Meet our Team
Our office is organized as a studio practice challenging everyone in the office to produce at their highest potential and to encourage vital collaboration. Our core staff has a combined 135+ years at the firm with a full spectrum of talents and expertise. In an industry where designers move from firm to firm, we feel that this stability gives our clients the confidence that we will remain an asset to them for many years past the initial completion of their project.
Architecture has the power to shape and influence communities. At the heart of our team is a desire to make a difference not only in the architectural landscape, but in the lives of those we serve, and we believe that starts in our own community. Our leadership serves as board members for various non-profit and difference-making organizations in our City and has for many years.
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Kelli Henson, CHID, IIDA
Registered Interior Designer
view full biokhenson@sims-architects.comKelli began her adventure at a local residential drafting company while attending WTAMU as a Biology major. She soon discovered that design was her true calling instead. After graduating from the University of Texas at Arlington, she worked for a commercial firm where she gained valuable knowledge and experience. She believes that a successful project is built on listening to your client, putting yourself in their shoes and developing a long-term relationship built on trust. Her motto is to stay humble, work hard, and have fun!
Kelli is experienced in designing interior environments for educational, commercial, healthcare, and senior living projects. Kelli specializes in project oversight, space planning, finish selection, technical detailing, and custom casework design. She is also talented in artwork and furniture packages.
When not at work, Kelli and her husband, Chris, are in the gym or at the field watching their kids, Neelie and Cohen, play basketball, volleyball, football and baseball. They love spending time relaxing on the beach or finding a quiet place to fish and enjoy time together.
PROFESSIONAL CREDENTIALS
Registered Interior Designer: Texas
National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ)
Certified Healthcare Interior Designer (CHID)
International Interior Design Association (IIDA)
EDUCATION
Bachelor of Science in Interior Design, University of Texas at Arlington
FUN FACT
Kelli’s nickname was “Country” in college. She was a small-town girl in the city and everyone knew it because of her Texas twang. She grew up working in the oil field with her ‘Paw’ and loved every minute of it. On top of that, she’ loves her mom’s homemade fried chicken and mashed potatoes. She’s country!
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Sheila Sims, AIA
President / Architect
view full biossims@sims-architects.comInspired at an early age by her dad, a high school drafting and woodworking teacher, Sheila developed her creative skills while in grade school helping his students build models for their competitions. Those skills she learned in a High School Drafting lab proved to be an invaluable resource through many late nights in architecture school at Texas A&M University.
Sheila began her career at Lavin Architects as a college intern and never looked for another job. Since 1990 she has gained valuable knowledge in all phases of a project from programming and design through construction and understands the process required to ensure a successful project. She has earned a reputation with clients, her peers, and contractors as one who works hard has uncompromised integrity and is only satisfied with a job well done. As a child, her Dad would constantly remind her to “remember who you belong to” and that has influenced every decision she has ever made and how she treats her relationships both personal and professional.
When not sitting in front a computer, Sheila enjoys a good hotdog at any baseball game but especially her hometown Amarillo Sod Poodles where her family has season tickets. She and her husband Richard have 3 daughters who keep them busy traveling the country watching them playing volleyball.
PROFESSIONAL CREDENTIALS
Registered Architect: Texas, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma
National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) Certified
American Institute of Architects (AIA)
Texas Society of Architects (TSA)
EDUCATION
Bachelor of Environmental Design, Texas A&M University, 1991
FUN FACT
Sheila and her family spend most spring breaks in Phoenix, Arizona following the Texas Rangers baseball team to spring training.
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Jon Gamel
Architect
view full biojgamel@sims-architects.comJon is an Amarillo native and at least a 5th generation Texan (and proud of it:-). He has been interested in building, construction, and design since he could walk. Whether it was building something in the garage with his dad at the age of 4 or drawing notebooks full of floor plans and elevations during middle school, Jon has always loved design. Jon’s West Texas roots and Christian values lead him to believe that every client is important and that designing beautiful and functional architecture is one way to leave a positive mark on our community. His background in construction helps his team well with the contractors and their subs. He believes that every member of the team is important and has valuable input when it comes to achieving a fantastic final product.
When Jon is not designing in 3D, producing contract documents, and visiting construction sites, he enjoys building furniture, remodeling his house, and hanging out with is his wife, their son, daughter, and nephew.
PROFESSIONAL CREDENTIALS
Registered Architect: Texas
EDUCATION
Masters of Architecture, Texas Tech University, 2004
FUN FACT
Jon loves his Ram trucks and has driven one his entire life. He worked for a house builder/framer during high school.
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John Jenkins
Architect
view full biojjenkins@sims-architects.comJohn is a native Amarilloan known as Shorty to his old friends and “Old Man” to his 11 grandchildren. He was steered to architecture by his junior high and high school drafting teachers. He enjoys the problem solving and innovation in the practice because there is no single solution to a situation. Getting to know clients and working through their needs and expectations are still driving factors in his goals.
While not in architecture practice mode, he enjoys spoiling grandchildren and spending quiet times with his wife at their weekend cabin. Serving on the Board of the Don Harrington Discovery Center and chairing a benefit scholarship golf tournament are ways he gives back a little to the community.
Attention to detail, listening and hearing, looking and seeing are keys to understanding in the design/planning process.
PROFESSIONAL CREDENTIALS
Registered Architect: Texas
Construction Specifications Institute (CSI)
EDUCATION
Bachelor of Architecture – Design Option, Texas Tech University, 1973
FUN FACT
John was the Sandman at Amarillo High School his senior year back in…. a long time ago
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Ryan Miller
Architect
view full biormiller@sims-architects.comRyan was born and raised right here in Amarillo, Texas. From a young age, he was interested in how things go together and often he would be creating, designing, and building things out of wood in his family’s shop. During his high school years, Ryan found a more in-depth passion for design through art and drafting classes. He went on to graduate with a Masters in Architecture from Texas Tech University. Ryan still very much enjoys developing details that make projects come together. Working with a client through the design process, construction, and ultimately seeing them utilizing the project is what gives him daily motivation in the architectural field.
While away from the office, he enjoys attending his kid’s swimming and gymnastics events, volunteering in his son’s scout troop, traveling, and date nights with his wife!
PROFESSIONAL CREDENTIALS
Registered Architect: Texas
EDUCATION
Masters of Architecture, Texas Tech University, 2005
FUN FACT
Ryan likes to design and build furniture, ride, and work on UTVs and he likes watches and clocks.
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David Nowell
Architect
view full biodnowell@sims-architects.comDavid was born and raised in the Amarillo, TX area, and has lived here most of his life. He graduated from the University of Texas at Arlington, which his maternal grandfather also attended for professional drafting a few decades prior. David’s attention to detail and drive to help the entire design team finish projects well and on schedule have been the driving force in his career spanning more than 25 years.
David and his wife Traci have been married for almost 25 years and they have three wonderful children: Katie, Luke, and Emily. His treasured family connections compel him to continue serving the community through his career and other avenues. He was on the Board of The Hope and Healing Place in 2010-2011. In 2018-2019 he and Traci were assistant directors of Northgate Discipleship Center in Pampa, TX.
Aside from Amarillo, David is most at home in the Rocky Mountains where he enjoys snow skiing, snowmobiling, camping, and hiking. His favorite ski area is Wolf Creek, CO. Some of his other hobbies include gardening, time-lapse photography, stargazing, and storm spotting. He is a contributing author to “The Heart of a Father: Essays by Men Affected by Congenital Heart Defects.”
PROFESSIONAL CREDENTIALS
Registered Architect: Texas
EDUCATION
Bachelor of Science in Architecture, University of Texas at Arlington, 1995
FUN FACT
David is also an amateur weather nerd who once chased a rotating thunderstorm a little too closely, then he later became a trained storm spotter and learned to keep a safer distance from dangerous storms.
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Richard Sims
Project Manager
view full biorsims@sims-architects.comAs a young high school student, Richard found a passion for architecture and never looked back. He began his career in a surveyor’s office where he gained valuable experience in surveying, civil engineering, and application of several cogo software packages both in the field and on the computer. This knowledge has translated into Richard’s ability to visualize and design a site to maximize its potential both functionally and economically. He is a problem solver by nature and has found this to be a valuable trait as he manages multiple ongoing projects for his retail clients.
When he is not in a gym on the weekends watching his 3 daughters play volleyball, Richard enjoys watching baseball and Aggie football with his wife. Richard is an elder in his church and volunteers many hours in his community helping others.
EDUCATION
Associates Degree in Architecture, Phoenix Institute of Technology, 1992
FUN FACT
Richard got his first job at the age of 12 and eventually saved enough money to buy his first car, a 1966 Ford Mustang, while still in Jr. High School. He may or may not have driven it to school.