Fisher & Paykel | DCS Design Center
Manhattan Chapter

It wasn’t until early 2021, when Caitlin Ryan was offered a chance to join Fisher & Paykel as a product specialist at the brand’s Experience Center in New York, that her passion for kitchen design and cooking finally fell into sync with her career. Caitlin, a 2016 graduate of Castleton University in Vermont with a degree in Athletic Training, parlayed her studies and her collegiate cross-country running experience (as well as two marathon finishes) into four years as an athletic trainer for several sports teams. When COVID-19 paused one-on-one interaction, she was able to forge a new trail that landed her in one of Manhattan’s busiest kitchen and bath showrooms — where, shortly thereafter, she was promoted to Experience Center manager.

“I love seeing beautiful kitchen designs and playing a role in creating them. It is amazing to see that just about any custom vision can come to life and become reality.”

Now tasked with engaging with architects, designers and other trade professionals, Caitlin admits it was quite the jump to go from the sports medicine world into the kitchen and bath industry. “I never would have seen myself in such a role, but now I couldn’t picture myself anywhere else,” she says, noting the move proved that one can be adaptable in today’s marketplace by being open to new opportunities.

It’s the creative aspect of showroom interactions that appeals to her most. “I love seeing beautiful kitchen designs and playing a role in creating them,” she says. “It is amazing to see that just about any custom vision can come to life and become reality.”

Caitlin, who lives in Rockland County northwest of New York City with her cat Lola and Shih-Tzu/Pomeranian Molly, loves hiking and visiting new places (although Vermont remains her favorite) and is a huge advocate of sustainable practices. On the weekends, she volunteers with Keep Rockland Beautiful, participating in garbage clean-ups along roadsides and in parks and recreation areas. Professionally, Caitlin is also a team member of the Fisher & Paykel Sustainably-Minded Committee, where she helps produce projects that raise awareness of suitable practices. “Every month, we release a new sustainability challenge along with educational resources that get our team thinking about how they can live a more carbon-neutral, eco-friendly life,” she says.