Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Timeline
Generic

Lola Watson

San Diego,CA

Summary

Creative Business Owner with exceptional background spent in Interior Design. Proven leader with engaging demeanor and success working in most demanding environments. Talented in training and mentoring successful teams. Award winning and nationally published in trade and design magazines. Author of design articles in trade magazines. public speaker and professional and public events. Adjudicator of annual design awards.

- Past President of the American Society of Interior Design - Minnesota Chapter.

- Director of Public Relations - Fashion Group International, MN

- Past President of the Teacher's Union, Mt. Pleasant - Blythedale Union Free School District, NY

Overview

28
28
years of professional experience

Work History

Owner/Principal

Lola Watson Interior Design, LLC
Minneapolis, MN
09.2003 - 10.2017
  • Consulted with customers to assess needs and propose optimal solutions.
  • Trained and motivated employees to perform daily business functions.
  • Put together realistic budgets based upon costs and fees for successfully operating business.
  • Oversaw business budget planning and administration, accounting functions, purchasing and bi-weekly payroll to handle financial needs.
  • Achieved sales goals and increased revenue and profits through productive strategy development and organizational leadership.
  • Employed prompt decision-making and in-depth research to resolve issues.
  • Remained up-to-date on current trends and attended industry trade shows and markets to view and order inventory.
  • Reconciled daily sales, returns and financial reports in QuickBooks.
  • Provided financial management through preparation of bank deposits and settlement of sales, returns and transaction reports.
  • Provided outstanding coaching to employees to boost productivity.

Senior Interior Designer

William Beson Interior Design
Minneapolis, MN
09.2001 - 08.2003
  • Developed key client relationships by providing design solutions that met needs and budgets without compromising quality or design intent.
  • Developed space planning concepts, color palette selections and textile presentations.
  • Designed floor plans, elevations, 3D perspective views and material boards for review and presentation.
  • Participated in furniture selection and documentation of specifications.
  • Consulted with clients to determine architectural preference to meet overall design goals.
  • Interfaced effectively with contractors and vendors to resolve issues and discuss ideas.
  • Transformed uninspiring areas into warm and inviting living spaces using various lighting fixtures, materials and products.
  • Assisted clients with budget considerations and made recommendations for furniture, wall hangings and [Type] items.
  • Specified appropriate products and [Type] materials to meet project objectives and design scheme.
  • Facilitated requests regarding product information, installation methods and product upgrade options.
  • Carefully reviewed contractor submittals of finish materials.
  • Led interior design across conceptual, schematic, design development and construction document phases.
  • Programmed space requirements from schematic design to construction document phase and installation.
  • Researched trends in area of green building and environmental design to incorporate into business and residential projects.
  • Carried out day-day-day duties accurately and efficiently.

Senior Interior Designer

Gabberts Design Studio
Edina, MN
09.1997 - 09.2001
  • Developed key client relationships by providing design solutions that met needs and budgets without compromising quality or design intent.
  • Developed space planning concepts, color palette selections and textile presentations.
  • Designed floor plans, elevations, 3D perspective views and material boards for review and presentation.
  • Participated in furniture selection and documentation of specifications.
  • Consulted with clients to determine architectural preference to meet overall design goals.
  • Interfaced effectively with contractors and vendors to resolve issues and discuss ideas.
  • Transformed uninspiring areas into warm and inviting living spaces using various lighting fixtures, materials and products.
  • Assisted clients with budget considerations and made recommendations for furniture, wall hangings and [Type] items.
  • Specified appropriate products and [Type] materials to meet project objectives and design scheme.
  • Facilitated requests regarding product information, installation methods and product upgrade options.
  • Carefully reviewed contractor submittals of finish materials.
  • Led interior design across conceptual, schematic, design development and construction document phases.
  • Programmed space requirements from schematic design to construction document phase and installation.
  • Researched trends in area of green building and environmental design to incorporate into business and residential projects.
  • Carried out day-day-day duties accurately and efficiently.

Interior Designer

E J Audi
White Plains, NY
08.1995 - 05.1997
  • Developed space planning concepts, color palette selections and textile presentations.
  • Developed key client relationships by providing design solutions that met needs and budgets without compromising quality or design intent.
  • Designed floor plans, elevations, 3D perspective views and material boards for review and presentation.
  • Participated in furniture selection and documentation of specifications.
  • Consulted with clients to determine architectural preference to meet overall design goals.
  • Transformed uninspiring areas into warm and inviting living spaces using various lighting fixtures, materials and products.
  • Assisted clients with budget considerations and made recommendations for furniture, wall hangings and [Type] items.
  • Facilitated requests regarding product information, installation methods and product upgrade options.
  • Specified appropriate products and [Type] materials to meet project objectives and design scheme.
  • Quickly learned new skills and applied them to daily tasks, improving efficiency and productivity.
  • Carried out day-day-day duties accurately and efficiently.

Singer

San Francisco Opera Company
San Francisco, CA
04.1993 - 12.1995
  • Interpreted different music by making use of voice production, harmony, rhythm and melody to present characterization.
  • Trained and prepared voice, using various melodies and ranges such as soprano, tenor, alto and bass.
  • Sang and danced with creative ensembles and troupes for dramatic and comedic performances.
  • Applied knowledge of harmony, melody, rhythm and voice production to individualize presentations and maintain audience interest.
  • Practiced singing exercises and studied with vocal coaches to develop voice and rehearse for upcoming roles.
  • Observed choral leaders or prompters for cues or directions in vocal presentations.
  • Used printed text and musical notations to memorize musical selections and routines.
  • Studied scores at length to learn music in detail and develop suitable interpretations.

Teaching Assistant

Blythedale Children’s Hospital
Valhalla, NY
09.1991 - 05.1993
  • Assisted teachers with classroom management and document coordination to maintain positive learning environment.
  • Partnered with teacher to plan and implement lessons following school's curriculum, goals and objectives.
  • Tutored struggling students individually and in small groups to reinforce learning concepts.
  • Supported classroom activities, tutoring, and reviewing work.
  • Set up visual aids, equipment and classroom displays to support teacher's lesson delivery.
  • Delivered personalized educational, behavioral and emotional support to individual students to enable positive learning outcomes.
  • Oversaw students in classroom and common areas to monitor, enforce rules and support lead teacher.
  • Tutored students in reading, language arts and other subjects.
  • Worked under direction of licensed teacher in and outside of classroom.
  • Created lesson materials, visuals and digital presentations to supplement lesson plans.
  • Collated classroom materials to help teachers prepare for daily instruction and activities.
  • Participated in lesson planning and curriculum implementation to promote quicker rollout and delivery.
  • Implemented practice exercises and used repetition, enabling students to grasp new concepts quickly.
  • Encouraged dynamic and pleasant educational environment by promoting both gentle discipline and cooperation.
  • Used behavior modeling and specialized teaching techniques to share and reinforce social skills.
  • Promoted physical, mental and social development using classroom games and activities.
  • Organized and guided skills practice, research and memorization tasks for students.
  • Completed daily reports, meal count sheets and attendance logs.
  • Organized classroom library and art areas each day to keep classroom well-maintained.
  • Maximized receptive learning by educating students using hands-on instructional techniques.
  • Oversaw groups of students at school and off-site locations, maintaining optimal safety and security.
  • Monitored students on field trips, handling roll call and group movement to keep youths safe in public settings.

Teller

Bank Of New York
White Plains, NY
03.1990 - 10.1991
  • Answered customer inquiries regarding account balances, transaction history, services charges and interest rates.
  • Processed customer transactions promptly, minimizing wait times.
  • Completed highly accurate, high-volume money counts via both manual and machine-driven approaches.
  • Maintained friendly and professional customer interactions.
  • Counted, verified and handled bank deposits and armored car transactions.
  • Handled various accounting transactions.
  • Executed wire transfers, stop payments and account transfers.
  • Calculated fees due, interest and change for customer transactions.
  • Conducted regular proof work and followed up on chargebacks and deposit corrections.
  • Quickly learned new skills and applied them to daily tasks, improving efficiency and productivity.

Education

Bachelor of Science - Interior Design

University of Missouri - Columbia
Columbia, MO
05.1973

Skills

  • Effective Communicator and Public Speaker
  • Portfolio Management
  • Board Oversight
  • Industry Expertise
  • Executive Leadership
  • Leadership and People Development
  • Integrity and Transparency
  • Employee Motivation and Performance
  • Client Satisfaction
  • Thrive Under Pressure
  • Results Orientation
  • Intuit QuickBooks
  • Sales Growth

Timeline

Owner/Principal

Lola Watson Interior Design, LLC
09.2003 - 10.2017

Senior Interior Designer

William Beson Interior Design
09.2001 - 08.2003

Senior Interior Designer

Gabberts Design Studio
09.1997 - 09.2001

Interior Designer

E J Audi
08.1995 - 05.1997

Singer

San Francisco Opera Company
04.1993 - 12.1995

Teaching Assistant

Blythedale Children’s Hospital
09.1991 - 05.1993

Teller

Bank Of New York
03.1990 - 10.1991

Bachelor of Science - Interior Design

University of Missouri - Columbia

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Lola Watson