Pursuing Associate in Applied Science, Interior Design
06/2022 – Present
Expected Graduation: May 2025
DePaul University, Chicago, IL
Bachelor of Arts, English
Theta Phi Alpha Sorority
Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity Sweetheart
COMPLETED COURSEWORK
Introduction to Interior Design
Visualization Techniques
Sustainable Design
Computer-Aided Interior Design I
Environmental Materials & Applications
CURRENT COURSEWORK
Contract Design Studio
Portfolio Review
Advanced Visualization Techniques
EXPERIENCE
04/2003 – 12/2024
Bread and Butter Home, Inc.
Computer-Aided Interior Design II Furniture Specs and Budgeting
Interior Design Codes & Standards Lighting I
History of Interior Design
Studio Foundation
Interior Systems and Details
Kitchen & Bath Computer Applications
Residential Design Studio
Healthcare Design Studio
Home Decorator
Established in 2018, Bread & Butter is a home décor store offering accessories, small accent furniture, and locally custom-made products such as wood carved recycled charcuterie boards, Dickens upcycled beer bottle soy wax candles, Chris Plummer woodcut relief prints, Denise Riesen handmade photo coasters and ornaments, Elmhurst artwork and gifts, Geometry towels, and lux jewelry located in the heart of Elmhurst.
Work to ensure store is always visually pleasing by creating displays and merchandising products.
Assist guests to achieve functional and aesthetically pleasing interior space thought the use of home décor products.
Research seasonal trends to aid with the shop’s environment.
Generate business for the shop with Instagram posts, as well as by word-of-month.
09/2019 – 08/2024
Design Studio Specialist
Williams-Sonoma, Inc. [Pottery Barn], Oakbrook, IL
Founded by Chuck Williams in 1956, Williams-Sonoma is a multi-brand, multi-channel, Fortune 500 Company in 26 countries. Headquartered in San Francisco, the Company owns and manages 9 premium brands including Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn Teen, Pottery Barn Kids, West Elm, Williams Sonoma, Williams Sonoma Home, Mark & Graham, Rejuvenation, and Outward.
Utilize design expertise to assist clients in one-on-one consultations in the store regarding the design of their living spaces to drive store sales.
Create and present 2D design plans based on client's needs, style, preferences and living space.
Maintain knowledge of current sales and promotions in order to achieve and exceed established sales and productivity goals.
Assist customers with special services including gift wrap, gift registry, locating merchandise, catalog/internet orders, special orders, back orders, charge sends, and furniture orders.
Demonstrate superior product knowledge, including features and benefits of the entire design studio assortment for Bed & Bath, Design and Home Accessory departments.
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KRISTAN M. RIO
281 North Highview Avenue
Elmhurst, IL 60126
708.822.8019
hello@kristanriodesign.com
[Continued from Page 1]
Williams-Sonoma, Inc. [Pottery Barn], Oakbrook, IL
Provide excellent and courteous customer service exceeding $367,000 of product merchandise since 1st Quarter 2022 alone.
Liable for 2 online 4-hour chat shifts weekly with focus on product and design, as well as assistance with customer service issues for the Pottery Barn brand, whereby driving additional $88k product sales to the Pottery Barn Oakbrook store for August 2022August 2023.
02/2006 – 12/2024
Chief Marketing Officer
Summit Sheet Metal Specialists, Inc., Summit, IL
Summit Sheet Metal Specialists has been a family-owned commercial contractor through the Sheet Metal Union Local # 73 and Millwrights Union Local # 1693. Incorporated in 1995 and with a 40-year history in the sheet metal trade, the Company has developed a solid reputation for quality fabrication.
Liable for the design and execution of all marketing materials [corporate capabilities brochure, trade advertising], as well as collateral for new business.
Developed customized company intranet with 2 software engineers in an effort to minimize paperwork and data duplication.
Perform all Accounts Payable duties, including all monthly bank reconciliations, and annual year-end statements.
Responsible for processing quotations, and costing.
Support President / CEO with duties, as needed.
Drawing and/or modifying customer AutoCAD files, nesting in CAMduct and importing into drawing server.
Sole operator of Lincoln Electric Torchmate 5100 CNC 5’ x 12’ plasma table with abilities to burn .027” to 1.25” thick steel, galvanized, copper, and stainless steel materials.
02/2004 – 02/2012
Aveda Corporation, Oak Brook, IL
Sales Advisor
Founded by Horst M. Rechelbacher since 1978 and currently owned by Estée Lauder Company, Aveda has been a global plant and flower based cosmetic company that conducts business in a manner that protects the Earth by using resources that does not compromise the ability of future generations to sustain itself.
Provided excellent and courteous customer service to over 2,500 customers exceeding $104,000 of product merchandise to date.
Maximized individual sales and achieve sales goals by advising guests to select and purchase merchandise suited to their needs, while exceeding their expectations, as well as exceeding my sales quotas with a $41.54 AUS.
Responsible for individual results related to Sales, Service and the Service Impact survey.
Communicated confidently, timely and effectively with Team Leader and/or Assistant Team Leader to execute daily operation functions and duties as assigned.
03/2004 – 02/2006
The Royal Group, Cicero, IL
Project Manager
A manufacturer of corrugated products since 1922, The Royal Group is a single source supplier of packaging products and services providing a complete line of packaging products.
Responsible for project management leadership role of all carton packaging subcontracted to client, Echo Incorporated, Lake Zurich, IL on a permanent contract basis at client site.
Liable for managing creative development process of carton artwork for 2-Step Dealer and Big Box [The Home Depot] distribution from project initiation to execution of materials, ensuring effective written communication of trilingual copy, use of approved corporate standards [logo, taglines, PMS colors], and communicating project timeline and status with Marketing and Product Management Departments.
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KRISTAN M. RIO
281 North Highview Avenue
Elmhurst, IL 60126
708.822.8019
hello@kristanriodesign.com
[Continued from Page 2]
The Royal Group, Cicero, IL
Secured quotations and design artwork for Marketing Department projects such as 2005 Echo Sales and Marketing “Mission Impossible” Passports and logo creation, Jamie Fischer Hero Cards and DVD jewel case, chain saw box tags, work glove and chain saw hang tags, protective chaps insert card, Quick Reference Guide & Max Performance Bar & Chain Oil gallon label.
Updated Specification Document requesting key information to simplify carton artwork process including carton and unit UPC options [US and Canada], led carton packaging meeting to provide options and cost saving measures, created and circulated carton artwork flowchart assigning responsibility for all packaging elements, and assisted Marketing and Product Management team with “Relay For Life” [cancer research fundraiser] details.
Hired, trained and supervised Marketing Services Temp.
06/2003 – Present
Pavloski Graphics, Elmhurst, IL
Freelance Graphic Designer
Highly skilled freelance graphic designer with experience in various industries and product lines. Clients include Gwendolyn J. Sterk and the Family Law Group, P.C., Goldstine, Skrodzki, Russian, Nemec and Hoff, Ltd.; Kubiak & Kubiak, Ltd.; Quam-Nichols Company; Special Projects, Inc.; Pragmatic Communications Systems; and Heathkit Educational Systems, as well as private individuals.
Created numerous print ads [color and B/W] for online publishing, and newsprint/magazine publication, designed targeted postcards for numerous chambers of commerce to stimulate new business and retain current clientele for services available with Gwendolyn J. Sterk and the Family Law Group.
Developed bi-fold capabilities brochure and internet site for divorce department at Goldstine, Skrodzki, Russian, Nemec and Hoff, Ltd., a progressive law firm with 23 attorneys with concentrations in business and corporate law, real estate, estate planning and administration, municipal law, family law and civil litigation.
Designed bi-fold corporate capabilities brochure for Kubiak & Kubiak, a 20-year accounting firm with expertise ranging from monthly bookkeeping to complex financial statement preparation.
Designed and launched corporate websites for the Family Law Group with Goldstine, Skrodzki, Russian, Nemec and Hoff, Ltd. [www.gsrnhfamilylaw.com] and Gwendolyn J. Sterk and the Family Law Group [www.sterkfamilylaw.com].
Contract freelancer for Quam-Nichols Company [QNC], a Chicago-based loudspeaker manufacturer. Variety of designs that included 16 page corporate price list, 2 cover letters and TechSpec sheet designs with production of 8 TechSpec sheets, 2 price list addendums, and QNC/Dukane Cross Reference Index. Developed 75 Year Anniversary/Mayor Richard M. Daley campaign with design and production of Quam 75 Year Anniversary logo, commemorative employee apparel, and factory logo banners featuring new Quam 75 Year Anniversary logo and newly launched City of Chicago Department of Planning and Development “Made In Chicago” logo on purchased Corbis Chicago skyline imagery. Designed 2005 NSCA booth header with new logos and QNC “Roadmap” 2-Sided Booth Flyer.
Designed 16 page retail and dealer price lists for Special Projects, Inc., a manufacturer of special application audio products in Green Isle, MN.
Consulted on 2005 NSCA Show 2-Sided Flyer for Pragmatic Communications Systems, an innovator in wired and wireless systems located in Santa Clara, CA.
Consulted and designed marketing communication pieces for Heathkit Educational Systems, a leader and pioneer in the development and distribution of technical educational curriculum, courseware and hardware since 1926 in Benton Harbor, MI. Designs included IT Academy 3 Panel Pocket Folder, IT Academy Trifold Mailer, Spec Sheets, Price List, CD product labels, and miscellaneous corporate forms [Shipment Request Form and Literature Form], Power Generation and Maintenance Industry Trifold Mailer, HTI+ Academy 4 Panel Brochure, and HTI+ Academy Informational Session Flyer.
07/2000 – 06/2003
Gold Eagle Company, Chicago, IL
Marketing Services Manager
Marketer of nationally advertised, packaged, aftermarket automotive chemicals, including STA-BIL Fuel Stabilizer, HEET Gas-Line Antifreeze, 104+ Octane Boost, NO-LEAK Premium Sealers and AlumAseal Radiator Sealers.
Reported to Vice President of Marketing and worked with Brand Management team. Developed and executed full range of integrated marketing/communication deliverables. This included consumer and trade advertising, package design, product collateral, promotional materials, radio commercial production, consumer premiums, trade show materials, and company website content.
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KRISTAN M. RIO
281 North Highview Avenue
Elmhurst, IL 60126
708.822.8019
hello@kristanriodesign.com
[Continued from Page 3]
Gold Eagle Company, Chicago, IL
Created and produced Gold Eagle Retail Co-Op Advertising Program, 2002 HEET Billboard Campaign and STA-BIL Lawn Mower Racing Series.
Hired, trained and supervised Marketing Services Coordinator and Marketing Services Clerk.
Designed and managed electronic product image artwork, line art/illustrations, survey sheets, product labels, product collateral and promotional materials. Maintained integrity of corporate trademarks.
Negotiated contracts with outside vendors [printers, illustrators, translators, and advertising specialty firms] to acquire quality materials within time and budget parameters.
Executed trade show booth design and set-up for 6 national and 49 regional trade shows annually.
03/1997 – 10/1999
Waldom Electronics, Inc., Chicago, IL
Marketing Communications Manager
Master Distributor for over 25 premier supplier lines in the electronics and electrical industry. Annual revenues exceeded $17 million.
Reported to President/Chief Operating Officer. Responsible for design, management and execution of effective marketing and promotional strategies from concept through production.
Member of senior management team. Created daily promotional campaigns that increased sales volume.
Managed national and local electronic trade shows. Developed, implemented, and presented marketing strategies to Company executives.
Managed selection process for external vendors [printers, illustrators and designers].
Urban Retail Properties Co./JMB Realty Corporation, Chicago, IL
Subsidiary of Urban Shopping Centers. Company develops, owns and manages 175 regional malls and community shopping centers. Reported to Chief Financial Officer and managed development of entire Corporate Communications department.
Established in-house publishing services producing over $60,000 annual cost savings.
Developed annual and quarterly reports, proposals for new business and monthly newsletters.
Selected and supervised vendors to assure quality materials within time and budget constraints.
Created design, layout and artwork for materials produced in-house. Managed integration of all components including text, graphs, charts, photography, legal and departmental approvals, paper selection, binding, packaging and distribution.
