We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Amy Smith. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Amy below.

Amy , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Let’s start with education – we’d love to hear your thoughts about how we can better prepare students for a more fulfilling life and career

I was raised in a home with Educated parents and the “idea” of not going to college was not an option. Even more so, the idea of going to college for an Arts Degree such as Interior Design was frowned upon even more. I was the daughter of Colonel in the Marine Corp gone Guidance Counselor after retirement (Master of Counseling from UVA). My Mother was a Nurse with a BSN. I was highly encouraged to go into a serving profession, hence my first degree with an emphasis in Social Work and then my Master of Education with an emphasis in Early Childhood. Thank God I followed my heart and my natural talents. I worked hard to learn and grow as a designer receiving great hands-on training and mentorship from so many in the industry. I now see where our education system needs to prepare students for way more than a college degree…. but a fulfilling career. In my industry I am seeing a lack of trade professionals such as plumbers, electricians, tile experts, flooring installers, master carpenters, painters and more. I think kids should start pursuing options early in schooling that is not just a focus on attaining a college degree but becoming skilled at a trade. Our Company employs many firefighters. I feel that this should be an option that children explore early in life. I definitely think that at the Higher education level there should be more opportunities for teens to experience apprenticeships and have more experiences that will make them more knowledgeable in life. It is so hard to decide at a young age what it is you want to be for the rest of your life, and you are never too old to learn a new skill. I have definitely become a huge fan of trade schools and wish our education system realized how important this is not only for children to find their way, but for businesses to continue to be strong. I have seen trades dying…and am fearful that a future without great plumbers, electricians, and carpenters is coming.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My mom told me that I rearranged furniture around our home from the time I was in kindergarten. I have recollections of moving me and my sisters twin beds from room to room. I loved going to model homes and was always in awe and interested in decor. Not just decor, but scale, color, and textiles. I had the opportunity to work for a small design firm in Tampa in 2006. I started part time, but soon took on more responsibilities and was trained as a buyer and began going to clients’ homes. I had found my niche! I was gifted for sure and developed a client base that included staging for realtors, painting faux finishes (way back when), space planning, and eventually kitchen designing. I have continued my education with Certified Interior Decorators, National Association of the Remodeling Industry as a Certified Kitchen and Bath Designer, and Universal Designer and have become proficient in 2020 Design (CAD Program) I am proud that I followed my heart and did what I truly knew was my calling. I am so proud of the fact that I began working out of my garage in 2009 and in the past 2 years have completed 2 million Dollar plus remodels. I am proud of the repeat clients that I have helped. I put my heart into every single job and strive to make every space unique to the homeowners. I am proud of the Showroom my Company, Smith & Steele Designs is building. I am proud of the employees that we hire and that we are very much like a family. I strive to create a beautiful and inviting space for each client, a space that is personal, and a space that feels like home.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

I think you have to have resilience in this industry. I am on the way to meet a new client…I pray before I get there. For the fit to be good, for the meeting to go well, and for a great new job. I am thankful for the opportunity. However, as much as I pour my heart and soul into a job, I don’t always win it. Maybe they love me, but maybe the price is too high. You get a lot of No’s in kitchen and bath design sales. So there are days when I know I have poured my heart and soul into a job, and I know I have given a family their perfect design, but I did not win the bid…and I have to pick myself up and dust myself off and move onto the next design challenge.

Can you tell us the story behind how you met your business partner?

My Business Partner is Troy Steele…he’s the Steele in Smith & Steele. Troy is a General Contractor. We first met when we worked at a company together briefly about 7 years ago. Troy’s brother Kevin also worked there. Kevin and I were great friends and had a great working relationship. We worked closely together on Design, and he taught me a lot about computer automated design. Actually, Kevin and I first ventured onto Smith & Steele together. After about 2 months of the new business…which we started in January 2020…yes C0-Vid was brand new to this world (great time to start a business), Kevin had second thoughts and decide to go into a career in IT. I told Kevin, well, “I am calling your brother.” And that is where Smith & Steele really began.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://smithandsteeledesigns.com/
• Instagram: @smithandsteeledesigns

Image Credits
Celebrate Everything by Valerie