Thirty-four years of diversified experience as a corporate officer, architect, designer, and university professor define my career in the world of architecture and interior design. My twenty years in professional practice feature highly successful commercial, hospitality, single family and multi-family residential projects. I have a proven desire and ability to contribute to successful company operations, corporate profitability, strong client relations, project design, staff development, standards implementation and project construction administration. My subsequent years in higher education have allowed me to explore opportunities for research, creative activity, and service that add to and reinforce my ability to preach what I practice while leading and mentoring up-and-coming young designers.
I am the Chair and an Associate Professor in the Department of Interior Architecture & Design at The Florida State University currently teaching select classes of upper level undergraduate and graduate students in interior architecture and interior design project solutions, graphic techniques for quick sketching, design ideation, project brainstorming and client work sessions. My research and original creative work progress along two separate but frequently overlapping paths: 1) the analysis of and instruction in hand sketching skills through the cognitive framework of expertise theory relative to the idea of thinking through drawing, and 2) drawing as a means to access memory and confirm moment; the attempt to recover the ephemeral visual links of a past connected to the soul of a place once occupied. Research with colleagues involves design thinking based upon empathy in combination with emotional intelligence as a measuring device to determine stronger emotional investments in the act of drawing and the drawings (representing creative ideation) themselves. My professional history has allowed me to pursue architecture, interior architecture, and interior design as independent bodies of professional service as well as consolidating all three resulting in extremely unique, successful and delightful projects throughout the United States. I have been fortunate enough to excel in design creativity, project team leadership and corporate leadership and management. On behalf of the companies I have led, I successfully pursued and acquired revenue sources, engaged in contractual negotiations, maintained key client relationships, increased corporate profits, and developed corporate project portfolios while actively participating in and ensuring the highest levels of design, creative staff and positive processes within our industry. I am passionately concerned about best use of space and material as it relates to a sustainable lifestyle. The integration of interiors into the architectural fabric continues to define my experience and expertise. I have become valued for my professionalism and ability to add to the total team effort. I have served my clients and staff with expertise in expanding design vision, exploring form and function, and maintaining design intent throughout building construction, all of which add philosophical, emotional and financial value to a given project. |