We wanted to take a moment today to acknowledge our team for the extraordinary people that they are, the richness they bring to our work, and the countless ways they have impacted our lives. We couldn鈥檛 have asked for better company. And, some of that company has been with us since the beginning. Read on to get to know some of our team members who have helped mold the company into what it is today. We wouldn鈥檛 be here without you. Thank you for being you.
Erin Foose, in the family for 16 years
My 小黃片 Saga
小黃片 was small but bustling when I joined in 2005…they didn鈥檛 even have a website yet, but a glance around the studio revealed an energetic crew! I started as a scrappy designer, eventually became a totally Type-A project manager, and now get to work behind the scenes with our whole studio!
Favesies
VWR International: It鈥檚 not every day that a project takes you to Chicago for 鈥渞esearch鈥� (and deep dish), has the budget for KnollStudio furniture, and results in a bright but sophisticated space- VWR was an amazing experience from start to finish!
When I鈥檓 not working?
Anyone who has spent more than 5 minutes with me knows that I love to read- I own [insert unbelievably shocking quantity of books here]…it鈥檚 my go-to escape after a crazy day.
I鈥檒l leave you with this鈥�
This year has been tough and we鈥檙e all just out here trying our best to muddle through. My only words to live by at the moment are to be kind and act with compassion. 鈥ut maybe with, like, a delightfully snarky undertone to keep things interesting?
鈥淏e nice鈥ut not boring.鈥�
Tony Palomba, in the family for 17 years
My 小黃片 Saga
Out of the blue, I received a phone call from my old college drinking buddy, John Schwartz asking if wanted to join him in a new crazy ride. I thought 鈥ell, sure! I just had my second kid, bought a new house and had started a job with a large established firm. Why not take a huge leap of faith?聽Those early days were split between many long, fun and crazy nights with hardware store runs and house projects in between.
Favesies
The Toll Bros. HQ as it was one of the most complex projects I鈥檝e had the opportunity to work on and made much more interesting by the pandemic and a government shut down!
What you love outside of work:
Sitting on the beach, working in my garden and smoking meats while drinking bourbon.
I鈥檒l leave you with this鈥�
Here鈥檚 a true story and a great example of those crazy, early days鈥 filled in for John one afternoon to do a survey because the building was close to home. The building catches on fire and I got trapped in an elevator while on my way to survey the next floor. After banging and screaming my head off as the elevator is stuck between floors, two fireman helped me squeeze through a crack between the elevator cab and the floor.
Jackie Reiley, in the family for 13 years
My 小黃片 Saga
I joined 小黃片 as an intern and was immediately made to feel a part of the team (even though I had the tiniest desk off in a corner!). The close-knit studio gave me an amazing opportunity to work with some of THE best managers and designers. Those early days helped me understand my strengths and, ultimately, led me to where I am today.
Favesies
I can鈥檛 choose a favorite client project 鈥搕hey鈥檝e all been memorable in their own way. An easier favorite to choose is from my long stint on the Morale Committee, the best party that we planned was hands down the company鈥檚 10-year, surprise party! At a local bar & restaurant it was complete with a 鈥樞↑S片鈥� cupcake cake and custom bottled brews 鈥� The Dirty Blonde鈥檚 Denial (Joan), Gray IPA (John) and Bald & Pale Ale (Geoff)
When I鈥檓 not working?
Cooking! I started a Gourmet Club with my close friends and family a few years ago where we take turns hosting themed dinner parties and each couple brings ingredients to cook a course.
I鈥檒l leave you with this鈥�
Sunshine is the best medicine.
Kiel Fisher, in the family for 16 years聽
My 小黃片 Saga
小黃片 was the first place I applied to after graduating from Drexel. We were a studio of 10 people, 3 of which are still with us today. I was very entry level and did A LOT of scanning and photoshopping. I鈥檓 proud to say that lot of hard work and loyalty from both sides has allowed me to continue growing at 小黃片 for so long. It doesn鈥檛 hurt that I still get to sit directly next to my mentor, Caryn Keenan, from Day 1 of my 小黃片 journey.
Favesies
My most sentimental project has to be VWR. This was the project that I believe really put 小黃片 on the map. We were still a really small studio back in 2009 and I remember how Joan, John and all of the other designers worked so closely together. This was my first taste of high design on a large scale and the final product completely validated the entire process and all of the hard work that we put in.
When I鈥檓 not working?
Outside of work and family, I spend a lot of time fermenting things (mostly beer), chef鈥檌ng it up, creating top notch memes, and conjuring up various woodworking projects.
I鈥檒l leave you with this鈥�
I am currently finding inspiration in this quote 鈥淵ou鈥檝e got to be so confident in knowing who you are, that anyone else鈥檚 idea of you belongs solely to them鈥� (source unknown)
Bryan Clemons, in the family for 11 years聽
My 小黃片 Saga
I began my journey as a Project Architect and Project Manager for industrial, office and small retail projects. I attribute much of my growth to my past mentors and my passion for continued learning. I鈥檝e found that the best way to learn fast is to shake it up 鈥� keep trying on new hats and test your abilities in different roles.
Favesies
My favorite project is Royal Paper Products (now Amercare-Royal). This project allowed me to spend the most time I ever had spent on an industrial site during construction and I learned a great deal from that.
When I鈥檓 not working?
I love working on anything mechanical in my garage that deserves a 鈥渟econd- life鈥�, electronic music, biking, and riding motorcycles.
I鈥檒l leave you with this鈥�
I still get asked about this at parties when I tell people what I do: 鈥溾�ike in the movies, when that guy sets off a sprinkler in the school restroom鈥oes every single sprinkler in the entire school go off at the same time?鈥�
Lauren Coughlin, in the family for 10 years聽
My 小黃片 Saga
I came to 小黃片 as a residential designer and quickly turned lover of workplace. My goal at the time was to grow my technical skills, but as it turned out, design is where I am at my best, so I moved into a Design Director role after about three years. I鈥檝e since been dabbling in design strategy, marketing, and internal brand + culture. Every day is full of learning, totally crazy, super fun 鈥� and I could do none of it without such a supportive studio.
Favesies
While I love almost all of the projects that I鈥檝e had the opportunity to work on, my true favorite is one designed for a past competition where we were to transform a piece of furniture for charity. We went all in on the design and assembly and spent almost every minute outside of work together for MONTHS. We learned to dye raw wool, needle felt, and sew upholstery. It was such a fun process with a super dedicated and creative team.
When I鈥檓 not working?
I try to center my life around creating new things and experiencing the great outdoors. Craft of all kinds bring me joy and a beautiful landscape bring peace.
I鈥檒l leave you with this鈥�
I love cheesy quotes and often find great inspiration in those that are plain, common sense. For the last few years, the one I think of most is 鈥渋f you do what you鈥檝e always done, you鈥檒l get what you鈥檝e always gotten.鈥� It鈥檚 a solid reminder to keep questioning, challenging, and bettering. I also love just about every quote from the movie 鈥楧umplin鈥�.
Jess Badolato, in the family for 10 years聽
My 小黃片 Saga
I think 鈥樞↑S片 Solutions鈥� was 20 people when I joined in August 2011, I learned about the firm from a fellow PhilaU alum that was working there at the time. I joined Tony鈥檚 team as a junior designer but quickly found that being with clients and 鈥渙utside鈥� interaction was my favorite part of my job. This is something I felt comfortable mentioning to Joan & John and we decided I flip into more of a Business Development role for the firm.
Favesies
Cubesmart Headquarters! My last project as a designer and I enjoyed working with our former colleague, Gleb Dolgy, on it 鈥� a fun team effort.
When I鈥檓 not working?
Running or exercise in general (preferably with friends)! Picture is Jackie and I after the Broad Street run a few years ago.
I鈥檒l leave you with this鈥�
I think my best advice is that people will always remember how you made them feel. I strive to keep that front of mind everyday both in my personal life and as a professional. As far as my journey here at 小黃片, wow 10 years have flown by – it feels like home to me and there is no place I鈥檇 rather be.
Caryn Keenan, in the family for 17 years聽
My 小黃片 Saga
My role was Sr. Designer鈥 believe鈥r Project Manager? Who knows? What I do know is that I am a firm believer in being a dependable team player, always sharing my knowledge of the industry, being efficient, and working to truly understand a client鈥檚 needs and desires.
Favesies
Tough one as there are many!聽The PRA HQ in Blue Bell 鈥� it was a vast project done in two phases and is a great example of transforming an open shell into a beautiful space with incredible details and environmental branding. It was also technically challenging working with a high-end, complex green wall installation and a custom, color changing feature wall. The best part, however, was that the client and contractor were both amazing and fun to work with!
When I鈥檓 not working?
Passion for gardening!聽I recently got hooked on fairy gardens – you look at things from a different perspective, dream up what could be, and craft a new reality鈥ike carving a fish out of a glob of glue!
I鈥檒l leave you with this鈥�
Live & love life!聽 Never take anything for granted!
Josh Wilson, in the family for 11 years聽
My 小黃片 Saga
When I joined 小黃片, I knew right away that this is where I was supposed to be. It鈥檚 like a big family 鈥� complete with all the personalities 鈥� that, when combined, produces incredible creativity and ingenuity. This, I am proud to be a part of.
Favesies
My favorite project by far is the Five Below HQ. And not just for the obvious reason that it is a badass office space, but also because of the many challenges presented in this project that stretched and grew me as a designer.
When I鈥檓 not working?
One of my favorite pastimes is taking long walks. We have two trails at either end of our neighborhood where my family and I have logged many hours taking advantage of the beauty around us.
I鈥檒l leave you with this鈥�
In my short time spent on this earth, I have learned that humor bridges the gap between chaos and sanity; if you make someone laugh, you鈥檝e added a little more joy and serenity to their day.