Design Team
Our interior design team is infused with a nurturing, collaborative spirit that has helped each of us produce award-winning solutions for a variety of residential and commercial clients. Bolstered by the finest design resources, our team approach proves that the sum of the whole is indeed greater than its parts. With more than 200 collective years of experience, our interior designers are devoted to meeting our clients’ needs and providing the best solution to the challenge at hand.
Jamie Fields | Director of Marketing and PR
Jamie Fields is thrilled to be a member of the Susan Fredman Design Group, where she can merge her passion for design with her marketing expertise. Specializing in strategic and event marketing, branding, public relations and social media, Jamie's focus is driving business growth through the creation of an ongoing dialogue between the design group and community. She graduated from Northwestern University with a degree in Communication Studies and is the recipient of the national Taproot Foundation Service Grant of the Year award.
Nanette Mortell | Director of Retail and E-commerce
Nanette Mortell, director of retail and e-commerce for Susan Fredman at Home, comes to us with 15 years of retail experience. She has a strong background in branding, marketing and merchandising and is passionate about product and the art and strategy behind the selection process. She has traveled around the world designing high-quality home furnishings and accessories that inspire and complement a modern lifestyle.
Susan Rossie | President
Susan Rossie is the president of Susan Fredman Design Group. She manages a staff of thirty, while keeping pace with the latest innovations to ensure the company’s growth. Her varied experience as a corporate executive and attorney has proven invaluable in her current position. A highly skilled negotiator and trouble-shooter, Susan manages the company operations and participates in the firm’s marketing and public relations campaigns. As a leader Susan generates positive energy among team members which enables them to effectively serve their clientele. Susan holds a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology and Art History from the University of Illinois and received her Juris Doctor from Loyola University in Chicago. Susan is a founding board member of Designs for Dignity and a member of the Women President’s Organization, in addition to being active in other community and volunteer efforts.
Shelley Becker
Shelley loves to test boundaries and think outside the box mixing styles and incorporating unique antiques. She’s had diverse interior design experience from the mountains of Colorado to Scottsdale, AZ and has become an expert in antique and French building materials. Whether working on high end boutiques, hotels, spas or residential homes, she’s committed to creating beautiful environments that are comfortable, function well and suit her client’s personality and individual taste. Innovative solutions, attention to detail and excellent service are key priorities in every project. She is currently studying to take the NCIDQ exam and become a registered Interior Designer. Becker believes well-designed interiors have a positive impact on the quality of her clients’ lives, making them truly feel “at home.”
Amanda Zitlin
Amanda has been immersed in the design world for as long as she can remember. With her first published project (a collaboration with her mother) at age three, she knew she was destined for a career in the field. Amanda studied interior and graphic design while at Colorado State and Harrington College of Design and has never met a bold color or graphic pattern she didn’t like. She also draws inspiration from travel and nature and loves working with people and co-creating spaces that truly work for them. As a volunteer for Designs for Dignity, an organization that transforms the existing spaces of nonprofits through pro bono design services and in-kind donations, she helps design nourishing spaces for underserved populations.
Gina Valenti
With degrees in both marketing and interior design, Gina believes that her clients’ homes should not only be comforting and inspiring spaces, but that they should also tell their stories, represent their individuality and be personal expressions of their own unique styles. Her design aesthetic is influenced by the reinterpretation of historical details and classic design elements, and she crafts sophisticated spaces that adhere to the timeless fundamentals of permanent style. From a practical standpoint, Gina’s strong background in custom home construction provides her with extensive experience with managing projects and dealing one-on-one with building trades to ensure the proper attention to detail and spectacular results. As a collaborative partner, she has been a part of several award-winning project teams, earning a 2009 ASID Design Excellence Award, Honorable Mention for a Historical Renovation, a 2010 ASID Design Excellence Award, Honorable Mention for a Special Function Room, two 2011 ASID Design Excellence Awards, First Place for a Singular Residential Room and First Place for a Kitchen Over 200 Sq. Ft., and the 2011 Chrysalis Award for Remodeling Excellence for Outdoor Living, Midwest.
Tony Nie
Tony begins each project with a vision of the preferred end result and a plan for how to get there. He brings more than 32 years of residential design experience to his projects, partnering with clients to find their unique style and personal expression and has honed a special mix of well-proportioned architectural details with carefully selected furnishings to fully enhance interior spaces. Whether working on a layered traditional home or an edited contemporary one, the dynamic client-designer relationship is at the core of his design philosophy. Tony's work is seen throughout the United States; projects in the Chicago area include suburban homes, vacation getaways, Lake Shore Drive condos, airplane interiors, yachts and business offices. His work has been featured in publications as diverse as the Chicago Tribune, Furniture Today, Design and Architecture and Showboats International. Most recently, he was the recipient of a 2011 ASID Design Excellence Award, Honorable Mention for a Special Function Room.
Aimee Nemeckay
Aimee approaches her design work with an innate understanding and appreciation for how her clients want to interact with their environments. Through her application of color, integration of textures and accessories and use of interesting materials, Aimee strives to create a mood and atmosphere that fit her clients' personalities. In addition to her design experience, Aimee has a diverse background in fine art (painting and sculpture) and marketing/communications, as well as an advanced degree in psychology/counseling. Aimee is the recipient of numerous awards, including a 2007 ASID Design Excellence Award, Green Design (for the Cooking Light Fit House), a 2008 ASID Design Excellence Award, First Place for a Kitchen Over 200 Square Feet, a 2009 ASID Design Excellence Award, Honorable Mention, Kitchen Over 200 Sq. Ft., and a 2011 ASID Design Excellence Award for a Residence Under 3,000 Sq. Ft. Her work on the Cooking Light Fit House was published locally in the Chicago Sun-Times and the Pioneer Press and garnered a ten-page national feature inCooking Light magazine.
Brian Nelson
Brian’s multi-faceted and extensive career in the creative realm – one that includes architecture, interior design, illustration, graphic design and marketing – is driven by his passion and core belief that architecture and design have the power to positively affect how we live. He has applied this philosophy to his work in healthcare architecture and interiors, where he has been able to help improve the healing process for patients with a focus on green design. A LEED Accredited Professional, he approaches design holistically, believing that site, architecture and interiors should be intimately connected, and is inspired by the collaborative relationships he enjoys with his clients. Since completing both undergraduate and master’s degrees in architecture from the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, Brian’s enthusiasm has fueled an exciting 15-year career that has been awarded and recognized by many, including the American Institute of Architects Wisconsin Chapter, the American Society of Interior Designers, the International Interior Design Association and Wisconsin Architect, just to name a few. He’s thrilled to be joining the Susan Fredman Design Group team to continue his focus on architecture and interior design for both residential and commercial spaces.
Jamie Myers
Jamie’s educational background, a BS in Interior and Environmental Design from Illinois State University, and her apprenticeship with a classically trained Susan Fredman Design Group architect, provides the perfect fusion of her technical comprehension and creativity. She believes that collaboration is an essential ingredient in every design project, and in doing so, creates uplifting environments for her clients that are both physically and spiritually nurturing. Her diverse portfolio of work includes projects ranging from urban condos to suburban and vacation homes. Jamie is the recipient of numerous awards, including a 2007 ASID Design Excellence Award, Green Design (for the Cooking Light Fit house), a 2008 ASID Design Excellence Award, Honorable Mention for a Residence over 3,000 square feet, and a 2009 ASID Design Excellence Award, First Place for a Kitchen under 200 square feet. Her work on the Cooking Light Fit house was published locally in the Chicago Sun-Times and the Pioneer Press and garnered a ten-page national feature in Cooking Light magazine. She has also been published in Distinctive Kitchen Solutions, Kitchen Trends and the Daily Herald.
Judith Maier
Judith believes the home should be a nurturing environment and every design is tailored specifically to fit the lifestyle of each client. With more than 25 years of residential design experience, Judith’s thoughtful solutions and excellent design ability have earned her a reputation for beautiful work. Her clients receive the highest level of customer service and all aspects of her projects are overseen with a watchful, well-edited eye from conception to installation. With a specialized expertise in aging in place and universal design, she truly understands how to design spaces that allow her clients to live in their homes through various life stages. Judith’s projects range from contemporary to traditional, and her passion for art gives each project a unique look. Her work has spanned the country with projects in Chicago, Palm Beach, Bucks County and New York, and her projects have graced the pages of many publications, including the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times, Great Estates of the World and Furniture Today.
Jean Gutheim Kaiser
With more than 25 years of experience in architectural design, interiors and project management, Jean is excited to continue to pursue her passion for interiors during this next phase of her career. As the co-partner of a design/build firm for more than 20 years, she brings a unique point of view to every project and easily adapts to different design styles and surroundings. Whether it’s a historic rehab or cutting-edge contemporary, Jean has experience and expertise in tailoring interiors to her clients’ aesthetic. She loves to travel and immerse herself in local cultures, whether it’s attending a service at the Jose Rafael Moneo Cathedral in LA or enjoying an opera at La Scala in Milan. She’s also an enthusiastic ceramicist and artist who has been mastering new designs and techniques since she was a teen and creates custom furniture and tile.
Kathy Hoffman
Kathy's strong background in residential design, renovation and new home construction, in addition to her business marketing skills, brings a diverse talent to the design team. Her design philosophy developed out of an innate desire to create welcoming spaces tailored to each client's specific needs. An interior designer for ten years, Kathy also finds inspiration for her design projects in nature, art and travel. She is certified as a LEED Accredited Professional and is the recipient of numerous awards, including a 2007 ASID Design Excellence Award, a 2007 Qualified Remodeler Master Design Award, a 2008 ASID Design Excellence Award, Honorable Mention for a Residence under 3,000 square feet, a 2008 Qualified Remodeler Master Design Award Gold Award, a 2009 Dream Home Award, Best Whole House Remodel under 2,500 square feet, a 2010 ASID Design Excellence Award, First Place for a Kitchen under 200 square feet, and the 2011 Window Fashions Envision Design Competition in the Green-Inspired Windows and Rooms category. Her work also has been featured in publications including Distinctive Kitchen Solutions, and most recently, Traditional Home, for her work on Healthy Home 2010. Kathy, in collaboration with Susan Fredman, launched a private label furniture line available exclusively through Susan Fredman at Home.
Ruth Delf
Ruth is an artist above all else. Now with almost ten years of design practice, Ruth began her education in the fine arts before earning her BFA in Interior Design from Wayne State University. Design allows her to express her imaginative ideas in new ways, and she passionately tackles every project as if it were a painting, carefully considering line, color and composition. Ruth’s favorite part of working with clients is combining their unique personalities into the complete design customized for their living style, space and budget. A LEED Green Associate, she is committed to utilizing sustainable and healthy products and practices wherever possible, evident both in her design work and in her personal lifestyle. She is constantly seeking and sharing knowledge and is a valued resource for clients looking to translate sustainable ideals into design reality. She’s the recipient of the 2011 Window Fashions Envision Design Competition in the Green-Inspired Windows and Rooms category and was recently highlighted in a feature story in Traditional Home for her work on Healthy Home 2010.
Moira Daley
Inspired by sustainability and nature, Moira understands the importance of incorporating texture, color and light to bring individual personality into a space. She believes that beautiful design nurtures and inspires and has an innate ability to express a client’s vision through thoughtful design. Moira received a Master of Arts in Urban Studies and has previous experience with real estate, economic development and urban planning and was a docent for the Chicago Architecture Foundation for more than 10 years. An experienced traveler, she has found inspiration in the work of Frank Lloyd Wright, the J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles, the Great Wall of China and the cathedrals of Italy and France, to name a few. She is in the process of studying for the LEED Green Associate certification and has a specialized expertise in aging in place and universal design.
Terri Crittenden
Terri has devoted 25 years of her professional career to the practice of architecture, design and construction. Terri’s distinguished career began as president and managing partner of a design/build company where she oversaw the design process from inception to completion. There she maintained close client contact during the construction phase, guided by the belief that a successful project requires a profound commitment to listening, understanding and communication. As her career advanced, Terri discovered that her true passions are architecture and interior design. Her thoughtful solutions and excellence in design have earned her a reputation for providing the highest level of client service. Terri is the recipient of multiple excellence in design awards and builder of the year honors, including most recently the 2011 Dream Home Award for Best Custom Home 7,500 – 9,000 square feet and a 2011 ASID Design Excellence Award, First Place for a Residence Under 3,000 Sq. Ft. She has also been published in local and national magazines, including Shelter, Design Build Business, Chicago Home + Garden and Chicago Tribune Home.
BARBARA THEILE | Vice President, Chicago Team Leader
Barb is skilled in designing projects that embody a definite sense of place and the personality of the inhabitants. Whether working in a rustic European style for a lakefront retreat or designing an urban penthouse with a cosmopolitan sensibility, Barb creates spaces that reflect both lifestyle and aesthetic choices that make each unique. She has a specialized expertise in aging in place and universal design and was a Finalist for the 2010 Qualified Remodeler Master Design Awards for a Whole House greater than $50,000. Her own home, a loft in the heart of Chicago’s South Loop was featured on HGTV’s Small Space, Big Style and as a cover story for the Chicago Sun-Times. Barb's work also has been featured in North Shore Magazine and Spectacular Homes.
BARBARA INCE | Vice President, Design Director
Barbara came to the firm with more than 15 years of experience. Drawing on her training in architecture and interior design, she transforms spaces into unique living environments. From bold and dynamic urban condominiums to personal and intimate lakefront beach houses, Barbara’s creativity reflects the style and personalities of her clients, and she truly understands how to translate their dreams and desires into nurturing spaces that work for their lifestyles. Barbara has received numerous awards for her work, including a 2005 ASID Design Excellence Award, a 2006 ASID Design Excellence Award, Honorable Mention for a Residence over 3000 square feet, a 2007 ASID Design Excellence Award, Honorable Mention for a Kitchen, a 2008 ASID Design Excellence Award, Honorable Mention for a Home over 3,000 square feet, two 2009 ASID Design Excellence Awards, Best of Show for a Kitchen over 2,000 square feet and an Honorable Mention for a Historic Renovation, a 2010 ASID Design Excellence Award, Honorable Mention for a Special Function Room, two 2011 ASID Design Excellence Awards, First Place for a Singular Residential Room and First Place for a Kitchen Over 200 Sq. Ft., an Honorable Mention in the national 2010 NKBA Design Competition and the 2011 Chrysalis Award for Remodeling Excellence for Outdoor Living, Midwest. She has been featured in many publications, including Spectacular Homes, Trends, HGTV’s Designers Challenge, House Beautiful and Chicago Home + Garden, as well as on the TV shows LX TV Open House Chicago and Bring It Home.
LONNIE UNGER | Co-President, Design Group Team Leader
Lonnie is a versatile, trend-setting designer who has been with our firm for more than twenty years and has worked on a variety of residential and commercial clients across the United States. Her projects have been published in several publications including the Chicago Tribune, Showcase of Interior Design, Spectacular Homes, Woman's Day, Chicago Home + Garden and more, and she is the recipient of numerous awards, including a 2008 ASID Design Excellence Award, First Place for a Singular Residential Room, a 2009 ASID Design Excellence Award, First Place for a Kitchen under 200 square feet, and a 2010 ASID Design Excellence Award, First Place for Universal Design.