As 2024 comes to a close and we approach the time for year-end reviews, several pieces of news deserve to be highlighted at VAD Designers d’espaces. The arrival of six new talents to strengthen the team brings a breath of fresh air and propels us toward a wide range of new projects with renewed energy.
The team is growing
Émilia Charron-Widholm, a 2023 graduate in interior design from Cégep Marie-Victorin, was the first of the recent hires to join our technical team as a junior designer. For just over a year, she has stood out through her positive contribution and valuable involvement in various interior design projects for major clients, such as Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton, Collège Montmorency and Clinique médicale STEP. With her energy and rigour, she has made a significant contribution to large-scale projects since her beginnings at VAD.
The talented Marie-Claude Major joined our team at the end of 2023. With more than 10 years of experience in major architecture firms, she brings valuable expertise to our design department. These days, she is actively contributing to the development of projects for the rollout of a network of service points across the province, supporting the design team and leading the production of technical plans and specifications.
Gemma Normil, a graduate of the DEC-BAC program in interior design from the Université de Montréal (2018), followed by a graduate diploma in event design from UQAM, joined VAD at the beginning of the year. Multidisciplinary and highly talented in design and 3D modelling, Gemma also stands out for her strong creative contribution and excellent interpersonal skills. Her arrival significantly enriches the design team.
Our administrative team recently welcomed Selena Katsigiannis, who holds the position of Administration and Finance Coordinator. With 14 years of experience in accounting and administration, Selena provides essential support to our controller while playing a central role in managing the office’s daily administrative activities. She contributes to optimizing our internal processes and to the overall smooth functioning of the team.
A career change and a return to school brought us Brigitte Carrière, a new junior designer on the team. Brigitte worked for 10 years in accounting for an architecture firm before following her passion and returning to school to complete her technical diploma in interior design at Cégep Marie-Victorin. Brigitte stands out for her rigour and attention to detail, qualities that allow her to contribute effectively to the production of technical plans and project follow-up.
Marine Cance, our new Project Management Coordinator, is the latest recruit to join the team in September. Holder of a B.T.S. in Space Design from École Boulle in Paris, Marine then completed a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Design at UQAM and developed her professional experience as a designer in various architecture firms. She is currently completing a D.E.S.S. in Project Management at HEC Montréal and is making a positive contribution to the growth of VAD’s project management department with her innovative methods. She is an asset both within the team and for our clients.
With this wave of recent hires, VAD continues to strengthen its expertise and enrich its know-how. Together, we look to the future with confidence and determination, ready to bring increasingly ambitious projects to life.
Important internal milestones
Several team members have also taken on new challenges within VAD since the beginning of 2024. We are proud to highlight the development of two talents who have been contributing to the company’s growth for several years.
Amélie Chainey, designer and project manager at VAD since 2010, has been given the title of Senior Project Manager. In her new role, she will continue to lead interior design projects, acting as the main point of contact for key clients. Her new title reflects her ability to manage major accounts and ensure the success of VAD’s most strategic projects. In her new functions, Amélie will actively contribute to the company’s business development initiatives, further strengthening VAD’s visibility and reach among potential new clients.
Stéphanie Du Paul, senior interior designer and coordinator at VAD since 2008, is moving into the role of Project Manager. Drawing on her experience, Stéphanie will continue to be involved at every stage of the design process, from preliminary studies to the finalization of construction plans. Her expertise in design and space planning allows her to bring a strategic and creative vision to projects while maintaining high standards of quality and precision.
“These new arrivals bring valuable momentum that is perfectly aligned with our strategic vision for growth and the enrichment of our service offering.
Thanks to the diversity of the talents and expertise they bring, we are strengthening our ability to offer even more varied and complementary interior design solutions to our clients. The enthusiasm is already tangible within the team, and we look forward to seeing the creative and innovative contributions each person will bring to VAD’s projects and culture.” says Martine Drolet, Vice-President and Partner at VAD.