Each year, WSA employees ward off the winter blues by competing for the perfect chili recipe. Our friends help us out by tasting each (mostly delicious) entry and deciding which one comes out on top. This year, Joseph Cabalquinto of State Auto Insurance, Elaine Isabelle of Shaw Contract, and Greg Davis and Matt Pickens of Roberts Service Group served as our guest judges. The stakes were high; Joseph is a foodie and dabbles as a chef.

We were all impressed with the quality of each chili this round. With thirteen entries, from Grandma’s secret recipe to Emeril’s vegetarian chili, our bellies were full of good food. Our recently hired staff are also cooking connoisseurs and they brought out the big guns with smoked poblanos, bacon bits, and pieces of seared steak.

The final verdict: Tianna Williams is the 2020 Chili Cook-Off Champion! As our newest employee, Tianna was not afraid to show us who the chili boss is. She brought depth to her traditional recipe with complex flavors and balanced textures. What did Shrek say? People are a lot like chili? Close enough.

WSA partnered with the Columbus Dispatch and Columbus Zoo & Aquarium to design the feature home exhibit at the 2020 Spring Home and Garden Show, the largest Dispatch event of the year.

Inspired by classic Adirondack cabins, the design team created this A-frame lodge display with sustainable living in mind. The structure is made of reclaimed Ohio barn wood and metal roofing, courtesy of the Mount Vernon Barn Company. The live garden and “outdoor” pedestrian path, created in collaboration with Vaughanscapes, features bee and bat sanctuaries and other plant elements that support wildlife. A forest mural is painted on recycled billboard by local artist Lauren Mitro. We carefully selected these components of the design to support environmentally conscious initiatives.

WSA’s Carolyn Price designed educational signage and environmental graphics about Ohio’s native plants and animals. The interactive pathway is dotted with graphics, cardboard critters, and signs that invite guests to look, touch, read, and learn. The walk through the live garden (a welcome experience in February) finishes in the Adirondack lodge. Inside the structure, we partnered with Davis Rogers Interiors and Elm & Iron to create a cozy cabin dwelling. Carolyn’s signage continues into the space to reveal the origin of the structural materials and to tell the story behind the exhibit.

Our feature space also hosted meet & greets with celebrity guests Restored by the Fords, Nicole Curtis of Rehab Addict, and Jack Hanna.

Check out the time lapse video of the first few hours of construction below.

87% of millennials report career development opportunities are important to them. Today we celebrate the growth of our people and their professional accomplishments.

First, Jess Hamann has been promoted to the position of Design Manager. If you’ve worked with Jess, you know that her aptitude for interpersonal relationships is complemented by her strong design skills. As a leader in interior design, she has a deep understanding of industry practices, trends, and the practical application of design. You can count on Jess to hear your needs and translate them into a space that works for your organization.

Now, Paige Schmeling. She is officially a licensed architect! As a young professional, she has learned about the full practice of architecture through mentorship and first hand experience. Her technical knowledge and design proficiency is backed by her professional registration. This is another step on the journey of becoming the world’s greatest architect.

Congratulations to these two for their hard work and dedication to design.