R E N A G R A H A M
INTERIOR DESIGN PROFESSIONAL
renagraham.rep[at]gmail.com
www.linkedin.com/in/renagraham
1.310.310.9390
Los Angeles, CA.



PROFESSIONAL PROFILE

Rena brings a vast amount of expertise as an international interior design professional to the creative process. Her experience includes being the owners representative for the first luxury hotel built in Mongolia, and working as both project designer and project manager on world class, fast track projects around the world. She has been the principal/partner in her own firm and has worked with many of the top interior design firms in the US, Canada and Asia, including: SOM, HOK, WATG, HBA, Cheryl Rowley Design and KNA (Kirk Nix Associates).

KEY AREAS OF EXPERTISE

Project Design and Management
Provides a wide variety of quality, professional services in the areas of project concept, design direction, project team leadership, contract review; planning, overseeing design and documentation; project scheduling and budgets.
Adept at developing presentation materials and client presentations; contract drawing package development and delivery, FF&E oversight and specifications review.
Software skills include AutoCAD proficiency and good working knowledge of MS Office, Photoshop, Illustrator & Acrobat.
Construction administration background includes prototype/sample review; shop drawing review; RFI and change order management; on-site walk through and documentation.
Business skills include marketing, RFPs/proposals, contract administration, overseeing billings and staffing requirements.

Team Building and Communication
Excellent inter-personal verbal and written communication skills. Exceedingly disciplined and organized.
Review and coordination of work by architectural and engineering disciplines, lighting designers, landscape designers, contractors, vendors, purchasing agents, graphics, art dealers and marketing professionals at all phases of a project.
Personnel skills include mentoring and supervision of various staff levels as well as recruiting and performance reviews.

SELECTED PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

2006-2009
Project Director - KNA Interior Design, Los Angeles, CA
Directed the planning, coordination and design of projects of international importance including: The Conrad and Hilton Hotels in Macau with RMJM/HK as architect, the concierge lounge at Moshe Safdies Marina Bay Sands integrated resort in Singapore, Hotel Palomar Cityscape in Phoenix, The Wilshire Hotel in Los Angeles, the WATG designed Nine Dragons Summer Palace and Wellness Center in Shanghai and others.

Senior Project Manager - Cheryl Rowley Design, Los Angeles, CA
Supervised construction administration for the Kling Stubbins designed Renaissance Boston Waterfront Hotel and acted as project manager for the Four Seasons Hotel remodel of an existing historic palace in St. Petersburg, Russia.

2.
Rena Graham renagraham.rep[at]gmail.com www.linkedin.com/in/renagraham 1.310.310.9390


2001-2006
Principal - Graham & deAraujo design studio, Vancouver, BC
Wrote a business plan and spearheaded the marketing effort, supervised design of all corporate materials. Project designer/project manager on historic renovation of a landmark building in Yaletown for luxury condominiums. Acted as project manager, co-designer and owners representative for The Terelj Hotel in Mongolia. Assembled a team of qualified consultants, monitored and coordinated their work for that project. Also acted as main point of contact for entire team during construction phase.

1999-2000
Project Designer - Starbucks Coffee Company, Seattle, WA
Team leader for Retail North America, East Coast Zone, Mid-Atlantic Region. Consistent tracking of an average of 36 stores, responsible for design and management of construction documents for bidding and permitting. Vertical integration with Starbucks construction, real estate and operations personnel. Total involvement with field consultants and tenant coordinators for regional codes and tenant submittals/approvals.

1997-1998
Senior Designer - Hirsch Bedner Associates Pte. Ltd., Singapore
Project manager and associate designer with total project involvement. Included all aspects of conceptual design and technical coordination with clients and consultants as well as FF&E oversight. Main project was Far Easts Orchard Scotts Luxury Condominium and Service Apartment complex in Singapore. Architectural design by Arquitectonica.

PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE

Independent Interior Design Consultant. Projects included:
Co-managed interiors team for renovation and addition of historic Grande Dame property under Stanford Hughes (now principal of BraytonHughes Design Studio) at SOM in San Francisco. Coordinating designer and manager for interiors standards program for HOK San Francisco; finishes and furnishing for a 50 building
renovation project for Sun Microsystems.

EDUCATION

Fine Arts Program, Interior Design Department, California College of the Arts - Oakland and San Francisco, CA. Four Year Program
University of California San Francisco Extension Classes: Behavioral Psychology for the Design Profession; Architectural and Interior Lighting; Acoustics
Ketiv Technologies, Inc. Seattle, WA AutoCad v.14 Level 1
British Columbia Institute of Technology - Vancouver AutoCad 200I for Interior Designers
British Columbia Institute of Technology - Burnaby BC Building Code, Part 3