WHERE I’VE WORKED

LCH Interiors

Dublin, Ohio (2019-Present)

I approached Mrs. Hawk, owner of LCH Interiors after working with her in one of the homes I built for M.E.B.D. She was different from the other designers I had worked with in that her style was bold and she was not deterred by any of the negative opinions being shot at her; she trusted her gut from the get-go. When I first spoke to her I simply asked if she would be open to letting me shadow her. I wanted to get a look into her head and see how her world worked as an interior designer- she was all in for the idea.

I worked with Laura Hawk both in office and out in the field. In office I learned how to use a program called IVY, which she used for to send invoices to her clientele. With this software I added items to the invoice, attached pictures, and sent invoices her clients. In addition, while working in office for her I assisted in the decision making process of several items going into the house I built for M.E.B.D.

While out in the field, I was able to visit another one of her homes she designed from the ground up. In this visit I was able to meet the clients and get a tour of the home as well as get a good idea of how she interacted with her clients. Most helpful of all, I was able to see how she took what the homeowners wanted and put her own twist upon it to create a masterpiece.

Michael Edwards Building & Design

Upper Arlington, Ohio (2017-Present)

At M.E.B.D. I work as a laborer full-time where I am continuously learning and perfecting my handyman skills. The majority of what I do here is ‘punch-out’ work. I go into homes once the subcontractors have finished and correct what may have been overlooked- from electrical work to painting. In addition, I largely maintain relationships with past homeowners for the company. I answer questions and address concerns as well as fixing small things that may need It.

In working here I am fortunate to be exposed to homes that could easily be described as the epitome of luxury and perfection. Mr. Edwards is not simply a home builder- but he is an artist. He has an unparalleled eye for the shape and flow of each room which brings the whole house together in a way that cannot be put into words. I saw an opportunity to learn early on in my career here and seized it. I pick apart every choice made by Mr. Edwards, and the architect alike; Why has he chosen to pick this room as the kitchen? What color cabinets would look best with the stark white walls the homeowner enjoys? What went through Mike’s mind when he chose the tile for the master bathroom?

To learn and understand the important fundamentals that go into each of the designs for our homeowners, I ask countless questions. I consistently want to see the spec sheets for tile choices, hardwood floor colors, paint colors, carpet print, appliances, cabinet colors, cabinet designs, plumbing fixtures, and my personal favorite, light fixtures. Once I am able to see the sheets for finishes like this, I always make suggestions, even when unwanted. For, even if my suggestion is turned down I am able to discuss why it may not have worked and gain an outsiders perspective.

Please see the section titled “BUILDING” for photos of the homes I’ve worked on.

Nordstrom

I started at Nordstrom Rack as a floor level sales employee paid hourly. I saw this job as an opportunity to grow with Nordstrom, as their biggest selling point to employees was their ‘promote from within’ strategy. I began to favor the mens department right off the bat because I enjoyed being able to relate to the costumers. Being as it was in my nature, I began to take informal ownership over the mens ‘pad’ because I was able to rearrange things and create displays. After a few months of working there I was able to identify what the repeat customer at Nordstrom Rack Sun Center was shopping for. I was appointed the Mens Sportswear ‘pad lead’ after only 5 months, giving me control over merchandise placement and floor design.

Through my own displays and product placement I was able to increase sales monthly and quarterly for Mens Sportswear with an average of 17% increase. After only 8 months at Nordstrom Rack, I was chosen to participate in the Future Nordstrom Leaders program that teaches successful employees how to become successful managers. I graduated from this program and worked 3 more months at The Rack before I was promoted to a commission based sales position at the Nordstrom ‘Full Line.’

Upon hitting the 2 month mark at Nordstrom full line, I was asked to be the Topman specialist. This meant I would be in charge of merchandising the department and keeping things in line with the strict rules of the brand itself. After 6 months working in this department and getting the hang of things, I was leading the store monthly and quarterly with my increases on year to date sales. It was nearly effortless to do this, seeing as Topman was consistently at the forefront of bright and colorful fashion; it was fun to change things up and create colorful product displays.