The 17-in-17 Program Recognizes Kelly DeSola at Watermark Designs in Brooklyn, NY

The DPHA 17-in-17 Program recognizes up-and-coming influencers in the decorative plumbing and hardware business. This program will profile 17 DPHA members with 10 or less years of experience. Each month from June through October 2017, members will be inducted into the 17-in-17 club, and their stories will be featured in DPHA's weekly newsletter, Connections. This week we recognize Kelly DeSola, the Customer Relations Manager at Watermark Designs in Brooklyn, NY.

 

Although in the industry for only a very brief time, Kelly has already attended two DPHA annual conferences, and according to one of her nominators, "She is a superstar and has taken customer service to a new level by visiting dealers in order to strengthen her relationship with them".

Connections: How long have you been in the DPH industry?

Kelly: 2 years.  

Connections: What has surprised you about the industry?

Kelly: I was most surprised by the camaraderie throughout the entire industry. It is like one big family. It is so nice to work with people, in places near and far, as a team. Sometimes things don't go as expected, and it's nice to know that I can usually count on working with the salespeople and reps to help the end user. Even though we are not in an office or showroom together, we are able to work as a team.

Connections: What is the biggest challenge you have faced in our industry?

Kelly: The biggest challenge I face is the expectation of everything being available.  Watermark's fixtures really are custom made to order and a frequent problem is the customer's lack of understanding of what that entails versus the demand and the pressure they feel to receive products right away.   

Connections: What do you enjoy about being in this industry?

Kelly: I love the constant craziness! Whether it is helping somebody with a completely customized fixture, helping build somebody's dream bathroom or getting to the bottom of an issue somebody is having with their fixtures, there is always something going on. There is never a dull moment and there are new situations to deal with every day. We never stop learning and it really keeps you on your toes.  

Connections: Anything else you would like to add?

Kelly: I really appreciate being selected and look forward to growing within the DPHA community. 

If you would like to nominate someone for the 17-in-17 program, click here to download the nomination form, complete it and send your nomination to Jim Babbitt via email at  jbabbitt@dpha.net or fax to 866-623-6180. It takes only a few minutes to complete a nomination form, but isn't that time well spent for recognizing someone who is making an impact on your business and/or our industry?