Name: Kenne Shepherd
Title: Principal
Company Name: Kenne Shepherd Interior Design Architecture, PLLC
Follow my company on Twitter @KenneShepherd
What year did you start your career in commercial real estate: 1982
Email: [email protected]
Follow me on Twitter @ KenneShepherd
What recent honor, achievement or recognition has meant the most to you and why?
I was honored recently to be asked to become CREW New York Chapter Champion. This is a new Board position that was created to communicate the power of CREW Network to its members in New York.
Attending CREW's Winter Leadership Summit, I saw how dynamic and supportive CREW Network is across the country. I also realized that most members in the New York Chapter haven't experienced this and aren't aware of the benefits of the Network. I felt it would be valuable for them to know more and to understand the organization's commitment to support their professional growth and development.
For me personally and professionally it is an opportunity to give back to those involved in the world of New York real estate by creating opportunities for our members to get to know each other better, to do business with each other and to learn how to tap into the power of the Network.
When you launched your own business what were some of the initial challenges and how did you overcome them?
I launched my business on an act of faith. I had always had a dream to have my own design firm. When I left Owen & Mandolfo after 11 years, I didn't have clients or prospects but I had a network and had just completed an award winning project which was selected as "Best Design of the Year" which was on the cover of Interior Design Magazine. I had also just registered as an architect. I felt like it was time to act, so I made the jump.
Because people knew the quality of my work, within months I had projects with clients like Bergdorf Goodman and Calvin Klein. I was then recommended to Salvatore Ferragamo and worked for them for several years completing 65 projects. It was challenging setting up a design firm while doing high profile projects. A key factor was hiring good people and continuing to develop my network.
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