ABOUT

“We are always a solution-oriented firm. Whatever the site conditions or project parameters, our goal is to make the final result more beautiful than the client ever thought it could be.”

John’s role as Vice President is multi-faceted and deploys his characteristic energy to oversee client presentations and installations as well as the day-to-day priorities of the design staff. Prior to joining Tom Stringer Design Partners, John ran his own interior design firm, was an executive for Schumacher, and spent four years as Chief Operating Officer of luxury footwear maker Stubbs and Wootton. John has an incredibly broad range of design and business expertise, which he devotes to ensuring the flow of clients’ projects is smooth and steady. “We never miss an installation deadline. When we promise a date, we deliver.”

John holds a bachelor’s degree in Interior Design from the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale as well as a degree in Business Administration from American University in Washington, D.C. and is a Registered Interior Designer in the state of Illinois. He is a Fellow of the American Society of Interior Designers, (ASID), the Society’s highest honor and is a member of the Leaders of Design Council (LDC). He is also a member of the 2021-2023 ASID Board of Directors and has held leadership positions, both locally and nationally, for ASID – including ASID Illinois Chapter President. John is also active in a variety of industry and charitable endeavors in the Chicago area.

“Serving as the head of finance and operations at Tom Stringer Design Partners allows me the unique opportunity to marry my lifetime appreciation for beautiful interior design with my passion for all things analytical and methodical. In essence, finance is thinking made logical, while design is thinking made visual.”

Daniel is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the company and ensuring that all systems, resources, and people are in place to achieve the goals of TSDP. He maintains and drives operational and financial results within our company while aligning the goals of our clients, our vendor partners and our internal team. Additionally, he designs and implements policies to promote company culture and vision, while overseeing operations to keep our business on track.

Daniel has cultivated extensive experience in high growth, domestic and international multi-location companies. His career broadly spans industries such as interior design and architecture, public relations, retail, internet-based services, technology, consumer products, manufacturing and wholesaling. He has served in several financial and operational leadership roles at companies that include Holly Hunt, The Gettys Group, LaunchSquad, Rand McNally and The May Department Stores. Daniel has a bachelor's degree in Accounting and Finance from Duquesne University, and upon graduation he began his career in Big Four public accounting with Price Waterhouse Coopers.

“Elegance and simplicity are the key principles which inform and inspire my approach to life and design. The space between objects is often as important as the objects themselves.”

As a member of the management team at Tom Stringer Design Partners, Kruti serves as the Studio Lead for the firm. In this critical role, Kruti utilizes her years of experience as a senior designer to oversee the architectural and design departments on a day-to-day basis. Her expertise lies in coordinating the logistics of each project, preparing budgets, and managing the work flow to keep all departments of the company running seamlessly.

Prior to joining Tom Stringer Design Partners in 2011, Kruti worked many years for top design firms in both Chicago and in India specializing in residential interiors. With a degree in Interior Design from Sophia Polytechnic for Interior Design and Bachelor of Business Administration from H.R College in India, she focused in furniture design and business management. After moving to the US, Kruti further expanded her education at Joliet Junior college to gain knowledge of American design practices and shifted her specialization to residential interior design. Kruti is an active member of the American Society of Interior Designers, Illinois Chapter.

“We pride ourselves to apply the principals of classical architecture, symmetry and balance – so our projects are never overdone or underdone.”

Rick is the firm’s expert on the construction techniques and structural specifications necessary for the enduring integrity of the project’s foundations. In this vital role, he collaborates with mechanical engineers, contractors and sub-contractors, as well as fellow architects to make sure that all the pieces of a client’s project tie together – both practically and aesthetically.

Prior to joining Tom Stringer Design Partners in 2006, Rick was a project manager for the interior design firm Gregga Jordan Smieszny Inc. He has prepared design and construction plans and overseen projects at well-regarded Chicago area architecture firms A. Wilson Architects, Marvin Herman & Associates and Grunsfeld Associates, and has also worked in residential construction management. Rick’s expertise allows him to shepherd residential and commercial projects all the way from drafting table to move-in day.

Rick graduated from the Illinois Institute of Technology with a degree in Architecture.