Episode 18 - Designing with Heart: Ken Crawford on Legacy, Leadership & Giving Back through Design

Transcript

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hello Powerhouse Smart friends and colleagues  We're here again for another fabulous episode of the Powerhouse Cool Collabs podcast We put  this podcast together because I am so grateful that I have these amazing relationships in my  world in my network and I many of them like our guest our beloved guest today Ken Crawford um  fall within this realm of living with an attitude of gratitude giving pack to help humanity But  first and foremost they are the coolest leaders in design build and real estate So we're tying the  a beautiful bow around everything that's in our

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world So it's a 20-minute podcast because we want  to make sure we all of our leaders get this in as they're commuting from one project to another So  without further ado I always love Ken Ken welcome to my home I love when our guests get to take the  microphone and share with us their stories so we can kick it off and then I have lots of questions  for you Ken So Ken take it away Take it away Wendy first of all I got to say thank you so much for  what you do It's like you are an incredible person

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and somebody I look up to highly because you are  just phenomenal and how you put people together and it's like it's unbelievable So keep doing  what you're doing girl because you're doing awesome at it Thank you Um I'm Ken Crawford I am  the the current president of ASID Florida South chapter Um if you don't know our boundaries we  go from Vero Beach to Key West We cross over to Naples and go up to Fort Myers and we include  Puerto Rico So it's a huge chapter It's a lot of work Um so just love to give a background on me I  had been practicing interior design for 38 years

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um which is a long time and uh but you know I am  very passionate what I do I love my job I don't even consider it a job because I love what I do I  get to meet people like you Wendy and other people with these networking groups and through ASID  and it's so wonderful when you get together with all these people and they appreciate what you're  doing for them and you try to help them with you know resolutions of things and it's just it's  just an incredible place to be is is to be the president of an organization like this because you  form alliances and friendships and you try to do

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so much for all these members that you have under  your belt Um one thing that that I really sort of focus on this year is that um we give back which  in the past the chapter really hasn't done that much on So I started implementing a fabric uh  organization where I would go to and designers would go to showrooms They would give us fabric  that the showrooms would just either throw into the landfill and we would take that and we would  take it to local schools art programs um community centers adult living facilities that anybody that  would love to have this fabric to repurpose them

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for pillows or for like you know theater class or  anything like that instead of having it up in the in the landfill And that's been such a huge  success I mean and the amazing thing is with Instagram people see that and they're like "Ken  we have stuff we have to give you." So it starts rolling and rolling and rolling And you know as  everybody probably knows in Florida we get hit by hurricanes all the time So um I just basically  told our membership we have to get involved with uh helping others that are who have been hurt So  last year when the hurricanes hit northern Florida

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we met a group down in Miami and we put together  all these uh kits you know we had a slotted period of time We had about 15 members and we put like  these slots together for hygiene and food We shipped them out And then the following weekend  I was down in Marco Marco Island with 400 people putting together food packets and everything  together for the people for hurricane and less fortunate than we are and we put like 200,000  boxes together And it's something that that really hits home because it's like we we really need to  start giving back You know Florida and I don't

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know if you knew this Florida is like the worst  state for volunteering And and that's when I was like okay we have to make a difference and this is  what we have to do And even though the people who don't sort of participate I get emails saying God  Ken you're amazing I can't believe you did this So kudos to you that you're doing this volunteer  work Okay So you packed so much in there Ken I love it And of course we've known each other for  about a year and a half now And it was so obvious to me from the very first time I met you that  talk about giving back and helping others Like

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that is like forefront of who you are When you  walk in a room and it's like you're magical You just you want to meet everyone It's it's like you  know my whole purpose is this relationship and you pay attention and you're doing so many amazing  things But what I want to start with first is how did you get into interior design and how are  you doing that while still being president It's called long hours weekends and no social life It  is your social life That's right Yeah this is my social life Really I gotta tell you Wendy when I  was a little kid um and I had and this I tell the

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story all the time When I had a sandbox I used to  make little subdivisions in the sandbox And then I moved and then I moved to Legos Lincoln Logs if  people happen to know what that is Um and then I just started to I used to take my sister's dollous  and take all the furniture out and redo them And then my sisters would just throw the dollhouse  at me because like why are you touching our stuff But and then I just started to it started  evolving that way And and you know when I was in high school uh developers used to have these  things called showcase homes and I would go and

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go through the homes and see what they're doing  And that's how I started really realizing this is what I want to do and I've been doing it for 38  years So so is it in the same territory that the ASID Florida South is in or is it um are you you  know worldly Tell me where are your projects and and fill us in a little bit about the the interior  designer side and then we'll get into this whole new world that you have exploded into Well the  funny thing is when I graduated from college in University of Louisville in Kentucky uh my first  job and don't laugh my first job was designing

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McDonald's restaurants And uh great I love that  And each restaurant they wanted a unique look and I'm like "Okay." So I got hired to do that And  then their competitor down in Atlanta saw what I was doing They called me up and said "Hey we'll  give you this much more money if you come work for us." So I went down to Atlanta and then I got a  job opportunity in Florida and I moved down here and I've been here ever since So so where are you  currently in Florida Uh I'm in Hollywood Florida It's located between where the original Hollywood  by the way Uh we're between Fort Lauderdale and

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Miami And um I've had the pleasure of having  really great projects from down in the Keys to Fischer Island um and all the major cities  especially in South Florida And then when you have certain clientele they have homes in other areas  So then they ask you to go there too I just did a a beautiful project up in in uh Grammar State Park  in New York City and it turned out phenomenal Wow Yeah So it's it's you know I tell students all the  time this is such a fabulous career You never know what's going to happen And you know when I used to  work for the firm here uh when I first moved here

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um I got to go to England to meet uh a client for  a 20-minute meeting And um they were actually part of the royal family of Kuwait And so when I told  him I said "Oh I've never been to London." He's like "Oh just stay for like the four days I'll pay  for everything and you can see London." which was fantastic So it's a great opportunity this career  you know it's just it's you never know what's going to happen So when a door opens I always  take it You're so much more than just an interior designer You are this incredible soul that just  you know as people meet you and obviously this is

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why this happens You meet a client and then they  they absolutely want to show you open the world to you at least their world Um and then sharing  with students and whatnot So I just wonder did when you you know as you're building your interior  design you know firm and you're still doing that are you still taking on projects or are you  giving them to other people and focusing on being the president And I know that has a term as  well Tell me how have you been balancing the two Well the funny thing is um I'm sort of and I I I  hate to use this term but I'm sort of a workaholic

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Um and I shouldn't say workaholic because I love  what I do Maybe it's a love aaholic but um I do have clients and when I was being put into this  position I actually met with each of my clients and said "Look I'm working on your projects Um  but I have this as well." And they were actually so excited for me They were like "Wow this is  impressive." You know they're like "No no no We'll work with you." and they have been so wonderful to  work with me you know and you know I'll do this uh ASID stuff during the day and night time I do all  this stuff at night and then I'll meet my clients

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first and deal with ASID stuff later So it's it's  it's how you maneuver everything and as long as you're very transparent with people especially  your clients they fully understand what you're doing And on top of this and I don't know if you  know this Wendy is I was on the planning board for the city of Hollywood as well And then I'm also  the president of a neighborhood association as well So I have a lot on my plate Well that's  it You know give give someone like you a lot of different things to do And what you do is  you weave all the collaborations you can pull

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together with all of that and and you turn it into  something like a like an orchestra And so I I see you as this president and and just so everyone  should know um I actually my first time we met face to face was at the uh Naples inaugural luxury  conference in um Naples Florida just recently last February and Ken walked in and I would say there's  150 luxury industry professionals and by the end of the full day every single one of those people  got the opportunity to talk with you and to me that was so important because bringing ASI as  Florida in as a collaborator just proves that

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we would come together to grow together and  you were like living the dream and doing that So I my question to you is being the president of  ASID what have you seen that has been the result of pulling all these collaborations together  Give me some of the things that you're just like aha that happened Well you know the funny  thing is and I'm a huge social media fan Um you know that's where everything's going You know not  necessarily your website but it's all social media And Wendy when I started posting the event that  we met and what incredible work you did and you

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know and I I I would talk a little bit about  it and everything it sort of like opened the floodgates and more people were interested like  tell us more about this network that you're part of a powerhouse you know and I think I sent some  people your way as well but it's interesting when people see something and then they gravitate  toward it right And then they're like I want to be a part of that Yeah And because we see  what you're doing and you're putting everything together and with ASID like I meet one trade and  I'm like "Oh wait a minute I know this designer

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who's looking for somebody what you're doing Hey  let's hook you up." You know and that's what it's all about And when I do post on Instagram you know  I want to make sure that they see the company name And I have people call me all the time Ken that  post that you did I got three designers walked in because of that post And that's how it should  be We all you know we're all in this together We should be helping each other out So you know  and Wendy you know me I don't have an ego I don't have like you know oh I'm greater than now which  unfortunately some designers do It's like there's

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enough design work for everybody you know and and  we all just need to respect each other have fun with each other and just like you know live the  possible way in a you know in a positive manner Absolutely Absolutely So one of the pillars under  the powerhouse cool collabs is living with an attitude of gratitude And when you talk about this  you just see the gratitude and the hearts kind of flooding like social media right Like the hearts  come down and the balloons go up when you talk about the students So tell me some of the things  that you've incorporated in ASID Florida South

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um with students and and and ushering them in as  our nextgen Well we're actually mandated um with ASID to have one student career day Of course  me being the overachiever Um I I had I had two student career days I had um uh there's an Italian  school down in Miami uh design district There's one in Palm Beach And but and then I sort of got  the board together to support another school with their fundraising during the holidays And then I  started to find out what they're doing and then I just show up of what they're doing just to to  help the students And the funny thing is is the

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the school in Palm Beach after we did our student  career day excuse me one of the design students came up and she's like I am so touched with what  you do and how you you talk and how I could see how much you love what you do And she goes I'm  going to form a student chapter in this school I mean that was like the biggest thing for  me the fact that you have a student who's going and they're they're in the process now of  getting a student um members or a student what's that called Student chapter So I was like "Oh my  god this is fantastic." So wow Yeah And then the

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university I graduated from every time I go home  uh I always send the person in charge an email like "Come talk come talk to them." They love when  you come up and you talk about what you're doing So and I just wish more designers would do that  because and not necessarily maybe through ASID but you know take a student under your arm You  know teach them what's going on because schools teach the foundation It's like when you get out  in the real world like you know that's where you learn everything You know sometimes you fall on  your face but you pick yourself up you shake your

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shirt off and you just keep going So mentorship  is so critical and it's so beautiful that you're tying that in So I know you brought to us the  your predecessor your the next um because your term is going to be up but she said in front of  everyone at the last um event we were at that she's not letting you go anywhere So what I want  to know is what do you have in your mind for the plans for you know postp president but ameritus  always for the next year What you know now that you'll have a little more time to really focus  on the things that you are most passionate about

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with your leadership Well the good thing is is um  I am still to this day getting companies reaching out saying "We want to do events with you." And  even though my term is October 1st we're already planning events in October November And it's all  because of the groundwork that I laid And Tracy who's coming in she's like you know you just can't  go anywhere And I go I'm not going to go anywhere I will always be there to support the chapter and  I will always be there to support you and support

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the people who I helped come on to the chapter  you know and and she was so happy about that because sometimes in organizations like this the  presence like oh they just sort of disappear they don't really participate anymore which I think is  so so wrong in doing because if you're going to spend the time and and energy to create something  you know why would you just walk away from it You should help out the next person who's coming on  to continue what you started and then take let her take it to the next level And that's what you're  planning to do So yeah it that's perfect because

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really planning the events is really kind of  like the strategy of where do we want to go What are our goals And now you can have some support  doing some of the things that you had to do as the president and Tracy's going to be perfect to have  that team help her and then you can take it to the next level And I I see that um even it's a huge  geographic area that your chapter has I think you said third and third largest in the country Third  largest chapter Yeah Wow And it's funny because every time I show up for event they're like "Oh my  god you're here too?" Because it's like you know

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and I was telling somebody I think it was actually  I think it was your event that I Yeah it was your event I had to go up to Palm Beach for an event  that we had and then I drove from Palm Beach down to Naples to be with your event and and they're  like "What are you doing?" I said "This is what a president does." Because if you're a president  of a any kind of organization you need to show up and you need to say "Hey I'm here for you I'm here  to support you I'm here to do whatever I can to to get you to where you need to be as well." And  people respect that People really do When you're

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a non no-show kind of person you lose credibility  and people don't want to be interested in doing anything with you Right No it's brilliant and  and the fact that you're doing that you know you're leading by example and so I I've I I so in  awe of what you're contributing and I know you're you're not going anywhere soon and and actually  you've now agreed to be on the advisory board for Powerhouse Smart and we want to grow beyond  Naples and Southwest Florida and I know we'll do that while helping ASID and any other organization  be it the builders association or you know there's

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lots of other great um you know trade associations  that we love So that'll be fantastic Um I always like to end our podcast Ken because of you know to  gain some wisdom from you You're such a beautiful soul Um what how would you define a well-lived  life Ken What would be the your definition I think a well-lived life is where you enjoy what  you do You appreciate what has been given to you and you sort of grow from that And you know all  my friends say God can you work too much It's like you work too hard You do you know you do so  much and you don't enjoy life I go actually I am

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enjoying life because I it's I don't I don't find  this a hardship I love what I do I love I love being the president and you know helping students  and just helping out overall I mean I wouldn't do it if I didn't want to do it you know So it just  because you know you're not sitting on the beach and drinking a margarita or whatever doesn't mean  you're not having a good life It's all what you want to do with your life is how you love your  life And that's what I want to do And I will never ever retire from what I'm doing I love doing what  I I do too much I will probably always be part of

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ASID And you know it's just it's just something  that I'm very passionate Yeah No th that's that's a beautiful definition and and really for all  of our you know industry professionals and even our students who are watching this today it's so  important that you know you're living every single day like you said and having um you know a true  uh affection and gratitude for what you do And then like you said it doesn't feel like work It  is your No it doesn't And what happens is what's happening with you Ken is the love just comes back  to you And you are so cherished and appreciated

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And I'm sure it must just overwhelm you almost  tears to your eyes when people compliment you but it's so from the heart What you're doing is  so important and valuable because after all we're souls having a human experience right Yep You're  absolutely right on that Yes So my blessings to you for sharing your wisdom here today It below is  going to be just a a description of our our chat here and of course all the places to reach Ken  Crawford Um number one you can reach them to be your interior designer if you have a project you  want to collaborate I'm looking for I'm looking

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for new clients So good That's awesome Commercial  and residential Yeah both Okay Excellent And then also of course to be connected to ASID Florida  South to be um to just learn how he has built this amazing network that he has in all of Florida and  it sounds like even beyond Florida even Atlanta and to see all the newest and and greatest  things he's doing philanthropically helping um whenever there's you know a life crisis in  Florida helping mentor students I mean I could go on and on So all the links and all the connections  to Ken are below Please reach out to Ken Ken I

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love you Can't wait to see you at the next event  And of course we will stay in contact as we do through social media and all of our daily living  as well So bless Absolutely Yes No thank you Wendy for everything I appreciate you and I absolutely  appreciate everything that you do You're amazing No it it takes all of us to come together to  grow to