Bill Ramsey brings over fifteen years of market experience to his position as a Principal at KTGY. From design guidelines and site planning to programming, schematic design and construction documents, he understands the many facets of creating a successful project.
At IBSx, Bill will be one of the speakers for the Building Knowledge Session, Small Spaces, Big Impact: Bathrooms, Entryways, Storage & Other Jewel Box & Flex Spaces Buyers Want. We caught up with him to get a sneak peek into the session and learn a bit about how his 2020 has been, too.
NAHB: Without giving too much away, what will people learn at your IBSx education session?
BILL: They will learn that details matter. There are certain elements to a home that every design will have, such as a formal entry, the owner’s entry, a powder room, the pantry – to name a few, so we should take advantage of ways to make them more useful or exciting. A space doesn’t need to be large or central to positively affect the way people live.
NAHB: The industry has experienced some great challenges in 2020. What do you see being the biggest challenge?
BILL: Maintaining the company culture. We’ve all been utilizing some form of work-from-home for nearly a year now, and we’ve learned that we can get the work done, while still producing high-quality design. However, it’s much more challenging to continue the same culture we had when working together in any office. KTGY takes a lot of pride in its culture—creating an environment that is fun, motivating and built around mentorship. That is much more challenging to do remotely, but the importance has not diminished.
NAHB: What is one piece of practical advice you would give to our industry as we move into 2021?
BILL: Don’t forget what we’ve learned. COVID-19 fatigue is real, and as we start to transition back to a more normal life there will be desires to simply move on. I think it will be important to acknowledge what we’ve learned during this time and see what should be applied in our lives going forward.
NAHB: What’s been your favorite binge-watch this past year and why?
BILL: Netflix’s The Crown. I’ve never been very interested in the royal family, so I get to watch it without knowing most of the backstories and history.
NAHB: What’s been a pleasant surprise that’s come out of social distancing/COVID-19 for you?
BILL: Spending a lot more time with my children. I have a 7-year-old daughter and twin 4-year-old boys. It’s been rewarding (and sometimes maddening) to get to be around them so much.
NAHB: What’s in your refrigerator right now?
BILL: More variety than ever! We’ve completely stopped eating out, and seldom get food delivered either. This has raised our family’s interest in cooking, which has opened doors to foods we simply weren’t eating before.
NAHB: Did you pick up or refine a hobby this last year? If so, what is it and how is it going?
BILL: I don’t know if it’s a hobby, but my wife and I have really enjoyed working on puzzles together. We found ourselves watching more TV than we should, so we turned to putting puzzles together instead. It’s quite relaxing at the end of the day.
NAHB: Besides TP and cleaning products, what’s the one item you were surprised was out-of-stock during the early weeks of quarantine?
BILL: Office supplies. I left work expecting to come back in 3-4 weeks, not 9+ months!
NAHB: In three sentences or less, what is your prediction for the building industry in 2021?
BILL: Who moved my cheese? The building industry, and housing specifically, should have a busy year in 2021, but with a lot of changes. From build-for-rent to people leaving cities for suburbs, there will be a lot of things that don’t return to the status quo.
“Small Spaces, Big Impact: Bathrooms, Entryways, Storage & Other Jewel Box & Flex Spaces Buyers Want” is one session in the IBSx Architecture & Design Track. It will take place on Wednesday, February 10 at 2:00 PM ET. Learn more about the 100+ IBSx education sessions and register today!