Honoree Profile

Nicole Dufkis

Wright Heerema Architects

Title: Senior Interior Designer
Tenure at Firm: 2 Years
Nominating Principal: Roger Heerema, Principle
School: Harrington College of Design
Major: Bachelor of Fine Arts in Interior Design

Inspired By:

What inspires me in my daily work is the variety of projects I am able to work on, making every day different. I am also inspired by new finishes and products to fuel my creativity towards innovative solutions for the client.

Keys to a Successful Project:
I believe that the key ingredient to ensuring the success of a project is engaging all team members involved right from the start. This way we avoid surprises and misunderstandings, and there is no need for constant back-and-forth. Keeping communication open between all parties helps things run smoothly and keeps everyone on the same page as we move forward with a project.

Interests Outside of Work:

Outside of work I love exploring new wineries and breweries or relaxing at some favorites. I also enjoy the outdoors, either running local 5Ks or lounging outside in the warm weather. I also am involved in my daughter’s schools, as the PTO president for the middle school and the PTO treasurer for the elementary school. I also serve on the board of the district education foundation. And recently became an Authorized Disney Vacation planner.

“Nicole plays a key role in workplace interiors projects. Her involvement spans from initial project programming through design and implementation. Nicole is able to discuss and understand a client’s vision, and translate into a high-performance built environment. Nicole is exceptionally skilled at manipulating space, developing details, selecting finishes and furniture to support the vision, resulting in a compelling and memorable workplace.”

Roger Heerema
Principle