We are committed to building a group within the construction industry by empowering women to thrive and excel. Our mission is to create a supportive and fair environment that encourages the recruitment, retention, and professional development of women in construction.
Women in NARI
Name of Company
Alpha Granite & Tile
Name of Participant
Sonia Phocas
What is your job title?
Owner
What do you do for your company?
Financial Controller
Do you hold any NARI certifications?
No
How do you use your previous experience and/or education to do your job?
I have a degree in Education, but have over 30 years experience in running our own business with my husband, Denis. He takes care of operations and I’ve always taken care of anything financial.
What do you love about remodeling?
In our industry – Fabrication and Installation of Countertops – I love knowing how happy our customers are with their new surfaces. Some changes are just a simple new countertops, and some are major remodelers, but in both cases the countertops are the “bling” in their remodel and knowing we’re a part of that is very satisfying.
Name of Company
Alpha Granite & Tile
Name of Participant
Katy Smith
What is your job title?
Showroom Manager
What do you do for your company?
I joined Alpha in May 2021 as a Sales Executive. I’ve held onto those sales responsibilities, but I’m now also the Showroom Manager – scheduling and coordinating showroom events, overseeing showroom renovations, managing social media accounts, assisting our owners with marketing and PR, and supporting the Sales Manager as needed.
Do you hold any NARI certifications?
No
How do you use your previous experience and/or education to do your job?
Prior to working in the stone industry, I worked in home staging and real estate. Helping people get their homes ready to hit the market was a completely different perspective – then, I was de-personalizing spaces and creating an aesthetic that would appeal to as many people as possible. Now, I help people infuse their homes with their own taste and personality. I love both for different reasons, but I truly love what I do now!
What do you love about remodeling?
I love being a part of helping people create their dream homes. Whether it’s a small project or a whole house renovation, it’s so rewarding to contribute to beautiful spaces that homeowners will enjoy for years to come.
Name of Company
Arizona Tile
Name of Participant
Tina Galindo
What is your job title?
Outside Sales Representative
What do you do for your company?
Conduct sales out in the field with both potential and existing customers. Promote, update, and educate customers on our products in both tile and slab countertops. Provide the best customer service while developing relationships. Negotiate pricing to close deals.
Do you hold any NARI certifications?
No
How do you use your previous experience and/or education to do your job?
I have a Bachelor of Arts in Interior Design and 12 years’ experience in the design industry. With my experience I can understand and read floorplans. I can suggest the appropriate finishes that are suitable for the space while meeting the clients needs.
What do you love about remodeling?
Being a part of someone’s vision is so rewarding. I love to see the outcome of a project. Interior Design has been a huge passion of mine and I love creating beautiful spaces for a customer.
Name of Company
Arizona Tile
Name of Participant
Emily Hartson
What is your job title?
Order Desk Lead
What do you do for your company?
I serve as the leader of two pivotal teams within our organization: the Tile Order Desk and the Slab Order Desk. My responsibilities encompass the efficient processing of customer orders through diverse channels, including email, phone, and in-person interactions. My commitment to delivering excellent customer service involves resourcefulness when addressing inquiries. Additionally, I undertake the training of incoming employees, ensuring their comprehensive understanding of procedural protocols. To maintain operational excellence, I conduct regular reports to oversee the seamless functioning of both departments while including ordering slab and tile stock.
Do you hold any NARI certifications?
No
How do you use your previous experience and/or education to do your job?
In my previous professional experience, it helped me have meticulous attention to detail and impeccable organizational capabilities. I processed orders electronically and seamlessly integrating them into the system, all while ensuring a high standard of customer service.
What do you love about remodeling?
I love remodeling because you can take an outdated living space and turn it into a clean, modern look that suits your personality.
Name of Company
Arizona Tile
Name of Participant
Stacy Rosenbaum
What is your job title?
Showroom Manager
What do you do for your company?
Ensure a positive shopping experience for clients in our austin showroom by leading a team of design consultants, as well as supporting our outside sales team
Do you hold any NARI certifications?
No
How do you use your previous experience and/or education to do your job?
My background in teaching is an asset when it comes to educating clients and my team about materials and applications. I have worked with design as a small business owner and as a renovator of a historical property, so i understand what it’s like to be on both sides of a sale. I appreciate that a client’s satisfaction depends on both the product and experience, and i understand how aesthetics and function combine to make a desirable product.
What do you love about remodeling?
The satisfaction one gets when finding a winning solution using creativity and ingenuity.
Name of Company
CG&S Design Build
Name of Participant
Dolores Davis
What is your job title?
Owner/President/GM
What do you do for your company?
I always say that my main task is to listen well and assist in solving problems. Specifically, my day-to-day tasks are to build, support and empower our leadership team. I create a support network so that CG&S can operate at a high level for our clients, staff and Trade Partners. I also work on Business Development for our company. My passion is creating strong relationships amongst our staff and the design-build community so that we can feel connected to a bigger purpose.
Do you hold any NARI certifications?
I am a Universal Design Certified Professional ‘UDCP’
How do you use your previous experience and/or education to do your job?
As a second-generation family member of our company, I have been around remodeling my entire life. I learned to take messages from my father when I was six years old and did payroll for my mom when I was in college. I studied social work at UT, so I feel it uniquely qualifies me to work in this industry. At its simplest level, remodeling is connecting people with resources to design and build our clients the best project for them.
What do you love about remodeling?
The thing I love most about remodeling is that the work we do transforms lives. Every single project we do is designed and built to meet our client’s needs. We help solve their problems in beautiful ways which leads to making their lives better. It is the absolute best!
Name of Company
CG&S Design Build
Name of Participant
Iris Davis-Quick
What is your job title?
Marketing Manager
What do you do for your company?
I’m a storyteller. I coordinate with my team on the yearly marketing strategy and make sure everything we produce tells our story and the stories of our clients, staff members, and vendors.
Do you hold any NARI certifications?
No
How do you use your previous experience and/or education to do your job?
I have a background in film, so I approach our marketing strategy with story in mind. Who is our audience, what are their wants and needs, and what is the best way to tell their story through what we do?
What do you love about remodeling?
Remodeling is like building onto a home’s story and history. Remodeling allows the house to be transformed, recreated, built anew, but we need to use the existing home first to do that, so the character and soul of the house remains even if the home itself has been transformed.
Name of Company
J9 HOMES
Name of Participant
Stephanie Cooper
What is your job title?
Project Manager
What do you do for your company?
I manage execution and completion of remodel projects.
Do you hold any NARI certifications?
I am getting my NARI Project Manager Cert.
How do you use your previous experience and/or education to do your job?
I used to have a Faux finishing and mural company so the attention to detail has made me particularly good at this job.
What do you love about remodeling?
I love watching a space transform. It feel so good to take someones home and make it their dream space!
Name of Company
J9 Homes
Name of Participant
Rachel James-Dolan
What is your job title?
Materials Manager
What do you do for your company?
I drive project success through procurement and purchasing strategies including management of orders from selections to placement, fulfillment, and delivery.
Do you hold any NARI certifications?
Not yet
How do you use your previous experience and/or education to do your job?
I previously worked with full service design firms for 10+ years where I used my Interior Design degree from UT Austin’s School of Architecture every day. I then branched off into Owner’s Representation and Project Management where I learned even more about the construction industry and process. I am now able to use my past interior design experience to better serve our clients, architects, and designers through the selections process and ensure all the details of selections are captured fully.
What do you love about remodeling?
I love remodeling and the opportunity to make a family happy in their home. I focus my life on progressing and being better every day, why not make someone’s house better?
Name of Company
J9 HOMES
Name of Participant
Sara Kelly
What is your job title?
Director of Operations
What do you do for your company?
Financial project management via QuickBooks and Buildertrend. Coordination of accounting processes including liaison between our CPA and Bookkeeping firm. I also like to touch on training opportunities for our team. For example, I have a bit of an obsession with email efficiency and all the fantastic tricks within GMail that can be used to make managing your inbox simpler. The team can regularly expect a new tip from me on our regular status calls or via a quick Loom video.
Do you hold any NARI certifications?
No
How do you use your previous experience and/or education to do your job?
Accounting degree and CPA experience helps in all the detail management and financial coordination/analysis required in my role. My process management skills allow for continued improvement on how we manage our back office operations as well. Given we regularly manage million dollar plus budgets, we need to be certain we know where every dollar is going.
What do you love about remodeling?
I enjoy the project management aspect of each distinct project and the challenges around tracking to budgets within the change order and selection processes.
Name of Company
J9 HOMES
Name of Participant
Kelli Moore
What is your job title?
Director of Client Engagement
What do you do for your company?
My role is to introduce J9 HOMES to prospective clients and then shepherd them through the initial stages of planning for their remodel. I get calls ranging from “I think I want to redo my kitchen, but don’t know where to start” to “I have a complete set of architectural plans that are ready for engineering and estimating.”. I love meeting each client wherever they’re at and help bring their dreams to reality. In addition to my client-related work, I also handle operational activities, such marketing, human resources, networking, and supporting Janine in her role as the owner.
Do you hold any NARI certifications?
Not yet!
How do you use your previous experience and/or education to do your job?
My education and experience are perfect for this position! My undergraduate degree is in psychology and I also have my MBA. Additionally, I spent 20 years working at Accenture, a global consulting firm, in the areas of client relationship, talent development and performance management. The unique combination of my degrees and work experience have given me the business acumen needed to support a rapidly growing company and wear many hats. My favorite though, is caring for our clients and supporting them every step along the way.
What do you love about remodeling?
In my opinion, much of our “quality of life” is rooted in our home lives so it’s important that our homes support our families and lifestyle well. This is where some of our most important memories are created! I love that our amazing team of professionals can truly create a seamless experience from end to end in helping clients love the home they are in.
Name of Company
J9 HOMES
Name of Participate
Janine Starr
What is your job title?
Owner
What do you do for your company?
When I first started my career in construction, I was doing it all – from the initial sales call to the final punch item. Now, I run an amazing and predominantly female team that helps our organization execute and not just meet, but surpass customer expectations. I apply my expertise through the full sales and project life cycle with my main focus being on building and maintaining strong relationships with clients, suppliers, and trades. I drive concept development by collaborating with our design and architectural partners. I am dedicated to team and company development, with an ever increasing focus on continued education. I am still very hands on through the entire build process, whether that involves walking jobs sites, conducting financial reviews, reviewing plans troubleshooting, etc. I am always thinking about ways to continuously improve and deliver a fabulous product and service to our clients.
Do you hold any NARI certifications?
I am currently studying for my Certified Remodeler exam and plan to sit for it Spring of 2024.
How do you use your previous experience and/or education to do your job?
When I transitioned from a corporate consulting and Human Resources career, I did not realize just how much my professional background would apply in the construction industry. With a BS in Psychology, an MBA, and years of consulting experience, these skills are applied daily. Experience with change management, conflict resolution, financial assessment, and more from my past business experience and education make me a better business owner, leader, builder, and general partner to our clients, trades, and designers.
What do you love about remodeling?
The challenge to get to the transformation is my absolute favorite part. We work on fairly complex remodels requiring significant structural details and modifications to MEPs. Figuring out how to execute to the bones of these requirements while ultimately ending up with a beautiful aesthetic is a fantastic puzzle to put together.
Name of Company
J9 HOMES
Name of Participant
Angie Taylor
What is your job title?
Estimating, Permitting and Vendor Management
What do you do for your company?
Prepare project estimates for potential clients, permit coordination and collaboration with our vendors and trades as needed to procure estimates.
Do you hold any NARI certifications?
No
How do you use your previous experience and/or education to do your job?
Having worked in startup organizations for years, being adaptable and able to change focus as needed is important in what I do. Most of my experience is in operations and vendor management. Both of which have played a pivotal role in finding success at J9 HOMES.
What do you love about remodeling?
The process of modifying a great home and creating a new environment that still flows seamlessly with existing space is fascinating. Always a treat to see the finished product. Living the before and after in real time is quite the experience.
Name of Company
ProSource Wholesale Floorcoverings Austin
Name of Participate
Christine Allessio
What is your job title?
Account Manager 25 Years
What do you do for your company?
Sales and design. Build and maintain positive relationships with our industry partners.
Do you hold any NARI certifications?
President 2024, Vice President 2023, Membership Committee Chair, WIN Chair.
How do you use your previous experience and/or education to do your job?
Continuous learning on latest trends and styles with product knowledge classes. Observing more experienced industry partners.
What do you love about remodeling?
The People. I love watching each step and seeing the final product put a smile on their faces.
Name of Company
Remodel Boutique
Name of Participant
Michelle Flores
What is your job title?
Co-Founder
What do you do for your company?
I oversee sales and construction process. As a small business owner and operator I spend much of my time cultivating relationships, microtweaking our processes and trying to provide support to team members in all depts.
Do you hold any NARI certifications?
Not yet. This year we are working on completing our Certified Remodeler and Kitchen and Bath certifications.
How do you use your previous experience and/or education to do your job?
We remodel homes but we’re in the customer service industry. My first priority keeping is folks happy, we aim to make a stressful and scary endeavor a painless and enjoyable process. Listening has become one of the most valuable skills I’ve honed.
What do you love about remodeling?
Helping families fall back ini love with their homes and getting to work and build a business besides my wife.
Name of Company
Remodel Boutique
Name of Participant
Whitney Hall-Smelser
What is your job title?
Interior Designer & Project Manager
What do you do for your company?
In my role as an interior design project manager, I am essential in coordinating many aspects of the project from start to finish. Some of the core skills I utilize daily include project planning, client communication, team coordination, budget management, resource allocation, quality control, risk management, and documentation and reporting.
Do you hold any NARI certifications?
No
How do you use your previous experience and/or education to do your job?
As interior designers, we’re accustomed to a wide array of project types, and remodeling only expands that horizon further. Each project presents unique challenges, allowing me to continually learn and grow. I find great fulfillment in learning and growing within the interior design industry, always aiming to exceed my own standards. With seven years of hands-on experience in both residential and commercial interiors, coupled with my formal education from the Texas State Interior Design Program, most days represent the culmination of my combined design journey. From space planning, budgeting, selections, specifications, presentations, drawings, and researching new methods or products, every aspect seamlessly converges into the work I do. In addition to my formal education, I’ve actively participated in student panels at Texas State and have been deeply involved in various professional interior design organizations. Interior Design is an immersive career, and I’ve found great value in staying engaged and connected within the central Texas design community.
What do you love about remodeling?
At my core, I am a problem solver, finding fulfillment in untangling complex challenges. Among the many gratifying aspects of my career, remodeling stands out as a chance to reimagine spaces, utilizing existing elements to exceed clients’ expectations. I believe that meticulous attention to interior architecture is pivotal in creating exceptional environments. When floor plans and designs are thoughtfully optimized, selections and finishes naturally fall into place with greater harmony. Witnessing the transformation from “before” to “after” is the most rewarding aspect of our part of the industry. Above all, my primary objective is to enhance our clients’ lives and establish enduring, safe environments for the future.
Name of Company
REMODEL BOUTIQUE
Name of Participant
MARISOL ORONA
What is your job title?
INTERIOR DESIGNER + PROJECT MANAGER
What do you do for your company?
As Interior Designer, I guide my clients through the technical and creative phases of their remodeling project. As Project Manager, I help ensure that we are staying within scope, within budget and on time.
Do you hold any NARI certifications?
NO
How do you use your previous experience and/or education to do your job?
I have an educational background in Culinary Arts, as well as Interior Design. My years spent working in high-volume restaurants has helped me bring a professional perspective when designing functional and efficient kitchens, as well living spaces that promote connection and highlight ambiance.
Most of my professional design experience has come from working under a Spec Home Builder. My projects consisted of investment properties and new builds, which we would mainly design to appeal to the mass real estate market.
The major difference between that work and the work I do at Remodel Boutique, is that now I have the privilege of working one on one with clients and tailoring their spaces to fit their individual needs, taste and lifestyle. The end results are far more collaborative, creative and unique than I could ever create on my own.
What do you love about remodeling?
I love that each project brings a new set of challenges to resolve for our clients, and at my core, I really enjoy helping people. I also believe that good design is about seeing things as they could be, and I take great pride in being able to facilitate beauty and transformation wherever possible.
Name of Company
Remodel Boutique
Name of Participant
Elizabeth Passmore
What is your job title?
Project Manager
What do you do for your company?
Construction department project manager
Do you hold any NARI certifications?
No
How do you use your previous experience and/or education to do your job?
I graduated from Drexel University with an Construction Management degree and have worked in the industry for the past 10 years. My experience affects everything I do on a daily basis!
What do you love about remodeling?
Building someones dream home and no two projects are the same
Name of Company
Simply Home
Name of Participate
Maryann Casas
What is your job title?
Senior Project Manager
What do you do for your company?
Oversee the construction team, create and manage construction and tracking processes, on-going client relations, and manage the close out survey/reviews + photoshoots.
Do you hold any NARI certifications?
No
How do you use your previous experience and/or education to do your job?
Studied Sustainable Building Design and started my career working for a sustainable construction company. Working in sales and hospitality prepared me for the world of Construction Project Management by being quick on my feet and eager to communicate with clients while troubleshooting with my team internally.
What do you love about remodeling?
No two days are the same! I love homes and design and seeing how spaces affect people. We have such a wonderful opportunity in the home remodeling world to impact people and the way they live and enjoy their lives. I love seeing the tangible outcome of hardwork in the spaces we renovate. Design phase to demo to trim out is such a journey. Working directly with designers, tradesman, and clients creates a huge network and I’ve thoroghly enjoyed creating with the people in this network.
Name of Company
Simply Home
Name of Participant
Holly Northup
What is your job title?
Operations Manager
What do you do for your company?
The Operations Manager ensures quality, safety, and efficiency by creating or refining, implementing, and consistently monitoring procedures for all existing departments; additionally this position helps strategize, plan, build, and develop new departments and roles in consultation with the Executive Team and in alignment with the company’s growth plan. The successful candidate is a strategic thinker whose insight and direction results in a more productive, well-resourced internal team, a smoother flow of information, as well as cleaner, tighter, systems. The Operations Manager’s duties will include serving as a company representative on regulatory issues and routine business processes; interviewing, hiring, onboarding, and training new employees; establishing and maintaining an employee performance management system, including annual performance appraisals and associated improvement plans. This role is the internal shepherd of the company, monitoring and supporting all employees in the execution of their roles. This person is bold and confident in their thoughts and actions. They consistently listen curiously and thoughtfully when interacting with all staff, and as a result act as a poised advisor for both employees and the Executive Team.
Do you hold any NARI certifications?
No
How do you use your previous experience and/or education to do your job?
My previous experience in small business operations, especially in growth and strategic planning have helped me to focus in on my role and other roles of the company to streamline systems, create processes and define job responsibilities to ensure that we are executing our company’s mission and helping our clients at the highest level.
What do you love about remodeling?
Seeing the whole process of remodeling from demo to the final beautiful design has always been intriguing to me. Being able to create spaces that truly elevate a person’s life while creating the home of their dreams is such a special process and I’m honored to be a part of it.
Name of Company
Simply Home
Name of Participant
Ashley Wainscott
What is your job title?
Founder & CEO
What do you do for your company?
I lead the vision of our company, our leadership team, strategic planning, community involvement and the building of external relationships.
Do you hold any NARI certifications? Not yet!
How do you use your previous experience and/or education to do your job?
My education is in entrepreneurship, which is all about building a business. Building a business is not something that stops after you start your business, the building happens everyday. I have used my financial and event planning background to remember the bigger picture for my team, third paries and our clients. I use my life experience to create the team’s and client’s extraoridinary daily experience of Simply Home.
What do you love about remodeling?
Building a space that fits each client and sparks a feeling of home for them. The creativity that flows throughout each phase of planning, development and construction, as well as the unique opportunities that present themselves at each client’s home.
Name of Company
TRS Build
Name of Participant
Annemarie Diaz
What is your job title?
Co-Owner, Development and Engagement
What do you do for your company?
I oversee marketing, sales, design, permitting and client services to ensure our clients have the best possible experience in line with our brand promise of Professionalism, Care and Communication, and Quality in Product and Service Delivery. I also work with our team to create and track performance metrics, celebrate wins, and learn from any new challenges we face.
Do you hold any NARI certifications?
UDCP
How do you use your previous experience and/or education to do your job? My background is in engineering, advocacy and strategic planning. A strange sounding combination perhaps, but I find I use something from all of these skill sets and experiences every day as we work to serve our team and our clients well.
What do you love about remodeling?
I love working with our clients and team to develop plans and designs that create the beauty our clients want and the functionality they need, and seeing their excitement as that vision becomes a reality! I especially love bringing Universal Design concepts into projects for clients that want to ensure all family members and guests can use and enjoy the home, and projects where adults are preparing their home for aging parents to move in with them. Lastly, it may seem old fashioned, but I still see home ownership as core to the American Dream and central to creating stability for families and communities. I love helping clients invest in their homes, and transform their homes to meet the needs of current and future generations.
Name of Company
TRS Build
Name of Participant
Mary Tovar
What is your job title?
Client Services Director
What do you do for your company?
I work closely with all team members to ensure clients receive the best possible service in line with our brand promise of Professionalism, Care and Communication, and Quality in Product and Service Delivery. I track performance and project status across our portfolio of projects, oversee procurement and warranty services, and ensure clients receive timely and accurate communications.
Do you hold any NARI certifications?
No
How do you use your previous experience and/or education to do your job?
In my last position I worked for a private school where I was the first point of contact for parents of prospective students, and provided parents with communications throughout the life cycle of their child’s time with our academy.
What do you love about remodeling?
I love seeing the difference we make in people’s lives and the beauty we can create in their homes! I’m very proud of our company and work diligently every day to maintain and improve on our record of quality.