Kara Orth Figliulo
Glen Ellyn
Summary
Dynamic design leader with extensive experience at The Gettys Group, excelling in project management and client relations. Proven track record in retail and hotel design, driving over $4.4 million in retail design sales. Adept at budget management and team mentorship, ensuring high-quality deliverables and fostering strong partnerships across all levels.
Overview
16
16
years of professional experience
Work History
Principal, Gettys ONE Studio
The Gettys Group
Chicago
11.2017 - Current
- Oversee Gettys ONE select service design team and is primary resource and liaison between team members and executive leadership while continuing to lead projects
- Manage quality control protocols and ensure implementation across all studio projects
- Develop monthly project staffing based on studio's financial projections
- Understanding of work plans, budgeted vs. actual hours and precise billings for all active projects
- Ensure all projects track for monthly deliverables and address challenges as they arise
- Ability to quickly change course and adjust project timelines, staffing and projections as new projects arise
- Prepare and review new project scopes, work plans and contracts/fees
- Maintain client, brand and vendor relationships while adhering to team member's needs and development
- Motivate, mentor and train existing and new team members
- Discover and address gaps in staffing needs, workflow and financials
- Manage administrative processes for studio team members
- Ensure studio processes and procedures adhere to and are carried out in accordance with company wide objectives
- Facilitate the creation of pipeline through proposal origination and new business strategy
- Generate and maintain prospect and client relationships
- Manage and evaluate business processes to maximize efficiency and effectiveness within the studio
- Prepare construction documentation and specifications for hotel select service branded renovation and new build projects
- Fulfill design and project manage roles throughout the life of a project, from initial site walk through construction administration/implementation
- Conduct site visits for each project to meet with client and obtain information necessary for project accuracy
- Coordinate with procurement agents to ensure best pricing options for clients and product lead times
- Advanced review of shop drawings, RFIs and submittals
- Ability to plan and oversee project tasks in accordance with contract and project fee
- Manage quality control exercises for project team
- Direct project team to produce design documents that meet clients needs and brand submittal standards
- Manage and lead multiple projects and client accounts at a single time
- Responsible for ensuring all projects follow processes and timeline
- Attend trade shows, vendor events and proposal interviews as company representative
Interior Designer
OPTO International, Inc.
Wood Dale
05.2016 - 11.2017
- Utilize professional design skills to promote and secure sales of company products and services
- Maintain strong product line knowledge with ability to match each client to the solution appropriate to their needs
- Oversaw and managed numerous accounts/projects at a single time
- Interpret client needs and effectively communicate design and merchandise display solutions
- Develop project proposals for different retail segments, including fixture layouts, digital presentations, installation drawings and cost estimates/proposals for spaces of varying square footages
- Responsible for communication multiple project statues effectively across multiple departments and managerial levels both internally and externally
- Conduct client presentations, project site visits and product installations
- Manage showroom appointments and tradeshow events
- Responsible for over $4.4 million in product sales
Store Planner
Sears Holdings Corporation
Hoffman Estates
05.2014 - 05.2016
- Interpreted format fixture criteria to create a fixture floor plan to meet the needs of the business and supports corporate merchandising strategies
- Analyzed store performance data to create retail floor layouts that support sales, maximize productivity of space and enhance the customer experience
- Developed solutions to improve overall space productivity in retail stores
- Maintained accuracy of file information including fixture detail, dimensions, layer structure and calculation of square footage to meet company standards
- Responsible for installation prints for the procurement, implementation of fixtures and equipment for individual projects
- Responsible for communicating project status and creating coordination with numerous individuals throughout the project
- Participated in plan reviews, new concept development and field requests that pertain to specific project formats
- Analyzed store specific historical performance in accordance with running sales optimization reports and margin per square foot
Merchandise Floor-Plan Assistant, Sears Holdings Corporation
Adecco Engineering & Technical
Hoffman Estates
02.2014 - 05.2014
- Developed floor-plans in accordance with department lines and merchandise placement of planograms
- Elevated flow and placement of inventory for hardware department per expansion projects
- Facilitated direct communication between on-site teams and departments for quality control checks on planogram placement
Interior Designer
La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries
Gurnee
05.2010 - 02.2014
- Designed visual displays for store merchandising
- Managed store in accordance with core management team and shared responsibilities
- Developed floorplans/3D renderings for clientele
- Developed material and concept design boards
- Conducted design presentations to clients / internal team members
- Sold design concepts and retail items to clients, resulting in an overall sales total of approximately $2.5 million
- Ranked #1 designer out of 86 stores company wide in December 2012
- Conducted site visits, deliveries/installations and accessory placement for client orders
- Engaged in design process from initial consultation through implementation
Education
Bachelor of Science - Interior and Environmental Design, Business Administration
Illinois State University
Bloomington-Normal, IL05-2010
Skills
- Hotel brand standards and requirements
- Retail design expertise
- Corporate and residential design
- Team leadership and management
- Project and account management
- Design process oversight
- Client and brand management
- Consultant coordination
- Relationship maintenance with clients, brands, vendors, and internal teams
- Construction documentation
- Specification development
- Staffing plan coordination
- Budget management
- Financial projections
- Proposal development
- Design presentation facilitation
- Presentation deck creation
Software Experience
AutoCAD, Project Navigator, Adobe Creative Suite, Spexx, Sketchup, Figma, Microsoft Office Suite, Smartsheet, Monday.com, ProCore, BlueBeam, Deltek
Timeline
Principal, Gettys ONE Studio
The Gettys Group
11.2017 - Current
Interior Designer
OPTO International, Inc.
05.2016 - 11.2017
Store Planner
Sears Holdings Corporation
05.2014 - 05.2016
Merchandise Floor-Plan Assistant, Sears Holdings Corporation
Adecco Engineering & Technical
02.2014 - 05.2014
Interior Designer
La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries
05.2010 - 02.2014
Bachelor of Science - Interior and Environmental Design, Business Administration
Illinois State University