Intern Spotlight: Deborah Kennedy

Deborah Kennedy of Archdale NC, is a student at Randolph Community College. She attended Appalachian State University after graduating high school where she majored in art. Deborah worked with children for many years as a teacher’s aide, a preschool teacher, and a day camp and after school program director. Deborah had several home based businesses prior to attending RCC. Among her favorites was selling educational materials, and a successful arts and crafts business. She exhibited at approximately thirty shows a year. Her love of all things creative, a thirty year long dream of becoming an interior designer, and the exemplary reputation of the program is what led her to RCC.

She will graduate the spring of 2014 with a degree in Interior Design. Deborah is currently an intern at Jollay Design Center, located at 800 N. Main Street, High Point, NC, where owners Carol and David Jollay have graciously taken her under their wing. Carol graduated from, and is an ardent supporter of Randolph Community College.  Deborah feels very fortunate to have had the opportunity to intern at JDC. Her interests are varied and her internship has offered her the opportunity to explore several of them. Her first week on the job she was given the task of resetting much of the store. She was delighted, as she has a keen interest in visual merchandising, and would like to further explore this field.

Deborah enjoys residential design, and has taken great pleasure in being involved in Jollay Design’s residential projects.

Staff designers Bree Ann Cook and April Lewis have been invaluable in educating Deborah on everything from office procedures, and filing systems, to how to prepare a client presentation, purchasing, ordering samples, and information on fabrics that help reinforce her current textiles class. At present, the design team is in the process of preparing for the High Point Spring Market. Jollay Design Center is responsible for several showrooms. Deborah is very excited to have been involved in all aspects of the process; color palette choice, product placement, floor plan, signage decisions, accessory, and rug selections.

Carol’s extensive expertise spans all areas related to interior design and the furniture industry. Deborah is quite grateful to Carol for the many very valuable details she continually shares that only come from experience.

Deborah finds that David Jollay has shown her the value of maintaining a bank of trusted service people and sharing those with others, but most importantly- having a wonderful sense of humor.

The most treasured lesson learned from the JDC staff is to have upstanding values and always  be kind, and helpful to others.

Deborah feels that her education is the very best available due to the outstanding leadership of department head- Holly Barker, and her staff; it is completed by the experience of this internship. She is excited to see what the near future holds in store, and what new lessons and experiences are just around the corner as she completes her education.