Uncategorized – Office Revolution

Hispanic Heritage Month

Today marks the beginning of Hispanic Heritage Month, a time to recognize and celebrate the contributions of Hispanic and Latino Americans to the United States’ culture, history, and achievements. It is also an opportunity to highlight the influence of Hispanic culture in various industries, including the commercial design industry. From architecture to interior design, Hispanic designers have made significant impacts and left lasting legacies.

One influential Hispanic designer is Ricardo Scofidio, a renowned architect known for his groundbreaking designs that blur the boundaries between art and architecture. Scofidio’s projects, such as the High Line in New York City, have transformed urban spaces and reimagined how we interact with the built environment.

Another influential figure is Patricia Urquiola, a Spanish-born designer known for her eclectic and avant-garde furniture designs. With her bold use of colors, patterns, and unconventional materials, Urquiola has pushed the boundaries of conventional commercial design and created spaces that are both functional and visually stunning.

These and many other Hispanic designers have not only contributed to the commercial design industry but have also inspired future generations to embrace their cultural heritage and infuse it into their creative work. Their stories serve as a reminder of the power of diversity and inclusion in design and the importance of celebrating Hispanic heritage in the industry.

Office Revolution Names Jill Stewart President and Announces Leadership Team Changes

Chicago, IL – Office Revolution announced today that Jill Stewart, vice president of business strategy, will serve as the company’s new president. Current president and founding principal Bernie Donaldson will remain actively involved as founding principal with Office Revolution, including working with current and future customers and partners, promoting the Office Revolution brand and providing support to the leadership team. Bernie founded the company in 2001, growing the company to become one of the largest Teknion dealers in the country.

Jill has more than 25 years in the contract furniture industry with extensive experience in both dealer and manufacturer arenas and several years in strategic sales, operations and design. As vice president of business strategy, Jill has elevated Office Revolution’s client experience by aligning technology, people and process with customer service. Prior to joining Office Revolution, Jill served in executive leadership roles at both a major manufacturer and ancillary provider where she led four award-winning sales and operational divisions.

“I’ve watched Jill prepare for this exciting change,” said Bernie. “We have an incredible amount of growth ahead of us in Teknion Architectural Interiors as well as in new verticals and geographies. It’s because of our human-centered design and strengths-based leadership that we can pursue these new opportunities while maintaining the highest level of service across our existing business.”

“Our high-performance culture will be a tremendous asset as we continue to manage growth driven by today’s need to make the office a destination of choice, one that mixes positive experiences with productivity,” said Jill. “I’m excited to advance Office Revolution to a new level of operational capability and create additional value for our employees and clients.”

At the same time, additional leadership team changes have been made to ensure the company evolves and is unified to create growth, improve operational excellence and gain market share.

Bruce Tharp has been appointed as president of architectural interiors. Bruce will provide strategy for expansion, market growth and scalable efficiencies nationally.

Kelly O’Donnell has been appointed as vice president of professional services. Kelly will lead all operational team members including designers, corporate account managers and project managers maintaining an efficient team structure and performance.

Office Revolution Gives Back 2023 – Ronald McDonald House Charities®

This quarter, the Office Revolution team had the pleasure of participating in Meals from the Heart with Ronald McDonald House Charities® of Chicagoland & Northwest Indiana, Central Ohio and Durham.

Families staying at the Ronald McDonald Houses are often far from the comforts of home, including freshly prepared meals. Through Meals from the Heart, we prepared meals that allow families to enjoy dinner without the stress of cooking or the expense of dining out – giving them a little peace of mind and a taste of home.

We were proud to be involved at five distinct locations, namely Winfield, Downtown Chicago, Oak Lawn, Columbus, OH, and Durham, NC. It is our honor to give back to such an incredible organization in our communities.

Office Revolution Chicago named a Winner of the 2023 Best and Brightest Companies to Work For®️

We are thrilled to announce that we have been named a 2023 Winner for The Best and Brightest Companies to Work For® in Chicago!

“Those companies that continue to make the list are truly remarkable. Given today’s need for talent, retention of talent, and the further issues related to the pandemic, these companies have proven they are superior to market conditions. They are elite thinkers and this honor demonstrates their commitment to excellence,” said Jennifer Kluge, President and CEO of NABR and The Best and Brightest Program.

The Best and Brightest, a certified Women’s Business Enterprise organization, strives to recognize the most influential, trend-setting companies across the country and regionally in focused programs. This national program celebrates those companies that are making better business, creating richer lives and building a stronger community as a whole. The Best and Brightest Companies to Work For® competition identifies and honors organizations that display a commitment to excellence in operations and employee enrichment that lead to increased productivity and financial performance.

Congratulations to all winners of this award, and thank you to everyone who’s part of our community, growth and positive company culture!

Photography: Kendall McCaugherty, Hall + Merrick + McCaugherty Photographers.

Office Revolution Names Brett Frenier as Principal of Raleigh, North Carolina Location

Chicago, IL – Office Revolution, a leading contract furniture provider for commercial environments, today announced that Brett Frenier has joined the Company as principal of its Raleigh, North Carolina location. He will lead new business development and client experience activities including strategic planning, market research, and contract and relationship management.

Office Revolution has completed large-scale projects for Cisco Meraki, University of North Carolina, Varonis and NC Chamber. In the heart of downtown on Fayetteville Street, the Raleigh multifunctional space houses Office Revolution’s newest showroom featuring marquis brand Teknion. The 8,900-square-foot showroom is designed to inspire and help reimagine how thoughtfully curated furniture and architectural products can help support the culture goals and success of an organization’s built environment.

“Brett is a proven leader with a superior track record for delivering results,” said Bernie Donaldson, founding principal, Office Revolution. “His strong industry and market knowledge combined with his creativity and customer commitment will help us build upon the great business we are already enjoying in the Raleigh-Durham market.”

Prior to joining Office Revolution, Brett was associate principal and client development manager at international design firm RATIO Design where he was instrumental in driving growth in the Raleigh-Durham area. At CBI, he was a sales consultant. Before his time with CBI, Brett was a territory manager for furniture manufacturer Herman Miller.

“I have joined Office Revolution at a time of significant opportunity for the Company and its clients,” said Brett Frenier, Raleigh principal, Office Revolution. “I’m excited to work with Bernie and the rest of the team to move Office Revolution forward by extending its reach through the cultivation of new, untapped business opportunities and relationships.”

The Raleigh location is one of five locations for Chicago-headquartered Office Revolution which also has locations in suburban Chicago and Columbus and Cleveland, Ohio. Office Revolution is the largest Teknion dealer in the Midwest and received Teknion’s 2022 Platinum Dealer Award for outstanding leadership in sales and customer service. The Company augments its marquis brand with a collection of premier and value brands including Humanscale, Allermuir, SitOnIt, Kimball, OFS and Studio TK. Living Revolution, a division of Office Revolution, creates a sense of home by providing beautiful, comfortable and functional spaces for senior living and multi-family communities.

For expertise in furnishing your professional environment, contact Brett Frenier at bfrenier@office-revolution.com. Visit www.office-revolution.com.

Karen Sabo, Office Revolution New Business Development, raises $3K for Refuge of Hope

In addition to collecting needed supplies, Karen Sabo, Office Revolution New Business Development, fundraised over $3,000 for Refuge of Hope—an organization in Bucerias, Mexico that provides access to needed shelter, food, education, community support and more. Refuge of Hope supports single mothers and families with donations and by giving these children access to an education.

Karen traveled to Bucerias to deliver donated items on February 10th. “I cannot thank [those who donated] enough, and the staff at Refuge of Hope was blown away,” Karen says. “We had a great time there. We started the day singing songs, went outside for some light activity, came back for a healthy breakfast and broke into small groups for classroom style learning and reading. After lunch we created a Valentine’s Day mobile for the craft portion of the afternoon.”

She continues, “With as rough as their day to day situations are, each of the kids had smiles on their faces all day long. They were welcoming of all the extra love, hugs and attention they received.”

If you would like to become involved, below is a list of items on the organization’s wishlist.

Gently used clothes for boys ages 8-12
Pants, t-shirts, underwear, shorts, swimming trunks
Lice shampoo
Craft supplies such as – scissors, glue, stickers, etc.

For more information and to get involved, visit their website at: https://refugeofhopebucerias.com/

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Office Revolution named a Winner of the 2022 Top 101 Best and Brightest Companies to Work For®️ in the Nation

We are thrilled to announce that we have been named a winner of the 2022 Top 101 Best and Brightest Companies to Work For® in the Nation.

The Best and Brightest Companies To Work For competition identifies and honors organizations that display a commitment to excellence in their human resource practices and employee enrichment. Organizations are assessed based on categories such as communication, work-life balance, employee education, diversity, recognition, retention and more.

“These companies excelled to the very top of the Best and Brightest Companies to Work For at a national level, in many ways they are years ahead of the business community as it relates to culture, engagement and Human Resource trends,” said Jennifer Kluge, President and CEO, Best and Brightest Programs.

Congratulations to all winners of this award and thank you to everyone that is a part of our community that helped make this possible!

Photography: Kendall McCaugherty, Hall + Merrick + McCaugherty Photographers.

National Native American Heritage Month

November is National Native American Heritage Month (NNAHM), a time to commemorate the history, heritage and culture of American Indians and Alaskan Natives and acknowledge their important contributions. NNAHM gives an opportunity to educate ourselves about Native peoples, increase our knowledge of the unique challenges they face, and understand how historical trauma – colonization and genocide for example – have impacted Native peoples.

In 1990, a joint resolution was passed by Congress recognizing Native citizens as America’s original inhabitants who made essential contributions to both the United States and the world. In 2021, there were 574 federally recognized tribes in the U.S., however numerous others are still advocating for recognition. Despite living in metropolitan areas, American Indian/Alaska Natives (AI/ANs) history has been forgotten or overlooked.

We spoke with Nick Hanson, an Alaskan Native, motivational speaker and 7x American Ninja Warrior, about his thoughts on this month-long celebration. “To be honored with recognition as indigenous people is a foot in the door to teach others about our culture to people who don’t fully understand, especially those across the country who may never visit a place like our home.”

Native American and Alaskan Native cultures have had a profound influence on interior design with their unique and deeply meaningful style that has roots in centuries-old traditions. The style is primarily intended to convey the splendor of nature and is expressed in the use of natural materials, bright colors, geometric patterns and symbolic imagery. “Our culture is based off of the land, the sea, the sky, the wildlife – all of them are a part of our daily life so when we’re designing something modern, we incorporate what we see into our designs.” explains Hanson.

Inspired by their environment, plants and animals like eagles, bears, whales, salmon and trees are often used to communicate the values and spiritual beliefs of Native communities. Their understanding of the natural world is sophisticated and comprehensive and equates to a moral responsibility to care for, live in harmony with, and respect the natural world. Given this interconnected relationship with nature, Indigenous People are careful and respectful of animals and their natural lifecycles. They make efforts to not overfish, over-hunt or over-harvest. Every part of the animal is used in some way or another, ensuring that nothing goes to waste. Animal bones and tusks are harvested from the animals they hunt and are used to create furniture and carvings. Ivory carvings are a popular art form produced in Northern Alaska, made from found tusks of both walrus and prehistoric mammoths. These beautiful carvings often depict day-to-day activities. “Each piece is a story of our history or represents a cultural aspect of where we live and thrive.” explains Hanson.

Native Americans have had a profound impact on American culture and continue to do so through their traditional art and design. This month take time to celebrate the culture, heritage, and vast achievements of America’s original indigenous people.

Office Revolution named a 2022 Best and Brightest Companies to Work For® in the Nation Winner

We are thrilled to announce that we have been named a 2022 Winner for The Best and Brightest Companies to Work For® in the Nation.

The Best and Brightest Companies To Work For competition “identifies and honors organizations that display a commitment to excellence in their human resource practices and employee enrichment. Organizations are assessed based on categories such as communication, work-life balance, employee education, diversity, recognition, retention and more.”

“These 2022 winning organizations have stood out during unpredictable times and have proven they are an employer of choice. They continue to keep the needs of their employees first and provide perks that include development, wellbeing, work-life balance, rewards and recognition. In addition, these winning companies offer a fantastic work culture and workplace environment that attracts and retains superior employees”, said Jennifer Kluge, President and CEO of the National Association for Business Resources (NABR) and The Best and Brightest Program.

Congratulations to all winners of this award and thank you to everyone who helped make this possible!

Office Revolution Gives Back – Operation Backpack

Office Revolution is dedicated to giving back to the community, and this quarter our team took part in Operation Backpack. As the new school year approaches, Operation Backpack connects children in need with a new backpack filled with grade-specific school supplies.

Together, our Chicago and Columbus teams filled over 20 backpacks with pens, crayons, binders, hygiene kits and notebooks to help set these children up for a successful school year.

“It’s not just about paper, pens, or binders – it’s about giving the gift of opportunity in school and life that many children will not receive otherwise.”

Learn more about this great cause at https://www.voa.org/operation-backpack.

Our Raleigh office also got involved, teaming up with North East Wake Backpack Buddies. N.E.W. Backpack Buddies provides food over the weekends to children in need. Together our team packed 150 bags of kid-friendly food for six weekend meals plus snacks!

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Photography: Kendall McCaugherty, Hall + Merrick + McCaugherty Photographers.

Photography: Kendall McCaugherty, Hall + Merrick + McCaugherty Photographers.

Design Architect: Perkins&Will. Photography: © Kendall McCaugherty