Ashley Albrecht

Graduated from High Point University Spring 2009 and is pursuing a career as a residential interior designer.

Rebekah Bishop

Rebekah graduated from East Carolina University with a degree in interior design. She plans to pursue a career in health care design creating functional, aesthetically pleasing hospitals and offices that help in the treatment and healing process. Her most recent internship was with FreemanWhite in Charlotte, North Carolina. Rebekah is a former member of the East Carolina University Track and Cross Country teams. She enjoys reading, traveling and any outdoor activities.

Nicholas Blair

After a summer studying furniture design in Denmark, Nick graduated from Kendall College of Art and Design. He has recently joined manufacturer Aspenhome as a furniture designer.

Chris Brooten

Chris graduated from Appalachian State University in May 2009.  An updated profile will be posted soon.

Jon Busby

Jon is a native of Vicksburg, Mississippi. Jon graduated from Mississippi State University in the Spring of 2003 with a degree in Furniture Management/Production.

Yanxin Chen

Yanxin graduated from Kendall College of Art and Design in 2004 with a BFA degree and an emphasis in furniture design. Today, Yanxin works as a furniture designer for H. Thomas Keller & Assocs. LLC in High Point, NC. His goals include building relationships in business and increasing the creativity in his work. Yanxin credits the Celia Moh Scholarship with adding credibility to his professional abilities and with helping him to make strong connections in the furniture industry.

Coury Lynn Cunningham

Coury received a degree in Interior Design with a minor in Business from East Carolina University.

Brittany Ferguson

Brittany graduated from High Point University and is pursuing a career in product merchandising.

Amanda Frisbee

Amanda graduated High Point University with a degree in Home Furnishings Marketing and Management.

Kendall Gilbert

Kendall graduated from Appalachian State University with a degree in Interior Design. Throughout her life, she has traveled extensively and is enchanted by European culture. She appreciates the European zest for life and rich history. Kendall enjoys practicing socially responsible design, "always remembering that human interaction and behavior is at the center of good design." She is currently employed as an interior designer for a commercial architect.

Carrie Gillispie

Carrie graduated from High Point University majoring in furniture marketing. Carrie is currently a Retail Interior Designer with Lane Home Furnishings (under the Furniture Brands umbrella). She designs galleries, stores, and showrooms for Lane including everything from the floor and paint to furniture and POP material. Carrie also does residential work on the side, partnering with a contractor for “turn-key” custom homes. She also designs floor plans and interiors, as well as manages the project and acts as a homeowner liaison during the construction phase. Carrie recently became engaged. She is focusing on work and plans to remain in the retail sector of the furniture industry for as long as possible.

Mary Elizabeth Glover

Mary Elizabeth graduated Appalachian State University where she double majored in marketing and industrial technology with a concentration in furniture studies.

Amy Huff

Amy graduated Appalachian State University with a degree in Interior Design. With both of her parents in the furniture industry, Amy’s love for the industry is truly genetic. Following graduation Amy joined Lane Venture in their sales division. She’s now with Lexington Home Brands as a retail merchandising.

Josh Inman

Josh graduated from North Carolina State University as an Industrial Engineering and Business Management major. He is currently a Product Line Manager at Danaher Motion in Radford, Va. He married in June 2006 and was accepted to Wake Forest MBA program. His future goals include gaining more experience throughout the business and continuing to gain responsibility through positions such as Business Unit Manager, Plant Manager, and/or General Manager.

David Jones

David graduated in May 2007 from North Carolina State University with a major in Industrial Engineering with concentration in furniture manufacturing and management. He also received a minor in Graphic Communications. David went to China and worked for Mark-David Furniture for two months. Then he received his Master’s in Industrial and Systems Engineering at North Carolina State in May 2008. David currently works for Caterpillar in Aurora, IL.

Lisa Koskela

Lisa graduated from Kendall College of Art and Design in 2005 with a BFA degree and an emphasis in furniture design as well as a minor in industrial design. Lisa currently holds a Design Management position at Hickory Hardware, a Grand Rapids based decorative hardware company. As an avocation, Lisa enjoys getting involved in local philanthropic efforts. Recently Lisa created art works for auctions to benefit Grand Rapids Public Schools’ arts education programs. Lisa is a new homeowner and enjoys the work it takes to renovate historic homes.

John (Jay) Leake

Jay completed the Furniture Manufacturing degree from Appalachian State University.

Ryan Leslie

Ryan graduated from Kendall College of Art and Design

Carl Marmion

Carl graduated from Kendall College of Art and Design in 2005 with a BFA degree and an emphasis in furniture design. For the past two years Carl has worked as a furniture and product designer for Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams, a High Point based furniture and accessories company. The designs he has completed for Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams have been featured in Elle Décor, Country Living, and House Beautiful. Carl is looking forward to advancing his knowledge of the upholstery industry and will make time to pursue his hobby of rock climbing.

Patty Mayol

Patty graduated High Point University with a degree in interior design.

Travis Millen

As a High Point, NC native, Travis has the furniture industry in his blood. The North Carolina State University graduate is currently pursuing a Masters degree in Industrial Engineering.

Emma Neidert

After graduation from High Point University in May 2009 with a bachelor of science in interior design and a minor in studio art, Emma interned with an interior design firm, Natalie Norcross and Associates, in High Point, NC. Recently Emma accepted a full time position as a designer for La-Z-Boy in Winston-Salem, NC.

Elena O’Brien

Elena completed a degree in Interior Design at East Carolina University.

Miranda Loggins Parnell

Miranda graduated High Point University with an Interior Design major. She has been employed at Furnitureland South as a full-time showroom designer for the last 3 years. Miranda was married 2 weeks after graduation and had a baby boy December 2007. She enjoys her job and doesn’t want it to change anytime soon. Miranda would also like to have her own business one day so that she may spend more time at home.

Michelle Johnson Peoples

Michelle graduated High Point University with an interior design major. She currently works as a design assistant at Steiner Design Interiors in Raleigh, NC. It is a small interior design studio practicing both commercial and residential design. Michelle is a member of the ASID and Chix in Business, Inc. She married on November 8, 2008. Michelle plans to continue working in the design industry and get her MFA in order to teach interior design on the college level.

Erin Peters

Erin graduated from High Point University with a degree in Interior Design.

Albert “Zack” Pleasants

Zack completed his degree in Furniture Manufacturing from Mississippi State University. His life dream is to start a furniture manufacturing company of his own.

Philip Rassi

Philip graduated from Kendall College of Art and Design in 2003 with a BFA degree and an emphasis in furniture design.

Neelie Robbins

Neelie graduated High Point University with a degree in interior design.

Susan Ada Sheek

Susan completed dual degrees in Interior Design and Business Management from Appalachian State University.

Krista Aglio Shelton

Krista graduated from High Point University with a double major in Interior Design and Home Furnishings Marketing. Krista has worked for Furnitureland South since July 2006 as an Interior Designer in the showroom building. She married November 3, 2007 and recently purchased her first house. She wants to continue learning and acquiring more knowledge in the interior design field and have her own part-time design business in the near future.

Caroline Shillito

Caroline graduated from Appalachian State University with a degree in Interior Design. She is currently employed at the Merchandise Mart in Chicago designing kitchens.

Suzanne Smalligan

Suzanne graduated from Kendall College of Art and Design in May, 2008 with a BFA degree and an emphasis in furniture design. Suzanne held an internship position with Paula Scott Unlimited, a Grand Rapids, MI. based product licensing firm for her senior year. Her work with Paula Scott Unlimited has given Suzanne a broad range of design skills including ceramics and lighting design, furniture design and rendering. In 2007 one of Suzanne’s designs was selected to appear in an exhibition of Kendall’s student designers at the Dubai International Office Furniture Show. Suzanne is excited to work in the furniture industry and brings real enthusiasm to each project.

Jillian Stoltz

Jillian is a graduate of Kendall College of Art and Design

Thor Taber

Thor graduated from Kendall College of Art and Design in May, 2008 with a BFA degree and an emphasis in furniture design. For the last two years Thor has worked as a furniture designer at Via Design, Inc., a Grand Rapids, MI. based interior and product design firm. Thor is a Pinnacle award winner and comes to the furniture industry with a firm grasp on his design philosophy. When asked to describe his goals Thor said, “I am a firm believer that good design happens when experienced and cooperative professionals from a diverse pool of talents challenge one another within an energetic atmosphere”.

Celia Thurman

Celia graduated from Appalachian State University with a BA in Interior Design.

Tiffany Tolliver

Following graduation from High Point University, Tiffany began working for Greenhouse Fabrics. Recently she has been asked to design a lodge in Banner Elk, NC.

Peter Jacob Vanderweir

Peter graduated from Kendall College of Art and Design in 2004 with a BFA degree and an emphasis in furniture design. Peter is the principal of Profile – Peter Jacob the Grand Rapids, MI based freelance design firm he started in July 2007. Profile – Peter Jacob is a fresh and growing firm specializing in hands on design practices and is expanding to meet the needs of the diverse clients it serves. Peter remains active at Kendall and serves as president of the Kendall College of Art and Design Alumni Board of Directors and seeks to promote internships and development opportunities through his efforts.

Keri Wilder

Keri graduated from East Carolina University in Interior Design.