Russ Seamon, BLA ’03, is the president of SeamonWhiteside, a civil engineering and landscape architecture firm based in the Carolinas. Seamon has worked for the firm for over 21 years, working his way up from a summer internship to corporate leadership. This year, SeamonWhiteside is celebrating 40 years of operations!
Read the Q&A below to learn about Russ’s college takeaways, career and advice for students.
When did you know that you wanted to pursue a degree in Landscape Architecture?
I always loved to draw and create as a kid, and I loved the outdoors and exploring. As I looked to picking a major, I wanted to find a path that would give me a great career path but that also focused on art, nature, and creativity. I had been exposed to Landscape Architecture through my dad, and I knew that it would fit the bill.
What drew you to the CED’s BLA program?
I grew up a DAWG fan! Both of my parents graduated from UGA, and my dad graduated from UGA’s BLA program. It didn’t hurt that the program was one of the top in the country!
Were there any specific professors, classes or projects that impacted your time at UGA?
Professor Sawhill had a very unique approach to his design studio that required students to turn in their projects before they left each day, so we all had to focus on time management and efficiency to meet the design deadlines. That class was a really great lesson in the real-world experience of Landscape Architecture; having deadlines and set amounts of time (i.e. budgets) to accomplish a project.
What experience during your time at the CED had the biggest influence on where you are today?
The project-based approach of the design studios taught me a lot about hard work; getting out what you put in, making sacrifices, focusing on quality, and holding myself to high standards. The group projects taught me lessons on teamwork, leadership, and the challenges and successes of working as a team.
What would you tell your 20-year-old self?
You don’t need to create everything from scratch, look to precedent more as a jumping off point! Also, go take some classes in project management. Nearly everything you do in landscape architecture benefits from having good project management skills!
Looking back at your time at the CED, is there anything you wish you had done that would help you with what you are doing today?
I wish I had spent more time learning project management skills and best practices. I was so focused on great design that I didn’t realize that half of what I would do in my career was centered around good project management and people skills.
What accomplishment or moment in your career are you most proud of?
I am most proud of the practices that my leadership team and I have put in place to support our employees’ continued growth and development post-graduation. We have intentionally focused on design training, management training, muti-tiered mentorships, leadership training, cross office swaps, and an educational lunch series. It makes me proud to see our people thrive and excel at SW+.
What are your favorite projects that you’ve worked on over the course of your career?
From a personal challenge perspective, I have been involved with the creation of dozens of planned unit developments. I really enjoy all the different aspects of the process; master planning, code writing, graphics, politics, presentations, community input sessions, and coordination with local municipalities. From a design perspective, Morrison Yard was an exciting and challenging mixed-use urban project. There was a high level of design, coordination, and finish for that project. With many of the amenity spaces being built on the rooftop, there were tons of specialty details and unique design scenarios to think through. Ultimately, it turned out to be a great part of the built environment in the City of Charleston.
What lessons did you learn going from intern to President at SW+ over the course of your career?
There are so many lessons learned I could write a book! I guess the overarching lesson is that the lessons never end and you should expect them to keep coming! If you can keep yourself in a growth mindset, learn from each misstep, be open minded to feedback, really listen to the people around you, and never stop trying to improve, then the sky is the limit! There is no being fully satisfied; there is always room for improvement, another area to explore, or another mountain to climb.
What advice would you give to current CED students hoping to enter the industry one day?
My advice to new graduates entering the A/E/C industry: focus as much on developing your people skills as your technical skills. Success in this field isn’t just about expertise — it’s about building relationships, communicating effectively, and approaching challenges with empathy.
SW+ is 40! How are you (and the rest of SW+) celebrating this milestone?
Besides celebrating internally and through marketing and PR, we are having a huge 40th anniversary party at Firefly Distillery, which is a project that we designed. We will be having a great band, an open bar, food trucks, and approximately 400 of our employees, clients, and industry partners in attendance. It should be an amazing time and a great way to memorialize a huge milestone for SW+!
