A look around architect Tina Reames’ office depicts not only the more than three decades of diligence but the span of success. Degrees, certifications, awards, and photos of familiar and iconic city buildings line the walls, along with images of the people she’s supported and those who have been supportive along the way.
“It’s been a great career,” said Reames, president of Albuquerque-based Cherry/See/Reames Architects, P.C. or CSR architects. “I’ve been really blessed and lucky, especially to have the people I have here. I’m very, very thankful and grateful.”
Reames began her career in 1992 while studying at the University of New Mexico where she was working toward a Master’s degree in architecture with an emphasis in landscape architecture. She joined the company as an intern after one of her professors, Edie Cherry, who owned the firm with her husband, Jim See, asked her to help transition from manual drafting to 2D and 3D computer-aided design or AutoCAD. The firm was founded in 1977.
Cherry was hired in 1972 as the UNM School of Architecture + Planning’s first female faculty member. She went on to become a highly respected architect and educator who influenced generations of architects throughout the state. Among Cherry and See’s projects are the Erna Fergusson Branch Library, the Old Terminal Building Rehabilitation at the Albuquerque International Sunport, and numerous other historic preservation, adaptive reuse, and community-focused public projects.
Over time, Reames began building a portfolio of projects of her own, including several phases of the New Mexico Veterans Memorial at Louisiana and Gibson in Albuquerque. Other firm projects include the Thomas Bell Community Center Gym Addition, the firm’s first LEED Gold project, the Carlito Springs Main House Rehabilitation for Bernalillo County, the Singing Arrow Community Center in the Northeast Heights, and multiple projects for Albuquerque Public Schools.
In 2006, with an eye on retirement, the firm’s owners approached Reames about becoming a partner. By 2012, she became the firm’s sole owner. Around that time, she connected with The Loan Fund after meeting a former employee at a small business development luncheon. Since then, CSR architects has maintained a financial partnership with the organization, establishing lines of credit as needed.
“It’s been a great partnership with The Loan Fund,” she said, recalling a time when a former Loan Fund employee personally called a local bank to ensure the full release of funds for a large check. “I don’t know how many people would do that these days. Knowing The Loan Fund had our back was really nice. I couldn’t have done it without them. And having Jim and Edie as mentors and partners in the beginning—it’s been wonderful.”
Reames, who will celebrate the firm’s 50th anniversary in 2027, said the secret to longevity is maintaining a focus on family, honoring the firm’s educational roots, and staying connected to community. Out of the seven employees, there are three architects and three UNM interns. The firm actively supports interns on their path to licensure and offers staff 40 hours of paid leave for volunteer work.
“If we can take the education we’ve received and give it back, I think that’s important,” she said. “Everybody has a voice and a hand at different stages of a project and in the charities we’re involved in. We’re definitely a family-oriented firm—strive to be a teaching firm.”
In honor of our many nearly decades-long or more partnerships, this series focuses on our Legacy Partners, long-standing clients whose journeys reflect The Loan Fund’s mission in action. Their stories show how steady support through loans, lines of credit, guidance, and trust helps New Mexico’s small businesses grow stronger over time.
These partnerships represent resilience, success, and a shared commitment to strengthening the economic and social well-being of communities across the state.
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