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Wimmer’s Diamonds Pg. 06

Ameriprise Financial Pg. 12

Meet our new Owner

Aubree Leiser

Aubree Leiser is a familiar face for anyone who has worked with InterOffice over the past 16 years. She joined the team in April 2006, and in just a few short years, her creativity and dedication to InterOffice’s clients earned her a promotion to Manager.

Now, she is adding the title of Owner to her resume. Leiser purchased the business from architect and InterOffice founder Kevin Bartram in January 2022.

“I have learned a great deal from Kevin. He has put a lot of trust in me over the years,” Leiser said. “He was always in

the background giving me support and business advice. I have to credit a lot of my career growth to him.”

Leiser’s experiences in every level at InterOffice, from sales to design to management, have prepared her to continue growing and cultivating the company. While the new ownership will bring a few changes to InterOffice, Leiser promises that the company’s dedication to authenticity, connection, and quality will stay the same.

“My hope is to continue to create beautiful environments for our customers to live, work, learn, and heal in, all while enjoying the design process and meeting amazing people along the way,” Leiser said. “InterOffice has been around for 20 years already. I want to continue this dedication to customers and be around for at least 20 more years!”

PRAIRIE ENGINEERING

Bismarck, North Dakota

Prairie Engineering, P.C. has transformed their outdated space into a stateof-the-art facility that is as functional and modern as the buildings they help bring to life.

Since 1983, Prairie Engineering has been involved in the design of dozens of municipal buildings, hospitals, schools, industrial facilities, and more. Their mechanical and electrical consulting services have helped clients across the Midwest utilize the latest technology, save energy and money, and satisfy code requirements.

The firm has spent the better part of four decades helping clients design spaces that meet their needs; but

in the process, Prairie Engineering has often overlooked their own.

As the team grew, the office began to feel cramped. The space was not being utilized to its full potential, and there was not a designated, comfortable space to bring clients for meetings.

When clients did visit, Engineer and Corporate Secretary Jeremy Butman felt that the dated decor did not reflect the quality of work they were doing.

“It looked like we were coming straight out of the ‘80s,” Butman said. “We wanted a more functional space with a modern look and feel.”

Fortunately, Butman knew just who to call.

“We had worked with Kyle Hellman at InterOffice on many projects in the past,” Butman said. “He has always been very responsive when we’ve had questions, even before we were customers. I know that if there is an issue, they are going to take care of it. That’s why we contacted him first.”

With that trust already in place, Butman and Hellman got straight to work. Butman’s team at Prairie Engineering first

determined where walls would need to move in order to better utilize the space. They handed over the updated floor plan to Hellman, who began compiling paint, tile, and furniture samples–and the end result is a space that is almost unrecognizable.

“The transformation that took place over the past few months has turned this space from a 1980s office to a modern workplace that everyone can now enjoy,” Hellman said.

When you walk in the door, the first thing you notice is contrast. White accent trim pops against gray geometric carpet tile. Herman Miller Swoop Plywood Lounge Chairs provide a comfortable place for clients to sit while

“

It was time for not only an aesthetic update, but an ergonomic one. ”

- Jeremy Butman Engineer and Corporate Secretary

also creating a welcome contrast to all of the sharp angles.

But for the real surprise, you must look up.

“We painted some areas of the ceiling black,” Butman said. “I got a lot of weird looks when I said we were going to do that, but it turned out really nice.”

A Herman Miller Headway Table and Exemplis Hexy Conference Room Chairs compose a conference room that reflects the professionalism and tech-forward attitude that Prairie Engineering is known for. Down the hallway, Herman Miller Motia Height

Adjustable Desks and Aeron Chairs have quickly become a favorite addition among Prairie Engineering employees.

“It was time for not only an aesthetic update, but an ergonomic one,” Butman said. “We realized that the workspaces, though they were functional, weren’t the greatest for employee use. We wanted to provide better workspaces for our folks.”

With this renovation, Prairie Engineering has proven that you don’t always need to start from scratch to create an environment that suits your needs. By intentionally utilizing your square footage, considering both clients’ and employees’ needs, and adding a few

unexpected touches, you can transform your existing space in just a few months.

“The one comment I’ve heard when people walk in is, ‘Wow it’s really modern in here,’” Butman said. “So I definitely believe we accomplished our goal.”

ENCLAVE WIMMER’S DIAMONDS

Fargo, North Dakota

W IMMER’S DIAMONDS INTERIORS AT WORK

Fargo, North Dakota

For more than a century, Wimmer’s Diamonds has been helping the FargoMoorhead community celebrate some of life’s biggest moments. Now, with a new showroom that’s as glamorous as the gems themselves, this fourth-generation family business is celebrating the beginning of a new era.

When Hungarian immigrant and craftsman Fred Wimmer opened the doors to Fargo Jewelry Manufacturing Co. in 1919, he never could have imagined the ways that his little shop, or the jewelry industry as a whole,

would evolve in the century to come.

The business shifted its focus from manufacturing to retail with the next generation, beginning an enduring legacy of hand-selecting the highest quality fine jewelry and providing exceptional service and support.

This is the business that Aaron Wimmer, Fred’s great-grandson, learned as a young child.

Wimmer grew up watching his father and uncle, who operated Wimmer’s Diamonds’ flagship storefront in downtown Fargo and second location in West Acres shopping mall.

He watched as trends changed, as demand for diamonds ebbed and flowed, and as the downtown Fargo community evolved around them.

When it came time for Wimmer to take over

the family business, he knew it was time for Wimmer’s Diamonds to change, too–starting with location. To give the business a fresh start, Wimmer decided to consolidate the two locations and relocate to a single showroom in south Fargo.

“I wanted to streamline things,” Wimmer said. “I wanted to have our team and inventory under one roof.”

But consolidating into one location was only the first step. In order to compete with the ever-growing online market, Wimmer knew that this showroom would have to be unlike anything Wimmer’s Diamonds had built before.

“Anything that you need in this day and age you can buy online, even jewelry,” he said.

“The experience is the one thing you cannot

ever get when you’re buying online. We need to create a positive experience from the moment they walk in the door.”

To achieve this, Wimmer enlisted help from InterOffice. Workspace Experts Melissa LaBay and Jolynn Kaldor worked with Wimmer to select all furniture and finishes, from floor to ceiling.

The focal point of the space is a lounge area that his team uses for private client consultations. Wimmer wanted to create an environment that is as welcoming as it is luxurious; a space that says diamonds can truly be anyone’s best friend.

“The industry has made diamonds and jewelry seem stuffy and unapproachable,” Wimmer said. “We wanted

the showroom to feel warm and inviting, like we are inviting clients into our own home.”

Hidden from view of the main entry, the lounge feels more like a living room than a retail space. LaBay and Kaldor selected plush furnishings, including an OFS Heya High-Back Loveseat and Bistro Stools, in rich colors and fabrics.

“Incorporating a variety of materials, finishes, and textures helps make the environment less commercialized and more homey,” LaBay said.

As an homage to the business’s early-20th century origins, LaBay proposed an unexpected Art Deco aesthetic for the entire showroom.

ART & ACCESSORIES

“Wimmer’s is a fourth-generation family business that first opened during the Art Deco era,” LaBay said. “Plus, Art Deco style is characterized by jewel tones, luxurious materials, metal finishes, and geometric forms, which to me aligns well with jewelry.”

Touches of gold can be found at every turn, from the cabinet and drawer hardware to the glittering quartz countertops. LaBay and Kaldor selected a black wall covering emblazoned with an angular gold print that is reflected in the carpet. The wood-grain luxury vinyl tile is veined with gold, while candelabras glisten from the ceiling in key areas throughout the showroom.

“Appropriate furniture and finishes helps, but lighting is the

key element to achieve a cozy ambiance,” LaBay said. The overall effect is a 1920s-inspired showroom that even Jay Gatsby himself would envy, and the finishing touch is a piece of Wimmer’s Diamonds’ history. An exterior door from one of the business’s original buildings is now inlaid in the wall and adorned with a lit picture of the old store.

For Wimmer, it’s like literally peering into the past.

“I don’t think that I’ve really stopped to look at this beautiful new store to take it all in until now,” Wimmer said. “It’s certainly an honor to be able to carry on my family’s legacy.”

FRAMERY

Check out our latest models

Framery is the world’s leading manufacturer of soundproof pods. With a variety of sizes to accommodate any team or space, Framery pods are the perfect place to have meetings, brainstorming sessions, and private conversations without disturbing the whole office–or the office disturbing you.

INTERIORS AT WORK

AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL N

Fargo, North Dakota

Building, decorating, and furnishing a new office from scratch is a daunting process in the best of times. So when a global pandemic threatened to render one client’s move impossible, InterOffice was there to get the job done.

Angie McCarthy, a Private Wealth Advisor with Ameriprise Financial, was scheduled to move into her new Fargo office in March 2020.

McCarthy had worked with InterOffice Workspace Experts Jolynn Kaldor and Sheila Hanson to identify a color palette, draw up floor plans, and select furniture for the new space. The project had gone off without a hitch; all that was left to do was deliver the furniture and install a few finishing touches. Then, of course, the COVID-19 pandemic hit.

Having just returned from an international vacation when the first travel precautions were imposed, McCarthy was forced to quarantine for the entire week of the move. As a business owner, it was difficult to relinquish control during such a pivotal time; fortunately, McCarthy knew she could trust the process to Kaldor, Hanson, and the entire InterOffice team.

“I felt confident that everything was scheduled and would get done in my absence,” McCarthy said. “All my staff had to move were their own paper files. InterOffice did everything else. They allowed me to focus on supporting my team during that difficult time.”

Even before the pandemic turned the entire process upside down, this project had already proven to be a unique one for InterOffice.

“We normally give the client a couple of different color options

AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL

to choose from and they select from one of those options,” Hanson said. “With Angie, once she selected a color palette that she liked, we ran with it. She had a lot of input as to what she wanted including a few upgrades to help warm up the space such as lighting, wallcovering, art, and area rugs.”

McCarthy came to InterOffice with a very particular vision in mind, and it was up to Kaldor and Hanson to bring her vision to life. She wanted clean, classic lines and a neutral palette, with pops of color and modern touches. Warm grays and rich brown wood

The space itself is light and neutral, but the accent wallcovering, light fixtures, and furniture provide a modern flair. ” “

- Angie McCarthy Private Wealth Advisor with Ameriprise Financial

form the basis of the office, while Ellary chairs from Paul Brayton and artwork from Leftbank Art tie in the Ameriprise blue.

As an avid traveler, McCarthy would bring photographs of elements she admired in hotels and businesses around the world to serve as inspiration. One particular photograph led Kaldor and Hanson to the navy and gold-patterned Calabria Silhouette wallcovering from Momentum Textiles & Wallcovering, which would later become the focal point of McCarthy’s reception area.

McCarthy’s wish list also included decorative fireplace tile and hanging pendant lights, to give the office a cozy, intimate feel.

“The reception area is very welcoming with the double-sided fireplace and porcelain tile in a carrara marble pattern,” Kaldor said. “The space itself is light and neutral, but the accent wallcovering, light fixtures, and furniture provide a modern flair.”

On the other side of the fireplace is McCarthy’s favorite part of the office: an entertainment and collaborative space dubbed The Commons. A full kitchen is built around a solid quartz counter, while Lumin barstools from Sit On It and swivel chairs from Paul Brayton provide a variety of seating options.

For now, The Commons primarily serves as a

gathering space for team lunches. But McCarthy has a bigger vision for the space; when it is safe to do so, she hopes to host a variety of public events, like monthly trivia nights for charity.

While the ongoing pandemic has prevented the Ameriprise team from taking full advantage of The Commons, it did not stop McCarthy from creating the office of her dreams.

“We spend so much of our lives at work, it’s important to have a place where you can feel comfortable,” McCarthy said. “No matter how many hours a week I spend here, I can take pride in this office. It’s a place I want to be.”