Meet Myles Perdue, one of our newest designers at Gaines Group Architects. Originally from the U.S. Virgin Islands on the Island of St. Croix, Myles has called Winchester home since he was 5 years old. He attended James Madison University, picking it for their architectural program. He found that JMU Architecture has a different approach to design that intrigued him over other architectural programs. The first time he stepped on campus and got to explore Harrisonburg, he knew that it could be home away from home.

Myles’ interest in architecture focuses on the relationship of the built environment and the human experience. He loves the way that architects are able to sculpt spaces that have a positive impact on people’s lives. He says “I have seen cold dark spaces that zap the energy out of a room and bright warm spaces that invigorate those in that space. I hope to design better spaces that encourage and uplift the people using those spaces.”

He first joined Gaines Group Architects in a part-time capacity while finishing his four years at James Madison University, gaining valuable experience. Upon graduating in May 2023, Myles joined our team as a full-time Designer (Architect in Training). Outside of Architecture, he has also worked on campus as an orientation peer advisor and residential advisor. He loves the idea of giving back to the JMU community and this support of his peers is just one way he accomplishes this goal.

In his free time, he enjoys being involved in campus organizations and hanging out with friends. He loves to eat out and some of his favorite spots are Hokkaido, Billy Jack’s, and CiCi’s. Myles plays dodgeball and volleyball intramural staying active and reducing stress. He also likes to relax watching Netflix reality shows like Love is Blind and Married at First Sight. Another way he gives back to his community of peers is volunteering with JMU SafeRides, an organization dedicated to the fight against drunk driving. They operate Friday and Saturday nights from 10:00 pm – 3:00 am.

Myles says that his mother, Anabel, always encourages him to be great and supports him through everything. He is a strong believer in finding inspiration in everything, including family and friends. He is inspired by people who don’t let barriers get in the way of their goals and those that can resist the urge to bite their fingernails.

Originally from Ukraine, Mariya moved to the United States when she was two years old. She holds a special place in her heart for Ukraine, but considers Harrisonburg to be her home as she has grown up in this area.

Mariya has always felt a pull towards design and fell in love with architecture during her family’s travels to cities and countries abroad. She approaches her design work with intentionality and creativity and loves seeing the results of her work. In joining the Gaines Group, Mariya is proud to be a part of a team that focuses on sustainable design and making an impact in the greater community. She has already hit the ground running and is focused on supporting multifamily designs in our Charlottesville office.

Mariya is beginning her career in architectural design and is a graduate of Massanutten Technical School where she became certified in Architecture and Interior Design. She is also currently completing coursework at Blue Ridge Community College. During her studies, a professor noticed her talent and encouraged her to compete in architectural drafting. She undertook this challenge and successfully competed this past summer at the national level in Atlanta. At this competition, she was tasked to design a pocket community with certain specifications. She submitted a full set of plans including floorplans, elevations, wall sections, schedules, and a hand-drawn site plan of the entire layout. Her hard work landed her a top place finish at 5th place and helped jumpstart her career in the industry.

Outside of her career pursuits, Mariya enjoys being on the go and traveling whenever possible. She enjoys being active and loves to play volleyball in the summer and ski in the winter. She spends much of her time with family and friends and is very involved in her church where she helps with the kid’s choir.

In sharing about herself, Mariya says “seeing growth and progress inspires me. Seeing kindness and being genuine inspires me. Most importantly, the life of Jesus Christ inspires me. It motivates me to continually improve and become a better person daily.”

Deborah Smith grew up on a sheep farm just outside of Harrisonburg in Rockingham County. She attended Virginia Tech where her time was split between the architecture studio and volunteering with the Virginia Tech Rescue Squad as an EMT-B. After graduating from Virginia Tech in 2011 with a Bachelor of Architecture degree, she returned to the area and spent the next year working a variety of jobs that included time spent at a local consignment store, a greenhouse, and a blackberry farm.

Deborah joined The Gaines Group, PLC at the Harrisonburg office in August 2012 and has loved being able to work on a variety of projects in and around Harrisonburg from custom residential homes to industrial warehouses. As continuous learning and improving is important to Deborah, she enrolled in the Eastern Mennonite University Master of Business Administration for the Common Good and graduated in 2016. With the completion of her MBA, Deborah set her sights on attaining her architectural license. She accomplished this goal in May 2018 after 9 months of studying and exam slaying and is excited to now be able to call herself a real architect.

Deborah lives in Harrisonburg and spends time attending Virginia Tech football games and local music festivals, planning new travel adventures, gardening, and spending time with her family, friends, and dog, Lucy.

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.