5 Minutes With… Cyndi Chandler

We spent 5 Minutes With Cyndi Chandler, UK and Ireland Managing Director of Simpson Strong-tie.

Read on to hear about the moments that have shaped her career so far, and the advice she’d give to anyone starting out in the world of trussed rafters and timber connections…

What first brought your attention to a career in timber engineering?

It actually began as just a job while I was attending night-school. Simpson Strong-Tie was my very first employer, and it didn’t take long for me to realize I’d found where I wanted to build my career. I was fortunate to join the company when it was still relatively small, which gave me the opportunity to learn every aspect of the business from the ground up. 

Now, nearly 42 years later, I look back with tremendous gratitude. What started as a job became a career, a passion, and a place where I’ve been able to grow alongside the company. I genuinely can’t imagine having done anything else.

What has been your proudest moment in your career to date?

I’ve been fortunate to have many memorable moments throughout my career, but two stand out above all others. The first was helping establish Simpson Strong-Tie’s first branch in South America, located in Santiago, Chile. Being part of bringing our company into a new market and contributing to that milestone was an incredibly rewarding experience.

The second was taking a leap of faith after more than four decades in Texas and moving across the pond to the UK to lead our UK and Ireland business. It was a significant personal and professional change, but one that has challenged me, broadened my perspective, and given me the opportunity to work with an outstanding team while continuing to help grow the business.

Both experiences pushed me outside my comfort zone, and both have been defining moments that I’m incredibly proud of.

What advice would you give someone who is starting out in your profession?

No matter where you are in the world, you’ll find that the people in this industry are some of the best you’ll ever meet. Take the time to get to know them, ask questions, bounce ideas off one another, and don’t be afraid to collaborate. The knowledge and experience shared within this industry is invaluable.

This industry is built on trust, partnerships, and people. Invest in those relationships from day one, and they’ll be the greatest assets of your career.

Those relationships won’t just help you grow professionally — they’ll open doors, broaden your perspective, and make you better at what you do. And along the way, you’ll discover something even more rewarding: many of those colleagues will become lifelong friends.

If you could change just one thing about the construction industry, what would it be and why?

Too often, manufacturers, engineers, designers, contractors, merchants, and installers work in silos when we’re all ultimately working toward the same goal.

Because of that, it can take years for new ideas, products, and building methods to gain acceptance. One of the best examples is timber construction. Despite the incredible advances in engineered timber and modern building systems, there are still misconceptions about its strength, durability, and performance when compared to traditional brick and block construction. Those perceptions can slow innovation and prevent the industry from embracing solutions that are safe, sustainable, and highly engineered.

When everyone works together—sharing knowledge, challenging old assumptions, and focusing on the facts rather than tradition—we move the industry forward much faster. We build better, we build safer, and we create more opportunities for innovation.

That’s something I’ve been passionate about throughout my career, and I’d love to see the industry become even more collaborative in the years ahead.

If you could have dinner with anyone (dead or alive), who would it be and why?

Without question, it would be my mom.

She was my biggest cheerleader in every aspect of my life. No matter what challenge I faced or what opportunity came my way, she always believed in me and encouraged me to keep going. She celebrated every success, helped me through every setback, and always reminded me to enjoy the journey.

After nearly 42 years in my career, even though she just recently passed away the prior six years her memory and confusion made it difficult to share with her. I’d love nothing more than to sit down with her, tell her about the places my work has taken me, the people I’ve met, and the life I’ve been fortunate to build. Most of all, I’d want to thank her for the confidence, values, and unwavering support she gave me, because I wouldn’t be where I am today without her.

Many thanks to Cyndi for taking the time to be part of our 5 Minutes With… series. Read other profiles in our 5 Minutes With… series here

If you are a TRA member and you’d like to be featured in a 5 Minutes With… profile then do get in touch. Or perhaps you could nominate a colleague? We’d love to hear from you at info@tra.org.uk