Esther M. Gies
Minneapolis,MN
Summary
Driven, determined professional with a passion for client relations, strategic team management, and design based on the lived experience of the population served.
Results-driven professional with proven track record of market leadership excellence. Skilled in strategic planning, team collaboration, and driving projects to successful completion. Strong focus on fostering collaborative environment, ensuring adaptability, and delivering impactful outcomes. Known for effective communication, problem-solving acumen, and unwavering reliability in dynamic settings.
Overview
11
11
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior Designer and Design Project Manager
Unispace
05.2022 - Current
- Contributed to record project growth in the North American market and participated in the full-scale design of offices ranked number 2 on Office Snapshots most popular workplaces of 2024
- Led initiatives to streamline collaboration between design and construction delivery throughout all phases of design and build
- Led and supported project teams to deliver thoughtful, curious, and efficient spaces in the workplace and life science sector
- Helped to build and maintain repeat client relationships, full campus plans, and strategic business partners
Interior Designer
DLR Group
09.2019 - 01.2021
- Managed 2 to 3 projects simultaneously through design phases, fee tracking, and project delivery
- Developed Hennepin County Government Center's building interiors standards for workplace and centralized campus plan
- Worked with HCGC decision makers to develop change management standards that supported new workplace guidelines. These guidelines focused on employee-based work practices to increase employee attraction and retention.
- Developed City of Minneapolis Gov. space type and furniture standards with major drivers including inclusivity of mental and physical wellbeing, cultural diversity, and accommodation for different work styles.
Interior Designer
NELSON Worldwide
10.2018 - 09.2019
- Worked closely with brokers, landlords, and building management to create unique marketing materials for tenant attraction
- Worked with tenants to plan and use TI dollars for mid-sized renovation projects
- Managed up to 3 construction documentation sets at a time
Interior Designer
Henricksen
04.2014 - 06.2018
- First designer to be cross trained in furniture and demountable partition design and specifications
- Beta tested and rolled out new products and specification software
- Worked 1 to 1 with sales representatives to meet client expectations and strengthen relationships with need based solutions instead of 'suggestive upselling'
Education
Bachelor of Arts - Interior Design
University of WI – Stout
Menomonie, WI12.2016
Skills
- Project management
- Conflict Resolution
- Result oriented problem solving
- Client relations
- Effective and professional communication
- Future thinking
- Proactive vs reactive project planning
- Space planning
- Furniture specification
- Business generation
- Software Skills: Bluebeam, Revit, AutoCAD, Microsoft
- Visual storytelling
- Design leadership
- Key relationship development
- Schedule coordination
Timeline
Senior Designer and Design Project Manager
Unispace
05.2022 - Current
Interior Designer
DLR Group
09.2019 - 01.2021
Interior Designer
NELSON Worldwide
10.2018 - 09.2019
Interior Designer
Henricksen
04.2014 - 06.2018
Bachelor of Arts - Interior Design
University of WI – Stout
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