Sarah K. Raab Lerche
Port Washington,WI
Summary
Interior design professional and collaborative leader with a dedication to partnering with co-workers to promote a positive, empowering workplace culture.
Design Manager skilled at building and maintaining relationships with diverse range of stakeholders in dynamic, fast-paced settings.
Highly capable of communicating complex design concepts.
Leads design team strategy to develop and accomplish team goals. Drives initiative and demonstrates excellent organization and communication in fast-paced dynamic environment and collaborates with cross-functional stakeholders for greatest potential impact.
25 years of experience designing and specifying MillerKnoll furniture for corporate and government workplaces.
Overview
35
35
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Design Manager
Industries For The Blind & Visually Impaired-IBVI
West Allis, WI
11.2018 - Current
- Developed design concepts and furniture layouts for multiple government agencies. Projects were of varying size and scope, from inception to completion. Provided cost-effective furniture solutions.
- Managed furniture program and design projects for a Federal Government Agency under IDIQ with MillerKnoll furniture for $25 Million over 5 years.
- Maintained and prepared timelines of current project statuses for weekly meetings.
- Evaluated employee performance and conveyed constructive feedback to improve skills.
- Recruited, interviewed and hired employees and implemented mentoring program to promote positive feedback and engagement.
Director of Design
Schroeder Solutions, Inc.
New Berlin, WI
06.2015 - 10.2018
- Managed and inspired team with design direction, pushing quality of design work and helping drive impact through teams.
- Prepared and presented creative concepts to clients and implemented continual feedback to achieve client satisfaction.
- Accelerated team efficiency by improving processes and workflows within teams, design team as whole and cross-functional teams.
Interior Design Director
JL Business Interiors
West Bend, WI
06.2012 - 06.2015
- Successfully managed and designed projects of varying sizes and scopes.
- Recruited, interviewed and hired employees and implemented mentoring program.
- Established team priorities, performance goals for employees and provided constructive feedback to improve skills and methods for reaching those milestones.
- Maintained positive customer relations by addressing problems and implementing corrective actions.
Senior Interior Designer
Interior Investments LLC
Milwaukee, WI
05.2007 - 05.2012
- MillerKnoll furniture dealership.
- Developed key client relationships by providing design solutions that met needs and budgets without compromising quality or design intent.
- Defined space requirements from schematic design to construction phase and installation. Illustrated visual concepts during client presentations through detailed plans and sketches.
- Designed floor plans, elevations, 3D perspective views, and material boards for review and presentation.
- Developed design concepts, color palette selections, and prepared presentations.
- Interfaced effectively with contractors and vendors to resolve issues and discuss ideas.
Interior Design Instructor
Milwaukee Area Technical College
West Allis, WI
09.1997 - 05.2009
- Evaluated and revised existing course content and created / developed new lesson plans to meet students' academic needs.
- Assisted students in retaining lecture information with creation of guides and course materials.
- Tracked student progress, frequently checking in with struggling students.
- Tested and evaluated students on materials presented in classes based on performance metrics.
- Increased educational expertise and knowledge by participating in instructor-oriented workshops.
Corporate Facility Designer
Northwestern Mutual Financial Network
Milwaukee, WI
12.1997 - 01.2001
- Identified design requirements for each project.
- Obtained approval of concepts by submitting and reviewing layouts with internal customers.
- Analyzed feedback from customers to refine design concepts.
- Assured that designs adhered to company brand standards and guidelines.
- Developed and maintained comprehensive library of design materials for easy access and reuse.
- Built strong vendor relationships to facilitate favorable pricing on furniture.
- Provided guidance and advice to junior design team members on design-related matters.
- Standardized on Herman Miller Systems furniture.
Senior Project Designer
Building Service, Inc.
Waukesha, WI
04.1994 - 12.1997
- Design/ Build Firm and Herman Miller Furniture Dealership.
- Designed projects for customers in various industries.
- Delivered outstanding design services to clients to both maintain and extend relationship for future business opportunities.
- Updated designs with latest feedback from customers.
- Provided status updates for projects, delivering information to all stakeholders.
- Prepared and presented project furniture budgets.
- Developed and maintained comprehensive drawings, utilizing AutoCAD software.
- Assisted with college intern program.
Interior Designer
Pace Architects, S.C.
Milwaukee, WI
06.1993 - 04.1994
- Architectural Firm.
- Systems furniture inventory, reconfigurations and design presentations for corporate office facility.
- Utilized computer-aided design (CAD) software to create plans and systems furniture and private office typicals.
- Specified appropriate products and materials to meet project objectives and design scheme.
- Researched and developed interior color palette selections for new day care facility.
- Updated and maintained finish selection library. Coordinated updates with manufacturer representatives.
Project Designer | Senior Project Designer
Thomas Interior Systems, Inc.
Bloomingdale, IL
10.1988 - 03.1993
- Herman Miller Office Pavilion.
- Delivered outstanding service to clients.
- Provided weekly status updates for projects.
- Prepared preliminary furniture project budgets based on various requirements.
- Designed projects for clientele in various industries.
- Incorporated comments and instructions to finalize drawings for furniture installations.
- Performed work utilizing high quality standards.
- Assisted with training of Junior Project Designers.
- Project Designer promoted to Senior Project Designer.
Education
Bachelor of Arts - Interior Design & Art
Mount Mary University
Milwaukee, WI05.1986
Skills
- Project Team Leadership Collaboration
- Business Development Customer Relationship Management
- Employee Onboarding Orientation Performance Evaluation
- Task Delegation Overseeing Project Priorities Mentoring
- Continuous Process Improvement
- Technical Proficiency in AutoCAD, 2020 Specifying Software
Accomplishments
LEED Silver Award:
Comprehensive Interior Design Package for Time Warner Cable's Facility, Appleton, WI November 2009
Publication:
Herman Miller Call Center Case Study featured on Herman Miller's website (2009); Article and images based on the furnishing solutions for Time Warner Cable's Facility, Appleton, WI
ASID 2002 Silver Awards:
Northwestern Mutual Credit Union, Milwaukee, WI
Northwestern Mutual Cafe 611, Milwaukee, WI
Certification
LEED Green Associate, January, 2010
NCIDQ (National Council for Interior Design Qualifications), October 1985
Timeline
Design Manager
Industries For The Blind & Visually Impaired-IBVI
11.2018 - Current
Director of Design
Schroeder Solutions, Inc.
06.2015 - 10.2018
Interior Design Director
JL Business Interiors
06.2012 - 06.2015
Senior Interior Designer
Interior Investments LLC
05.2007 - 05.2012
Corporate Facility Designer
Northwestern Mutual Financial Network
12.1997 - 01.2001
Interior Design Instructor
Milwaukee Area Technical College
09.1997 - 05.2009
Senior Project Designer
Building Service, Inc.
04.1994 - 12.1997
Interior Designer
Pace Architects, S.C.
06.1993 - 04.1994
Project Designer | Senior Project Designer
Thomas Interior Systems, Inc.
10.1988 - 03.1993
Bachelor of Arts - Interior Design & Art
Mount Mary University