Marketing Team at the New York Design Center (Kunst)

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With more than 90 showrooms, the New York Design Center (NYDC) is the hub of interior design in the heart of the world’s capital. The constant stream of designers flowing through its revolving doors and the weekly events beckoning the city’s most stylish are meticulously managed by a tenacious team of four in stilettos. Alix Lerman, Leah Blank, Alana Moskowitz, and Tracy Waller comprise the marketing department at the mecca of decor. With a list of responsibilities ranging from event production to website maintenance, it came as no surprise that they are each as organized as they are gregarious and as business savvy as they are sartorial.

MEET THE GIRLS
Name: Alix Melissa Lerman
Title: Director of Marketing at the New York Design Center
Age: 30
Hometown: New York City, NY
Educational background: Bachelor of Arts in Educational Theater from New York University
Tell us about your job and daily responsibilities: As Director of Marketing & Communications, I lead the team responsible for the branding, marketing, PR, events, website, social media, and advertising at the New York Design Center. If it is involves marketing, we do it.

Name: Leah Shoshana Blank
Title: Senior Marketing and Events Manager
Age: 28
Hometown: New York City, NY
Educational background: Bachelor of Arts in Communications from The University of Hartford
Tell us about your job and daily responsibilities: I hold the position of the Senior Marketing/Events Manager at the NYDC, a 16-story interior design center housing over 90 showrooms. Among the many hats that I wear, I am in charge of creating and executing all NYDC events to increase awareness, raise funds for organizations, and celebrate the interior design industry. I coordinate all event logistics, including production schedule, graphics, invites, mailing lists, budget, venue, audiovisual, catering, print materials, gift items, and other event necessities.

Name: Alana Rachel Moskowitz
Title: Design Services Manager
Age: 26
Hometown: Greenwich, CT
Educational background: Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations from Boston University
Tell us about your job and daily responsibilities: I manage the Access to Design™ office at the NYDC. As the Design Services Manager, my role is to work with both designers and consumers to facilitate the use of the trade-only building. Much of what I do is maintaining relationships with the 30 designers in the program, as well as targeting consumers and assisting them on their design projects.

Name: Tracy Ellen Waller
Title: Marketing Coordinator
Age: 22
Hometown: Chappaqua, NY
Educational background: Bachelor of Science in Retailing with an emphasis in Fashion Merchandising from the University of South Carolina, Magna Cum Laude
Tell us about your job and daily responsibilities: I assist my coworkers with event planning and marketing for the building. I help to create editorial information for our website and post event information so that the showrooms get exposure. The department is always bouncing around the city attending different industry events and supporting those who support the NYDC. I get to meet and network with fabulous designers and magazine editors, and picking their brains is something that I get great enjoyment out of.

Can you list your work positions starting from your first job out of college to what you do today?

Alix: Being a student at NYU allowed me to have the opportunity to not only study what I loved (theatre) but to also have incredible internships in the interior design industry. Many of my classes were in the evenings, so I was always able to work during the day. While in school I worked for a decorative fabric company and then a regional magazine. By the time my senior year came around, I was simultaneously working on an experimental theatre project and coordinating a show house in the Hamptons and Palm Beach. I was traveling like crazy, but loved every minute of it! After graduating, I got a job at another decorative fabric company, where I got more involved in public relations. When an opportunity at The New York Design Center came along, I just could not pass it up. I’ve been at the NYDC for over six years and the rest is history!

Leah: During college, I held two marketing/event internships that fortunately provided freelance work for me as soon as I graduated college allowing me time to search for a full time job. I heard about the NYDC position through a family friend and submitted my resume blindly. This was my first full-time job out of college, and I have been with here for almost six years.

Alana: I have been lucky enough to have been with the NYDC since graduation. I started in the Marketing Department as the Marketing Coordinator, and then promoted to Public Relations Manager before transferring into the Access to Design™ office. The original position came to me via word of mouth.

Tracy: I started as an intern at NYDC in June 2011 and was hired full-time as the Marketing Coordinator in September 2011. A good friend of my mom’s works as a showroom manager here and overheard that the marketing department needed an intern and thought it was a good fit for me while I was looking for jobs. I came in and interviewed with Alix and saw the internship as a great opportunity. I was lucky that I ended up loving it and was invited to stay.

What do you like about working in the interior design world in New York City?

Alix: I think being involved in anything even remotely creative in New York City is a gift. The city completely inspires me, all the time. Be it the architecture, the history, the culture the city is all about design.

Alana: The design industry is full of talented, kind, and charitable people that I have been fortunate enough to rub shoulders with. I continue to be impressed with the beautiful work that I see in the showrooms here at the NYDC, in the pages of all the shelter publications, and in the portfolios of the designers in the Access to Design office. Not to mention the energy of being in Manhattan… this is where it all happens.

What skills or personality attributes would you say are essential for a person to do what you do?

Alix: I think it is essential to keep an open mind and be ready for anything. If I have learned anything in my six years at the NYDC, it is that saying “no” is never an option!

Leah: Just to name a few: outgoing, detail-oriented, organized, passionate, ambitious, remain calm in a storm, and many more!

Tracy: One must always be sure of themselves and confident in their abilities. Standing up for one’s self is necessary and not being afraid to ask for help or clarification is key. Being open minded to new ideas will only add to one’s repertoire of skills and is very important to a successful career.

What do you know now that you wish you knew when you were 23?

Alix: When I was 23, I wish I knew that it was okay to be confident and assertive. At my first job I worked with someone that was constantly disrespecting me. No one should ever be disrespected, no matter what age.

Leah: First impressions are everything.

What advice do you have for women looking for a career in marketing?

Alix: Be Creative! The more creative and “outside the box” your ideas are, the better. Girls starting out in marketing should make sure they are aware of what tools are out there. Right now, social media is a major tool that we are learning how to implement into our marketing plans. Many times, girls just entering the workforce will be more savvy with these types of tools (ex. Facebook, twitter) than people already in the field. The collaboration between these new marketing tools and “old fashioned” experience can be magical! Also, be careful of Facebook! Don’t put anything online that you don’t want people to see. In marketing especially, you will have a lot of crossover between your personal and professional life, and you don’t want anything “incriminating” out there for all to see.

Leah: Definitely find an industry that you are passionate about and search for jobs within that field. It is difficult to market something or someone that you do not believe in or that you don’t care for. Being passionate about what you do makes your job more than just work.

Alana: Find your passion and pursue your goals. When you love what you are doing, it never feels like work.

Tracy: Never second guess yourself. You would be surprised what you can accomplish as long as you put your mind and energy to it. Having a strong voice and opinions will certainly come in handy when establishing your career and will benefit whatever company you work for.
What qualities do you most admire in the people you work with (in regards to designers, and others in marketing?)

Alix: There are so many qualities I admire about my NYDC marketing team. Everyone has their own style and way of working. They are supportive yet are not afraid to argue with me when needed. I can always ask their opinion and know I will get honesty in return.

Leah: I admire the passion and patience that my co-workers and the designers possess. Their passion keeps me passionate, and patience is definitely a virtue that I aspire toward.

Alana: My colleagues are talented, creative young women who are dedicated to their duties and always pleasurable to work with. We have mastered the right balance of ambition and fun in the workplace.

Best part of the job?

Alix: The best part of my job, is that overall, I love coming to work every day. The design industry is full of wonderful people, so many have become personal friends. Events, meetings, emails and phone calls are like being with friends.

Alana: I find it rewarding when I encounter a consumer stuck in their design project, and I can facilitate their movement by pairing them with the right designer.

Tracy: Working with women who are the best at what they do and are known in the industry for their talents and successes.

Least glamorous part?

Alix: Like every job, there are certain administrative tasks that we have to work on. These are not my favorite, but it could be worse.

Leah: Managing all of the events is definitely not glamorous. On event days, you will find me carrying cartons that are heavier than I am and digging through the basement for that box of napkins that I know I have stashed in a “safe place.”

Tracy: Having no set schedule and not knowing when I will get home at the end of the day.

Most challenging part?

Alix: The most challenging party of my job is to keep all of our ideas and concepts organized. It is an incredible gift to be to work in an environment that encourages new ideas and concepts. It is sometimes challenging to know what ideas to focus on and which to “let go” of.

Leah: Juggling everything that is asked of us is a huge challenge. I run approximately 10 events per year, and that’s only the beginning. As the marketing department for an entire building, we often wear many hats. My ability to keep organized helps me tremendously.

Alana: Given the multi-dimensional aspect of my position, working with so many different designers and consumers at once requires extreme organization and structure.
Best moment of your career thus far?

Alix: The best moment of my career thus far, would have to be the end of our first “What’s New, What’s Next @ 200 Lex” market event. It was the first completely new concept we came up with and executed as department. When we successfully pulled it off, it was amazing.

Leah: The best moment and most fulfilling aspect of my job is to conduct events that raise money for a charity/organization. Being able to use my expertise to help others is the most rewarding feeling.

Alana: A highlight each year is watching the DIFFA Dining by Design structure come to life in one day. While we have talented designers behind the design of the space, it’s always a remarkable experience playing a role from start to finish and seeing the space come together.

Where do you see yourself in ten years?

Alix: I hope that I am fortunate to continue to work in an innovative and rewarding profession. It is hard to specifically think of exactly what job I hope to have, but I know I want to be doing something that allows me to come up with and execute new and exciting ideas. I would also love to be a little bit more involved in theatre over the next 10 years.

Leah: I aspire to own a marketing and events company, assisting large corporations.

Alana: Still in the interior design business—perhaps working in set design.

Tracy: Being as happy as possible and successfully balancing a fulfilling career and family life.

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