Employee feature: Kathleen Stanton

Meet Kathleen Stanton, Senior Designer at SPACE, Inc. A seasoned pro in terms of design, Kathleen is the go-to resource for our clients and entire design team.

How did your path lead to SPACE?

Directly after graduating from Marymount University with a BA in Interior Design, I worked for two years for a small healthcare design firm. After they closed, I found my way into the contract furniture world. I worked for another Haworth dealership for 14 years as their Design Manager and after the owners retired, I found a new home at SPACE. I’ve been a part of the SPACE family for 8 years now!

I have always lived in Northern Virginia, in a suburb of DC. As a native of a very transient area, I found the longevity and loyalty of the employees to be the most pleasant surprise! SPACE really cares about their employees and the support they give to everyone is very welcoming.

What are you most proud about throughout your time with SPACE?

I am most proud of my current position and how I have been able to incorporate my years of experience into helping our team become even stronger.

In your opinion, what is the future of design — and how will SPACE be able to help?

We have had so much change over the past few years within design. 

Prior to the pandemic, the trend was changing toward the open office—taking walls down and less footprint/more people. The pandemic put a hold on this trend and now we are looking at a much more transient design style of home offices, as well as back to an older model of more private space in the office. 

I’m confident that our SPACE team has the know-how and resources to meet all the current (and future) needs client needs and create solutions that offer the flexibility the current environment needs. 

Fun facts about Kathleen:

  • Kathleen’s and her husband just sent their son to college and are adjusting to being empty nesters. Their two daughters have blessed with 5 grandbabies under the age of five who call her Yaya. 
  • In addition to being an Interior Designer, Kathleen is also a Registered Nurse. She works in Northern Virginia as a labor and delivery nurse part time.
  • DESIGN STYLE: My personal design style is a little eclectic. I love to incorporate antique and family furniture into a more modern environment. I like to change it up often and prefer a more neutral background with splashes of color that can be changed or refreshed as trends change. 
  • DESIGN TRENDS THAT NEED “TO GO”: All white. As pretty as it is when it’s initially done, it becomes dirty and dingy too quickly.

Employee feature: Gloria Heye

Meet Gloria Heye, Intern at SPACE, Inc. Over the course of the summer, she’s used her energy, creativity, and willingness to help to benefit all of us.

How did your path lead to SPACE?

I’m heading into my senior year at Central Michigan University (CMU), where I’m pursuing my bachelor in fine arts with a concentration in graphic design and a minor in advertising. 

I was attending the Addy Awards for the Bay Lakes region when Jenni Bush approached me and asked me to interview for a versatile summer internship. 

As a Midland-native, I knew SPACE had a representation for its strong, passionate female role models—and that’s a form of representation I wanted to be surrounded by. 

What are you most proud about throughout your time with SPACE?

Honestly, I’m proud of my time management skills this summer. I’ve balanced two additional internships, as well as a musical—and still been able to give my best to the team at SPACE. 

I’ve had fun contributing to SPACE’s social media—adding a fun flair through Instagram Reels. 

On the side, I’ve helped Kathi Fuce-Hobhom with a few side projects, including for the Women’s Executive Round Table that she’s a member of.

In your opinion, what is the future of design — and how will SPACE be able to help?

SPACE has an incredibly bright future and, from the perspective of a graphic designer, the team has great opportunities to showcase our personality and continue to evolve our still-rather-new brand.

Fun facts about Gloria:

Gloria’s creative energy makes frequent appearances outside of work too, as she captains her school’s hip hop team, participates in musical theater, choreographs shows, and draws and paints. She is also the president of the Design Hub club for her major.

Gloria’s personal design style: “I tend to fall on the extremes: either modern, clean lines or illustrative, colorful, and extra!”

What design trend needs to go: “The all-white aesthetic. It feels cold, stale, and sterile.”

Employee feature: Kalie Sergent

Meet Kalie Sergent, Interior Designer at SPACE, Inc. Newly graduated from Central Michigan University, Kalie’s outstanding attention to detail has helped her blend seamlessly into our team.

How did your path lead to SPACE?

I recently earned my bachelor’s degree of applied arts in interior design from Central Michigan University (CMU). As a Midland local, I knew about SPACE’s intentional focus on sustainability, which is something I’ve always wanted to make central to my career in design.

What has been the most surprising aspect of your work with SPACE?

I’ve quickly learned how much detail and attention goes into everything we do. There are so many moving parts—from bidding to project management to furniture selection—so I collaborate with almost everyone on my projects.

What are you most proud about throughout your time with SPACE?

Everyone at SPACE has the same end goal: delighting our clients. It has been rewarding to see how well everyone works together, across different personalities and job types. 

The team is kind and encouraging, always answering my questions and reminding me: “You’ve got this!” I had the privilege to attend NeoCon 2022, where I learned more about the future of design. It was so educational to get out of my normal space and into showrooms, physically seeing, touching, and feeling new products and styles.

In your opinion, what is the future of design — and how will SPACE be able to help?

This was reflected at NeoCon: a trend that isn’t going anywhere is touch down office spaces. That means fewer permanent desks or offices, and more flexibility to move around the building. It offers variability for when workers need heads-down, focus time versus collaborative open spaces. 

At SPACE, we’re already well-equipped to design for flexibility in the future of work. I look forward to helping clients design work spaces that meet even the needs they can’t predict.

Fun facts about Kalie:

When Kalie is not reviewing fabrics or sketching work spaces, she’s usually spending time with family or exploring outside—hiking, hammocking, or rooting for Michigan State football.

Kalie’s personal design style: “A mix between bohemian and traditional. I love warm colors, wood tones, plants, and timeless design elements.”

What design trend needs to go: “This is a bit different, but I hope another pandemic like COVID-19 never forces us into complete separation again. Collaborative workspaces are so useful and here to stay.”

Employee feature: Liz Drew

Liz Drew, recently promoted to Senior Proposal Coordinator, is a detailed, energetic, and positive young woman who is always willing to help others.

How did your path lead to SPACE?

Great question! I actually began my career as an ICU nurse, so this was certainly a pivot. I soon realized I wanted to explore opportunities in business, so I went back to school and joined SPACE in early 2020 as an order entry specialist. 

At the time, I was captivated by the team photos on the website. It looked like such a fun team to work for, plus so many people had long tenures within the organization. Plus, I couldn’t find a bad customer review—so that was a great sign.

What has been the most enjoyable aspect of your time with SPACE?

From the minute I interviewed with the SPACE team, they were welcoming and showed me around their office—all before I was even hired! 

This team knows how to celebrate—whether it’s receiving the Haworth Best in Class award, celebrating staff retirements, or holding coffee chats with leadership.

And I am continually impressed by the forward-facing, unique programs in sustainability that we offer, like SPACE anew.

What are you most proud about throughout your time with SPACE?

Every time I participate in helping us win a large federal bid, I get so excited. It’s inspiring to see everyone’s hard work and teamwork through the process (always on a time crunch!), then witness success.

I don’t know that everyone realizes how much goes into preparing bids, presenting them, entering and ordering all the products, then installing everything. So when we wind up with a glowing customer review, it’s all worth it.

In your opinion, what is the future of design—and how will SPACE be able to help?

As a team, our goal is to continue embracing change. We’re constantly researching where office design is headed to make sure we’re part of the innovation—not falling behind. 

We’re also focused on meeting our customers’ desire to have products that are environmentally-friendly.

Fun facts about Liz:

Liz lives in Arkansas with her family, and is a proud aunt to two nieces and one nephew. She loves being outside: hiking, fishing, hammocking, and exploring!

Liz’s personal design style: Bohemian or 70s-inspired, bringing elements of the outdoors inside by using plants, wood, and stone.