How did you get started in your career?
I got started at Closet Factory back in 1992 when Polly Lestikow (a client of mine, who is now President of Closet Factory) suggested I talk to her husband, Mark about working for his new (franchise) company – Closet Factory. I went to the Spring Home & Garden Show to see the closet displays and got exited! Mark trained me a few months later in closet design and also taught me/us many selling techinques. I learned how to hand-draw all my closet designs on graph paper and took great pride in showing my skills to clients who couldn’t believe how quickly I could sketch a design! Eventually I became a top salesperson at the local and national level. About 5 years ago we learned a CAD program called “KCD” and now have an even more professional presentation to show our clients.
Has there been someone along the way that you credit with helping you get to where you are? And why?
I credit Mark and Polly Lestikow, owners of Closet Factory, for their continuing education, trend-setting ideas and high standards in business. They have also encouraged me to get involved in Networking, which has definately helped me stay connected with fellow builders/designers through the rough years of 2008-2011. My relationship with these industry partners has become so strong that I now know them on a personal level – with a glass of wine – and not just to talk about business.
What do you love about the Home Building industry?
I love what I do because I get to help people reorganize their life (one shoe at a time – ha). I love the Home Building Industry because I get the opportunity to see beautiful homes, many still under construction. I get to see the latest building and design trends and then challenge myself to make my closet design relevant to that. Best of all, I get to meet great people – clients as well as the building trade . We all work together to get the best results.
I love that PWB brings women together with a common interest in the building community. I look forward to each gathering and getting the chance to meet more ladies and hear about their connection to our industry.
Tell us 3 things about yourself that people don’t know.
When I am not designing closets, (offices, wallbeds, & garage storage cabinets), I also enjoy playing golf - something I always said was my hobby but I really didn’t have time for. Just this year I joined a women’s 9-hole league and I get to play every Tuesday. It’s on my schedule now! I also enjoy playing golf with family when we are all back in Iowa at Lake Okoboji for an annual “Best-ball” golf tournament. I am very proud of my 2 daughters who share in our building/design industry – Katy who is a designer at “Design Force,” a company specializing in commercial hospitality and who is expecting my 1st grandchild this September; and Maggy, who works for home-builder Taylor Morrison in their internet marketing and new home sales. I have been happily married for 37 years to Krieg, who is an auto broker for AutoSearch.
