Resume

Suzy Howell, ASID
Principal

Suzy Howell Watkins established her Interior Design practice in 1994. A Summa cum laude graduate of the University of Delaware, Ms. Watkins received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Interior Design in 1984. While a student there, she studied at the Henry Francis DuPont Winterthur Museum under the tutelage of the museums curators. She was one of two students selected for the University of Delaware visiting student program, and thereby had the opportunity to study at two prestigious New York design schools: Parson’s School of Design and the Fashion Institute of Technology. After completion of her senior year studies, Ms. Watkins elected to spend an additional year at the Fashion Institute of Technology studying with some of the nations leading practitioners and instructors of design, and received a second degree from FIT in 1985.

Upon graduation from FIT, Suzy was recruited by Reynolds, Smith and Hills, a large architectural/engineering firm based in Jacksonville, Florida. While at RS&H, Suzy worked on many large scale corporate projects for Florida National Bank and First Union Bank, developing the discipline and attention to detail required by corporate work.

As Senior Project manager for Catlin Interiors, a small firm in Jacksonville, Florida, Ms. Watkins honed her talents for combining beautiful things: fine fabrics, finishes, antiques and furnishings to create one of a kind interiors for country club, corporate and residential projects. She developed her ability to listen to her clients and interpret their desires into an interior that met their budget, aesthetic and lifestyle requirements. She designed offices for Coopers & Lybrand as well as renovated:

	Jacksonville and Orange Park Kennel Clubs
	San Jose Country Club
	Arvida Oakbridge Golf Club

all in the Jacksonville area.

Seeking a larger market for her design skills, Ms. Watkins relocated to Atlanta in 1989. While employed by Merchandising Concepts she headed up the commercial interiors division, again bringing her attention to detail to clubhouse and sales office projects for:

	Asbury Village and Asbury Glen in Atlanta, Georgia.
	Sheridan Ocean Club in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
	Harborview Marina and Yacht Club in Baltimore, Maryland.

Next, Ms. Watkins accepted a position with Ferry-Hayes Designers to once again become involved in the country club and corporate projects that are her specialty. While at Ferry-Hayes, she was able to marshal all of her project management skills, refined color sense, love of history and decorative arts to create traditional or classic contemporary interiors for such clients as:

	Prime Bank, Atlanta, GA
	Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak and Stewart Law Offices, Charleston, SC
	Cherokee Town Club, Atlanta, GA
	Capital City Club, Atlanta
	Convalescent Services/ Kellett & Co. Corporate offices, Atlanta, GA
	Country Club of Columbus, Columbus, GA
	Poinsett Club, Greenville, SC
	Radnor Valley Country Club, Villanova, PA.
	Robert Trent Jones Golf Club, Gainesville, VA

Projects completed recently by Sterling Design Group, Inc. include:

	Law Offices for Calloway and Calloway, P.C., Specialized Title Services, Atlanta, GA where an incredibly abbreviated construction schedule added to the design challenge, as well as planning for a new office building for The Calloway Companies, located in Dunwoody, Georgia.
	Corporate Headquarters for The Lash Group, Management Consultants, and residence for Miller MacMillan located in a Brookhaven Townhouse.
	Phase I of an ongoing five year renovation at The Melrose Club on Daufuskie Island, South Carolina which included renovation of The Beach Club, General Store, Stoddard and Private Dining Rooms at the Inn and Salty Fare Embarkation Center.
	The newly renovated 40,000 square foot Lake Arrowhead Club located in Cherokee County. Due to the lakeside location, a nautical theme was carried out throughout the club.

Numerous residential projects in the Atlanta and Northern Virginia areas as well as models for high-end residential communities as follows:

	Lexington Village Clubhouse, Alpharetta, Georgia, an upscale, luxury apartment community located in Georgia’s "Hunt" Country.
	Keswick Village Clubhouse, Conyers, Georgia located at the Georgia International Horse Park , location of the Equestrian events for the 1996 Olympic games.
	Huntcliff Village Clubhouse, Roswell, Georgia, upscale apartment homes located in an affluent and sophisticated area of Atlanta.
	Marina Pointe Village Clubhouse Tampa, Florida, a waterfront luxury multi-family property which carried out an upscale nautical theme.
	Waterway Village, West Palm Beach, Florida, part of a master planned community at River Bridge Center.
	DeFoor Village Clubhouse, Atlanta, Georgia, an upscale urban multi-family property developed by one of Atlanta’s premier developers.
	Milstead Village Clubhouse, Kennesaw, Georgia, a family oriented urban country style property.
	Tramore Village Clubhouse, Austell, Georgia, a garden style property with a charming suburban setting.

Since relocating to the Northern Virginia area in 1997, Ms. Watkins has completed numerous projects, including the renovation of the Shenandoah Crossing Clubhouse in Chantilly; Spring House Clubhouse in Laurel, Maryland; as well as residential projects for several clients in the Vienna area.

In addition to meticulous attention to detail, commitment to customer service and ability to listen to her clients, Ms. Watkins brings a true love of color, light, history and beauty to her projects, always reaching for a fresh solution to each design challenge.

Ms. Watkins passed the NCIDQ exam in 1988, which qualifies her for Professional status in the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) as well as Executive membership in the International Furnishings and Design Association (IFDA). She is also a licensed Interior Designer in the State of Georgia meeting all qualifications established by the Board of Architects for knowledge of code, ADA regulations and life safety issues.