Susan Kent ’71, owner of Moving by Design in Cleveland, Ohio, drew her own blueprint for success
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Reading the LANDSCAPE
n the early 1970s, while politicians and everyday Americans were trying to contend with the oil crisis plaguing the country, Susan Kent was in New Haven, Conn., earning a degree in art history and environmental science at Yale. In the wake of the crisis as the environmental movement continued to gain momentum, she went on to earn a Master’s degree in landscape architecture from the University of Virginia. She was determined to find ways to artfully and conscientiously incorporate and preserve nature in the built environment. After working for a few years in large architectural firms, Kent struck out on her own. As an independent contractor, she oversaw large-scale jobs through the city of Cleveland Heights and other entities. And setting her own hours made it easier to spend time with her daughters, Tori Kauer ’04 and Lydia Kauer ’07. While many women opted to either work or stay at home, Kent found a way to do both. “In a way, I was going against the grain by being home with the kids part-time,” she says. Although she admits that it wasn’t always an easy balance between work life and home life because of the demands of her business, Kent says the choice was the right one for her household at the time. Still, the seasonal nature of her work sometimes could be stressful, and
she found herself having to put in more hours after she was divorced. All this time, across the street from Kent, neighbor and interior designer Helen Burdg was cultivating a growing business of her own.Through her work with Judson retirement communities in Cleveland, she had found a niche in relocating clients and outfitting their new spaces. Understanding that downsizing and moving into a retirement community can be extremely stressful for families to undertake on their own, Burdg asked Kent to be on retainer to assist in all sorts of ways – from unpacking clients’ suitcases and stocking cupboards to designing the outdoor landscaping and planting flowers. Kent seized the opportunity, working mostly part-time hours especially during the winter months.
Fifteen years ago, Kent made the business her own. She named her company Moving by Design and she works to ease the transition to retirement living for all sorts of people from all across Northeast Ohio. The bulk of her business happens at Judson’s Park, Manor and South Franklin Circle campuses. Kent says her work is “at the crossroads of social work and design.” She meets with families just as they’re making the decision to move, helping them to select the best spaces for their needs. Then she uses the floor plan as a guide to determine which furniture should come along and where it should be placed. She also helps her clients sift through all of their sentimental items and personal belongings, select color palettes and make design choices. And she coordinates the move itself – which generally takes just one day – from start to finish. “The goal,” she says, “Is to have all of the pictures hung, the beds made, and the people sleeping in their new homes that night.” With strong word-of-mouth marketing, Kent and Moving by Design have enjoyed phenomenal business for many years. Kent says she is proud of her work and grateful that an unexpected course led her to some terrific opportunities. “To everything, there is a season … for women especially,” she says.