A Word From Betsy
“To me this is more than a career, it is an extension of my family.”
How do you summarize a lifetime in a few paragraphs? My history with the firm started when I was born. I had the opportunity to grow up in the industry, being exposed to job sites, model building, and AIA conferences. I remember Saturday mornings going to work with my dad and my other sisters so he could work on some projects. I loved looking at the hand-built models. When we were done with our chores, we colored with the artist markers. As I grew, I had summer internships at Hobbs+Black, working in the Marketing and Administration department. I filed, answered the phone, and hand-delivered the mail to everyone. During college breaks, we would help clean the office to make extra spending money for the next semester.
My undergraduate degree was in Art and Art History, from Kalamazoo College. I loved the creative field and it came naturally to me. I became a generalist which exposed me to many different experiences throughout my college years. However, when I graduated, I knew I needed to go back to school and become more specialized. Interior Architecture was my calling. I had a lot of connections in the industry and I knew I loved creating space that people could inhabit and experience. That is what drew me to Interior Design. I’ve always been extremely curious and love learning about the who, what, and why of a project.
Through the course of my career, I’ve had the opportunity to work with many organizations, and business owners within various industries. I worked in Chicago for five years with OWP&P Architects, now Cannon Design. When my son was born, we wanted to be closer to family and I always wanted to come back and work for my father’s company. The rest is history. I’m grateful for the opportunities the firm has given me over the years, and the ability to expand my capabilities to include management and business development.
I love the business, the people, and building not only wonderful buildings but a culture where people can thrive, excel, and grow in their positions. To me this is more than a career, it is an extension of my family.
