AT Meet Georgie of Andre Marquez Architects, Inc., a firm established in 1993 by Joel André and Georgie Márquez to provide Architectural and Interior Design services.

Conveniently located in Norfolk, VA, they are licensed to practice in New York, Virginia, Maryland, Washington DC, North Carolina, Florida and Puerto Rico.

Their specialty is commercial and healthcare design, with emphasis in pre-design services such as programming, planning, life-safety analysis and feasibility studies, as well as adaptive reuse of existing buildings and new construction.

Why WOW Loves Georgie:

The designers at Andre Marquez Architects interpret the vision their client wants to build. They work closely with each client and their team to produce functional and aesthetically pleasing designs that meet the specific needs of the end user. They are team players who value the client and the client’s input.

At WOW we were really impressed to learn about this super fun and unique service Georgie and her team provide: Offering clients the option of On-Site Design Charrettes, also known as Design Workshops, for both new construction and renovation projects. Armed with pencils, markers, and lots of paper, the Design Team will meet with the client: whether one individual or a committee, and over a period of several days will develop a working design that meets the programmed requirements. This process accelerates the Programming and Schematic Design phases and reduces the overall time schedule for the project.

The goal is for the owner and their team to feel included, heard, with ownership of the final design. The Architects encourage this sense of accomplishment all the while guiding and educating the client. The Design Team’s ability to interpret the users’ vision rests on their professional expertise.

The company’s ideal client is someone who wants their building to look like them, not their architect.

Why Georgie Loves WOW:

I first met Michelle Pippin at a business breakfast series sponsored by a local bank. Immediately I was impressed by her no-nonsense approach to business. There was none of the self-indulgent pep talk of so many other business presentations. Her knowledge of business, and her focus on doing what works in an efficient, streamlined manner was very appealing.

However, it took me approximately two more years before I finally joined the WomenWhoWOW universe. Key to this decision was the combination of Michelle’s direction and the quality of the women she had gathered.

The meetings are not “girls-night-out” get-togethers. But, they’re not women-trying-to-be-men groups either. While acknowledging the feminine genius, we are encouraged to work (and work hard!) on our business goals, and to explore avenues we might not have considered, or have been afraid to embark on.

WomenWhoWOW is a place of confidentiality and camaraderie, where women who are already business women can continue to grow.

Why Georgie Is A Self-Bosser:

Having worked for several firms in New York and Virginia, the founders of Andre Marquez Architects, Inc. wanted to establish a company based on three core beliefs.

First: Life is an adventure expressed in creative events having a lasting legacy. Humans were created to create, and so the company was established to allow for the company principals and their employees to grow in their creative abilities.

Second: The size of a project must not affect the quality of the design. A saying often heard at the office is “It’s in the details.” Many building projects are so focused on the large decisions that the smaller details, those that affect daily use, are missed. The company was thus started as a place where the small details are accounted for.

Third: Everyone deserves to be heard. One often hears stories of architects that refuse to listen to their client and focus only on creating spaces that image their personal aspirations and vision. Andre Marquez makes it part of the company culture that everyone the staff has contact with, regardless of position or role, is a person of dignity worthy of respect. Everyone should be given the opportunity to contribute to the success of every project.

Words Of Wisdom for Other WOW Members:

Having a vision and mission for your business is important, but having an understanding of who you are has to come first. Having a vision for your personal life has to precede your vision for your business. Only then can you develop a business plan that will advance who you are and what you want to accomplish as a person, in your lifetime and beyond.

Never think that your business is your child. Your today business could fail, and you would be able to replace it by an even better, more successful one. Yes, your today business is not static, and it should grow and mature… but it should be held loosely and it should serve your goals, not become your end-goal.

Having this perspective will help you stay focused when times are rough, and keep you motivated when it feels like smooth sailing.