Katie Weber

 Neil Kelly

Columbia River Chapter

“When I walk into a room, I automatically see how I can change and enhance it. Each room has potential, just not everyone can see it.”

With those words, spoken to a career counselor during her freshman year at Oregon State University, Katie Weber realized her calling. And after completing a junior-year internship with a Corvallis, Ore.-based building and remodeling firm and graduating with an Interior Design degree in 2015, she narrowed her vision even further to residential design.

“When I walk into a room, I automatically see how I can change and enhance it. Each room has potential, just not everyone can see it.”

While working in Corvalis, Katie juggled multiple responsibilities — bookkeeping, scheduling, social media and design development — before moving to Portland in 2018 and joining Neil Kelly. As a Design Associate III, she has been part of the same team (designer, project manager and two carpenters) for two-and-a-half years and says “team collaboration” is her favorite part of her job. It seems to be a winning dynamic: the team’s annual sales are $1 million above the Portland average. In addition, Katie volunteers on the firm’s OSHA safety team and has achieved Certified Professional certification for Chief Architect software. Currently studying for her AKBD, she also delivers Meals on Wheels on the route originated by her boss.

Where does all her energy come from? Katie credits her passion. “I love being involved and finding a greater purpose in my work,” says the designer, who once dreamed about becoming a middle-school science teacher. “My job isn’t just about design, it’s about forming personal relationships with my co-workers, customers and community.” Beyond work, she loves to explore places with beautiful architecture and history (Paris and Chichén Itzá are favorites), hang out with her cat Avery, and be challenged by a complex recipe, a page-turning book or a steep hike. Katie’s life goals are equally down-to-earth: “I find simplicity to be the most empowering. I want to live each day with passion and purpose.”