a Designer at our firm.

She grew up in Palm Harbor, Florida, and is grateful to have come from a family of 6, saying “I am very grateful for this because having siblings is like having built-in friends, and they are some of my best ones.” Now in Virginia, she lives with her 8-year-old cat named Eloise.

Growing up in Florida, Aimee is no stranger to alligators. When asked about interesting facts about her hometown she says that alligators are everywhere, which lends itself to interesting stories such as the one where: “One time when I was a kid, I got out of taking out the trash because there was an alligator on our driveway next to the trash can.”

In her free time, she can be found making pottery, painting, crocheting, and watching movies. Her favorite TV show is NCIS because she loves to try to guess the outcomes and enjoys the suspense, and she also enjoys Parks and Rec when she’s in a lighter mood.

She describes herself as quirky and is appreciative of that characteristic because it helps make others more comfortable around her and creates a more lighthearted and fun environment.

A Virginia native, born in Harrisonburg and raised in Augusta County, Jarod grew up watching home renovation shows with his parents and looking at houses his grandparents were building. It was from these experiences at a young age that he knew that he wanted to immerse himself in the architecture field, first gaining a BS in Interior Design from Liberty University and now working towards licensure as an interior designer. In the future, his goals are set on becoming licensed architect.

Now Jarod works at our firm as an Interior Designer, helping to guide clients in the right direction when making interior and exterior material or design choices. He knows that there are countless options available to consumers looking to build both commercially and residentially, and he works to narrow down those options to help our clients find the “perfect fit.” Our approach as a firm is to make the design process fun and as low-stress as possible, so having Jarod’s skills help you through selections aligns well with that goal. He brings organizational and design experience from his previous job as Project Coordinator at W. Boutros and Company, INC.

When you meet Jarod, it won’t take you long to realize that he is an avid car lover. He enjoys all things car-related and one of his favorite pastimes is to go for a drive up the Blue Ridge Parkway with the windows down. It’s no surprise that he has also previously worked as a Product Specialist at CMAs Valley Honda. There he bolstered both his passion for cars as well as experience with customer relations.

Jarod takes pride in his work and, alongside working full-time as an Interior Designer, he works part-time as a graphic designer and digital designer for Standout Arts, LLC. Outside of work, Jarod enjoys spending time with friends and family, exploring nature and going on hikes, and traveling. He also enjoys taking on “some sort of more than likely unnecessary and time-consuming house repair.”

Finally, a unique fact about Jarod is that he grew up as an only child and an only grandchild. Now, he lives solo with his “obnoxiously large and obnoxiously cute & forgivable Great Pyrenees named Kevin.” He is grateful to live within 5 minutes of his family and usually spends a large portion of his weekends with them.

Emily started in our Charlottesville office in November 2024 after graduating from Virginia Tech having earned both a B.ARCH degree in architecture and a B.S. in Business Marketing.

In Emily’s spare time, you’ll find her hanging out with her family or finding a quiet space to read away from her three older brothers. When asked about something – big or small – she’s really bad at, she said she’s really bad at keeping a beat or a rhythm, blaming her dad for passing it down to her! On the other hand, she’s got a hidden talent for being able to draw anything with any media – we’re sure that talent adds to her skills as a designer.

In the future, Emily wants to visit Italy and discover her Italian roots, adding to her travel experience from visiting Ireland in college. She spent a semester abroad but was never quite able to make it over to Italy.

Elizabeth “Lizzy” McEwen is a recent Virginia Tech School of Architecture graduate who brings a fresh perspective and adventurous spirit to our firm.

What truly distinguishes Lizzy is her ability to balance bold adventure with meticulous craftsmanship. When she’s not designing, she’s seeking adventures—like paragliding off mountains in Switzerland. This pursuit demands the same careful attention to detail, spatial awareness, and calculated risk-taking that defines exceptional architecture.

On solid ground, Lizzy channels her creativity into building custom guitars with her fiancé. This perfect partnership sees her handling the design while he manages the circuitry, mirroring the interdisciplinary thinking that drives successful architectural projects by blending aesthetic vision with technical precision.

A current third-year Architectural Design major at James Madison University, Nicole Rowe brings a fantastic blend of fresh energy and a collaborative spirit to our team.

As our marketing intern, Nicole is already making waves by creating engaging social media content. Her goal? To tell our firm’s story, celebrate our amazing clients, and cultivate a stronger, more vibrant community. This work is vital not only for our business success but also for sharing best practices and highlighting the incredible community partners we work with. After all, our story is rooted in our commitment to using design to build a stronger, more inclusive future for everyone. Her love of design is deeply rooted in her early experiences working for her family’s construction company and caring for animals on her family farm—both teaching her the importance of patience, problem-solving, and building with care. When she’s not designing or creating engaging content for our firm, Nicole is making music on piano and guitar, blending structure with creativity much like she does in her design work.

Trevor Jones was raised in Buckingham County, Virginia. After high school, he attended Hampton University in Virginia, graduating in May 2015 with a Master’s of Architecture degree. He participated in the Hampton University travel studio traveling to France for three weeks learning and sketching the vernacular architecture which helped to expand his views of architecture.

Trevor volunteered with Buckingham County youth athletic programs, his church, and its choir.

Trevor passed away October 31, 2022.

Paul Tassell graduated from Albemarle High School in 1997 and continued on to Virginia Tech. There he earned his BS in Architecture degree in 2002. While at Tech, he traveled throughout Europe during his fall semester of 4th year. He has grown to admire the architecture of Italian architect Carlo Scarpa. Paul’s career started at Gaines Group Architects in 2002 where he serves as a staff architect. He earned his architectural license in 2016. Paul, a native a Charlottesville, is married to Linde and has 2 children. He enjoys playing soccer, coaching travel youth soccer, and is a nationally licensed coach. In his free time, Paul loves playing with his kids. They also enjoy our Virginia State Parks and love to go camping as a family.