Kelly has been with Washington Workplace for six years. "I work on many projects," Kelly says, "and I enjoy meeting all the new people.  And in this field you really get to know them.  Some projects can take months from first meeting the client to the completion of construction and the final phase of the furniture installation.  It is such a rewarding experience to see a satisfied client at the end of a project!"

Like her sister Christine, who also works at the company, Kelly enjoys anything involving the water - boating, waterskiing, fishing. She dutifully and enthusiastically watches all of her children's soccer games and, for the past 14 years, has volunteered for her local fire department.

Kelly and her husband live with their two daughters in Benedict, Maryland.
 

Clifton, with more than 20 years in the industry, worked as an independent contractor with founder John Murphy in 1993 and joined the company in 1997. "I studied and worked in engineering before going into interior design," he says. "That knowledge has served me very well in broadening the scope of design services that we can offer. I enjoy merging visual imagery with the technical application of our projects."

Clifton is an NCIDQ certified interior designer and interfaces with architecture and design firms on behalf of Washington Workplace clients.

A former personal trainer, he is a sports and fitness enthusiast. He enjoys any art - or design-related pursuits and travel. He, his wife and three daughters live in Baltimore, Maryland.

 

Ron is Washington Workplace's only resident golf pro - miniature golf, that is. Prior to working in the office furniture industry, he ran a miniature golf course in Rockville, Maryland for 6 years and worked there for 10.  "I enjoy meeting and working with all kinds of people from all walks of life," Ron says. "I really enjoy the mix of working in the office and being out in the field. You learn more about your own job and you learn more from others as you go along.  It's just great to have that interaction with the clients that you don't get from sitting at a desk."

Ron joined Washington Workplace in August 2007, but has been in the furniture industry since 2004. He enjoys his project management role, while working along side his colleagues, Sarah Gabriel and Chelsea Kirk. "We make a great team.  Sarah lines it up and I knock it down.  I think we really pride ourselves on our response time, along with the care we show for our clients' projects.  Chelsea has made a great addition to our team providing us with even more information than before."

Ron, a huge Washington Capitals fan, sells T-shirts and other apparel part-time with a friend from a shop in Silver Spring, Maryland. He's played hockey since he was four years old. He and his wife, who is a graduate gemologist with her own jewelry line, live with their two girls and two Yorkshire terriers in Gaithersburg, Maryland.

 

Of her almost 32 years in the industry, Sherry has spent 14 with Washington Workplace and twelve of those working from her home office in Richardson, Texas. "My first design job was as a store planner for the Zale Corporation jewelry store headquarters in Dallas," she says. "Since then, I've worked for several architectural/design firms and contract furniture dealers."

For those nine years Sherry has been project manager for a national healthcare account, DaVita, Inc. DaVita provides kidney dialysis services at clinics throughout the country. "It has been very rewarding over the years to work with DaVita because they provide much needed services for the health and well-being of patients and their families," she says.

When not overseeing the creation of healing environments for DaVita or enjoying her extended family, which includes three granddaughters, Sherry enjoys gardening, antiquing and remodeling projects.

 

After 14 years in the industry, Sarah understands the benefit of a good reputation. "I owned my own business for more than 10 years," she says. "That experience taught me that we are only as good as our reputation, which makes me work harder to earn the trust of my customers." She believes the approach that her Washington Workplace team takes to customer service continues that philosophy.

Sarah's interests include playing golf, when she can find time to play. She enjoys movies, when she can find time to go. And she enjoys spending time with her family (for that, she makes time).  

Sarah is actively involved in the Capital Chapter of IFMA (International Facilities Management Association) and GWCAR (Greater Washington Commericial Association of Realtors).

Sarah, her husband and their triplets live in Fairfax, Virginia.

 

Lisa came to Washington Workplace with 15 years of experience in the furniture industry. "I've worked as a project coordinator, a senior project manager and an account manager. I've gotten to know the industry very well and it's been fun learning how each individual part works."
 

A Washington Metro area native, Lisa lives in Bowie, MD with her husband and their four kids, where they love spending time together watching movies, playing Wii and all outdoor activities.
 

Robin started working in the office workplace industry during high school with her mother and states with some surprise, "And, before you know it, 30 years later, here I am!"

Robin has been at Washington Workplace since its founding 18 years ago. She was looking for a work philosophy that would recognize her desire to be with her family. "I needed a place where I could work but also be with my kids when I need to," she says.

Robin enjoys reading, hanging out with her kids and going to the beach. She, her husband and their son and daughter live in Alexandria, Virginia.

 

Katie has been with Washington Workplace for nine years as a project manager.  Her favorite aspect of the job is collaborating with the client, architect, contractor, and related vendors to get the project completed successfully.  She works hard to keep a smile on the client's face throughout the entire process -- nothing is more rewarding than to meet and exceed customer expectations.

Katie, her husband Ray, and their two children live in Wincester, Virginia.


 

Lisa Hester
Project Manager, Sales Support
 

Lisa has been in the furniture industry for 24 years. She has worked for various companies doing space planning, specifying, and anything furniture related. Lisa started with Washington Workplace the beginning of 2011. She works with Sherry Faulkner as project manager for the National account Davita Dialysis.

"My grandmother always said I should be doing some type of design work, but I thought being a hair stylist was much more appealing," Lisa says.  "I was good but too slow! I believe spending time with a client is more important than the number of clients I can fit into one hour."

 
Lisa lives in Lusby, Maryland and loves spending her spare time with her husband, family, as well as riding her horse.
 

Kathy, another 11-year Washington Workplace veteran, likes to view her work from the client's perspective. "I've always been involved in either Inside Sales or Customer Service, so I tend to think of the project from their perspective first," she says.

Kathy enjoys soccer, boating and socializing in her free time. She lives with her husband, two sons and a daughter in Lorton, Virginia.

Chelsea Kirk
Sales Support and Design Services

Chelsea has been in the commercial furniture industry since July 2010, after having graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University with a BFA in Interior Design. Working on a team with Sarah Gabriel, she loves the challenge of space planning and the problem solving aspects involved in designing spaces. Chelsea is looking forward to continuing her career in interior design through sales support and design services at Washington Workplace.

Having recently moved to D.C. with her dog, Olly, Chelsea enjoys the city life, and in her free time enjoys photography, cooking and being with friends and family.

Adrian Michaelson
Senior Furniture Consultant

With over 25 years of experience in Interior Design and in the Commercial Interiors industry, Adrian understands the processes of this business and the importance of customer service.  Through skills developed in space planning, needs analysis programming, furniture specifications, and project management, she has brought successful completion to many diverse projects and has maintained lasting relationships with clients that have developed into friendships over the years. I'm interested in companies that are well spirited, that value good people and good design, and I've found that in Washington Workplace!

She returned to her native Washington, D.C. from New York City, where she lived from 2000-2008 when her husband moved his Baumgartner Gallery to the center of the art world.  She is interested in all of the arts, travel, especially to her husband's native Salzburg Austria, and most important in spending time with their daughter, an artist currently living in New York City.
 

President

John is the founder and president of the award-winning, Arlington-based Washington Workplace. A 1979 graduate of Fordham University, he started the company in 1991.

As the oldest of 11 children, John says that the skill set he developed as a "classic first born" translates directly into those abilities needed to run a business and nurture employees and clients. Almost all of Washington Workplace's employees have been with the company for 10 years or longer and thrive in its family-friendly culture.

John attributes the success of Washington Workplace to three key philosophies: turning business relationships into real personal friendships, being prepared for business opportunities when they arise and, most importantly, being committed to serve others (clients, employees, the community) without regard to any personal benefit or return.

A 1999 alumnus of Leadership Arlington, he served as chairman of the organization in 2001. He has served as chairman of the board of the Arlington Free Clinic, and currently serves on the boards of directors of the Arlington Chamber of Commerce, Leadership Arlington, and the Columbia Pike Revitalization Organization. He also enjoys volunteering for ASPAN, the Arlington Community Foundation, NOVAM, Arlington County, and numerous other community organizations. He is the current Board Chair of the Arlington Food Assistane Center (AFAC).

John and his family live in Arlington, Virginia.
 

Jo Ann has worked on all types of office projects during her 25-year-plus career.  Before joining Washington Workplace, her clients included everyone from the Woodward & Lothrop department store to Georgia-Pacific manufacturing. Today, she focuses on the more customized projects that are helpful for a work/life environment that demands flexibility.

"Reception areas, conference rooms, home offices, children's home study areas," she says. "I work with interior designers, giving them the information they need to present to their clients."

A dedicated supporter of the arts - theatre, opera - she lives in North Potomac, Maryland, and also spends time with her three daughters and one grand-daughter.

 

Brad Taylor
Support, Sales
 

Brad started working part-time at Washington Workplace while he finished high school and then during college. In 2003, he started working full-time at the company, supporting sales staff through orders and installations, space planning and quote preparation. "I enjoy the people I work with," he says. "And I get the most satisfaction from working on a project beginning to end - floor plan, fabrics/finishes/carpet, quotes, installation. Everything."

Brad enjoys the classic car hobby - especially hot rods - and plans on owning many in the future. He and his father are restoring a 50-year-old mahogany powerboat. Brad also makes art from found objects including a chaise lounge  (pictured left) made from 40,000 aluminum can tabs that's been shown in area galleries. 

Brad and his wife Courtney live in Fairfax, Virginia with their two pet chinchillas, Spike and Tyke.

Amy has worked with Washington Workplace for more than ten years. During that time she's enjoyed working with colleagues and, as so many others, the family-like atmosphere. "And, believe it or not, working in accounting calls for a variety of responsibilities that are never boring," she insists. "The variety and the atmosphere keep everything very interesting."

When not crunching numbers or coordinating company functions, Amy swims, camps and takes part in as many outdoor activities as possible. She lives with her daughter in Alexandria, Virginia.