Page 126 - Cityview Jan-Feb 2017

FACES OF EAST TENNESSEEA Life of GivingContractor Cindi DeBusk Paves the Way for Women in the IndustryStory by Olivia Johnson •CINDI DEBUSK GREW UP A TOMBOY ATOP Sharps’s Ridge. “I’m a North Knoxville girl,” she states. With woods surrounding her childhood home, DeBusk spent much of her youth as a tomboy exploring thesurrounding area, riding her bike and, in apparent anticipation of her future career, building forts.Construction runs in DeBusk’s family. Her father, uncle, and cousins all became contractors, so it was no surprise whenshe pursued a career in the industry. Working primarily with electrical and general contracting, DeBusk is the President of GCS Group LLC, a family-owned and operated construction and remodeling business in the greater Knoxville area.She broke barriers in 2004 when she was appointed by Governor Bresden as the rst female on Tennessee’s Board for Licensing Contractors. Initially entering the “good ol’ boys” system, it was hard to develop relationships with the other board members. She describes how they resented her at rst. “They didn’t speak to me for over a year, but I hung in there. They eventually came around.” Her success in the eld led to her reappointment to the position, and she continues her public service on the board today.Passion is the force behind DeBusk’s work.“I think big,” she states. Currently, she is working on four projects as well as being an avid philanthropist. DeBusk strives to give wholeheartedly of her time to several charitable organizations, focusing on support groups for children and young adults, single mothers, and the preservation of historical structures. She dedicates much of her time on the board of the youth-based nonpro t she grew up in, the Boy’s and Girl’s Club.DeBusk is on Knox Heritage’s Board of Directors, which strives to preserve historical or culturally signi cant structuresPhotography by Bryan Allenin Knoxville. “I want to preserve the past for our future generation,” she says. She is also involved with the Women’s Fund, Arrowmont School of Arts & Cra s, and East Tennessee Children’s Hospital, where she performed in the local charity event Dancing with the Knoxville Stars.Traveling is how DeBusk spends her spare time, mainly on annual cycling trips overseas living by the motto, “have passport, will travel.” One day she’ll own her dream bike—a Pinarello—a state of the art Italian made bike, in UT orange.On her latest cycling adventure in Northern France, DeBusk created a memorable excursion when her group reached aroad block and she was overcome by hunger. “I can put away some food” on cycling days, she says. “I eat like every two or three hours.” Unable to communicate with the locals, DeBusk decided to lie on the ground rather than turn around. “They just thought I was this crazy American lying in the middle of the road, but I had to eat something. They gave me some M&Ms, and all was good.”DeBusk states her highest personal accomplishment in life was being a single mother. She now gets to re-channel that positive experience with her 15-month-old grandson. She believes fostering in children the desire and ability to create and achieve obtainable goals should be a primary focus for parents. Overly concerned parents who try to remove every barrier inlife for their children are removing the obstacles necessary for a child to overcome. As she spends time with her grandson Levi, the boy who “has her heart,” she plans to help him discover and develop his passion. As she says about raising kids in general, “teach them to do it. Do not do it for them. Teach them whatyou wish someone had taught you.” Apparently, Cindi DeBusk learned the lesson well herself.124JANUARY FEBRUARY 2017