Jennifer Gilmer
  

Jennifer Gilmer, CKD, has been creating beautiful kitchens in the Washington, DC area and beyond for more than 20 years. Starting with a drafting job in a small kitchen design firm in McLean, Virginia, Jennifer soon realized she had an absolute passion for this creatively technical work. She also discovered an innate ability to understand the needs and personalities of her clients and to create spaces to compliment each individual. Her award-winning designs span the spectrum from classic and traditional to sleek and contemporary.  She is committed to fulfilling her clients’ needs, doing it well and making the process as joyful as possible.   
 

Jennifer is a native of the Washington, DC area.  After her initial drafting job, Jennifer worked with legendary high-end kitchen designer Richard Tunis for eight years.  She and a partner then opened Kitchen and Bath Studios, Inc. in Chevy Chase, Maryland in 1993.  In 1998, she decided to launch her own firm -- Jennifer Gilmer Kitchen and Bath, Ltd.  Her vision has grown into a successful business, which now includes several other designers and a dedicated support staff who strive to provide the firm’s clients with outstanding designs and exceptional service.
 

Carolyn B. Thomas

Carolyn B. Thomas has a Masters of Fine Arts in Design, is an NKBA Certified Bath Designer, and an Allied Member of ASID.  She joined JGKB in 2001, after 12 years of experience in bath design.  Her projects have been seen in many national publications and on HGTV.  She is the recipient of the National Kitchen & Bath Association’s “Best Small Bath” Award. 
 

Washingtonian Magazine wrote in its review of the metro area’s best kitchen & bath designers:  “Carolyn Thomas is praised by peers and even competitors as the best in town.  Her years as a (design) teacher at the University of Maryland might be behind her ability to communicate complex ideas”
 

Julian Palacios

I joined the company in 2004 to lead our efforts in developing our state-of-the art Drafting Services. I have 14 years of experience in architectural design, development and presentation of blueprints, drawings, floor plans and elevations.

I obtained my bachelor’s degree in architectural design in my country of origin, Chile, and started my professional career at Ardeco Architects, a leading Architectural firm in Santiago, Chile. I also have vast experience in construction, interior and graphic design.

I have been working with AUTOCAD for 11 years and am very proficient with this program. I immigrated to the United States in 1996 and settled here as a permanent resident with my family for 11 years. I try to keep up with growing market trends, computer program updates and latest architectural concepts in order to offer our customers the best options in design.

In the near future, I would like to further my architectural academic background to include a college degree here in the U.S.

John Guzek

 
"I began drafting classes in 8th grade and I've loved it ever since," said John Guzek, who joined JGKB's drafting department in 2006.  A native of Torrance, California, John moved to the Washington area in high school. He attended Paint Branch High School and the Edison Center in Wheaton before earning a CAD certificate at Montgomery College.  "I was immediately overwhelmed with work," he said.

John initially designed and drafted residential and commercial landscaping projects in AutoCAD for KT Enterprises, Inc., where he worked for three years. He then moved into the interior design field, working for seven years with Builders' Design and Leasing, Inc. 
|At JGKB, John's meticulous attention to detail and his experienced technical skills help to translate the designers' visions to clients and builders with the type of exacting precision that leads to beautifully crafted kitchen and bath projects.

Linda McCormick

Linda McCormick joined JGKB after working as a kitchen and bath designer for a big box retailer.  “From a design standpoint, JGKB is more like a jewel box – the design environment is more sophisticated and so are the clients. As a new member of this team, I’ve been impressed by the amount of attention paid to every detail of the projects here.” 
 
Linda is a graduate of the Interior Design program at Montgomery College, with an emphasis in kitchen design. She holds an MA from American University and a BA from the University of Oregon.  Her varied career has included working as a reporter and editor, teaching journalism at American University, and owning radio stations in the Pacific Northwest. “Design, like journalism, presents a daily challenge and is always new and exciting,” Linda says.    
 

Melissa Reyes

Melissa has always been passionate about design, form and function. While earning a Bachelor of Science in Biology and completing a double major in fine art from Duke University, she asked herself “How is the world designed around me?” and “How can I design the world?”

Upon graduation she worked for several design oriented firms in the Durham, NC area not only gaining experience in design but also in business. At the Bio-Design Studio she managed this lab and designed working biological research models. At the Center for Inquiry-Based Learning she administered this hands-on science education and research program. At SeeSaw Studio she facilitated the early development of this youth-run design and entrepreneurial program. At Galleria d’Artiste she launched this retail gallery for fine art, decorative accessories for the home, and gifts.

Shortly after her decision to pursue a formal design education at Montgomery College, she started as an intern at JGKB. Ever since she has been inspired daily by one-of-a-kind design, quality of product, and the highest standard of professionalism.

Amy Pasek

Amy Pasek credits a love of puzzles, details and baking to her decision to work at JGKB.  “Kitchen design is a challenging puzzle of function, mechanics and aesthetics that, when all the parts are assembled, provides its own rich reward,” she said.  She thrives on project management and believes in keeping clients happy, well informed and reassured that their projects are on track at all times.

Amy is well suited to the diversity of projects at JGKB. She grew up in cosmopolitan San Francisco, then chose to earn her undergraduate degree at Whitman College in rural Walla Walla, Washington. A study abroad program in Strasbourg, France, provided a springboard for Amy to travel throughout Europe, where she reveled in the diverse art, architecture and cultures. She lived and worked briefly in Rhode Island before settling in Maryland, where she worked as a teacher prior to deciding to follow her heart into the design field. While earning a design degree from Montgomery College, Amy successfully led a team of designers in completing a space in the National Symphony Orchestra Decorators’ Show House in 2005.

Priya Gupta

Communications consultant and stylist Priya Gupta is responsible for the creative advertising and marketing functions at JGKB.  With prior experience in managing her own fine arts business, Priya enjoys the challenge of promoting the work of the firm’s talented designers.  “It helps paint the whole cycle from creative conceptualization to showcasing the value created for our clients,” Priya said. 

Priya holds a BA in Psychology and Philosophy from the University of Bombay, India and a post-graduate diploma in Advertising and Marketing from St. Xavier’s College, also in Bombay, India.

Helen Maga
 

A native of Fairfax County, Virginia,  Helen has a background in nonprofit fundraising.  After ten years of working in that field, she decided a change was in order and made a switch to the design world.  She worked first for a local granite distributor and then found happiness with the JGKB family.  Helen is in charge of ordering, tracking, and following through with all the millions of parts and pieces that create beautiful kitchens and bathrooms for JGKB.

Teresa Ann Nyberg-Grim

Terry is a registered architect, with a BARCH from the University of Notre Dame. The challenge of integrating additions and renovations to existing homes and life styles, has been a passion of hers for decades. She found her architectural nitch in the kitchen industry with JGK&B in 2004. When the dream kitchen needs a little extra space to perform perfectly, she magically creates it, naturally blending it with form, & style. And, thus, functioning ideally with the newly designed kitchen. When not engrossed with designing client’s additions, Terry is busy with her husband, three sons and playing USTA tennis.

“Imagination is more important than knowledge”. ---Einstein