Practically Optimistic: Channeling Optimism as a Guiding Design Principle

Kelsey Barrett – Commercial Marketing Representative – Cambria USA

Kelsey Barrett is a Commercial Market Representative for Cambria, the nation’s leading producer of American-made quartz surfaces and a family-owned company.

Kelsey has used sustainability as the guiding principle throughout her career. In her work as an interior designer, she highlights toxin-free alternatives to create health-conscious sanctuaries for clients based on their individual needs. Evaluating the client’s allergies, health issues, and lifestyle determines the materials selected, installation plans, and supplies while balancing aesthetics and function. Barrett is also conscious of mindful manufacturing and design processes and focuses on the mission to rethink and reshape the traditional manufacturing process through its consideration and use of discarded materials.

In 2019, Barrett was a Subject Matter Expert in the creation of the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) Sustainability Badge. Barrett was also recognized as a 2018 “Thirty Under 30” by the NKBA for her work in creating a local healthy cabinet line and materials concept for clients with sensitivities. She continues to be a mentor for the incoming classes of “Thirty Under 30” recipients and supports the sustainability initiatives. With the NKBA, she is Wisconsin Programs Chair and part of the advocacy committee, bringing the local associations together.

Barrett is involved with the US Green Building Council as a Market Leadership Advisory Council Member, focusing on the Emerging Professionals Committee and active in event advocacy and planning.

Barrett is the co-founder of the Re_Define Event (formally Re_Purposeful) hosted by ASID-WI; an event designed to offer a second life to discontinued design samples and materials by offering them to teachers, nonprofits, and development organizations to eliminate landfill-bound waste. Barrett is a LEED Green Associate and has earned her NKBA Color Badge.

Barrett’s personal oath to sustainability has recently brought her to Cambria—a company committed to sustainability and environmental best practices—as a Commercial Market Representative in the Minnesota market. In her new role, Barrett will be focused on sales within the commercial space, building relationships, and connecting industry partners.

Barrett resides in St. Paul, MN, with her husband Conor. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time outside, hiking, or paddle boarding.

Kasey Marquardt – Residential Marketing Representative – Cambria USA

Kasey Marquardt is a Residential Market Representative for Cambria, the nation’s leading producer of American-made quartz surfaces and a family-owned company. She has a deep appreciation for family owned American made products that take sustainability into account in every aspect of their business. In her work as a Sales Representative, she has always found it was important to align herself with products that use high quality ingredients, manufacturing processes, and keep sustainability at the forefront.

Kasey began her career in 2017 at Cambria Quartz Surfaces and found her passion for design and manufacturing. She was an intern at the Minnesota Fabrication Shop and saw first-hand the steps Cambria takes to ensure that no product goes into a landfill, as well as the investment they made to recycle 100% of the water they used at this location and their manufacturing plant. This inspired her to go into design and sales with the company and to spread the message of sustainability, quality, and the importance of buying locally made products.

Helping homeowners make educated decisions on the products that they are putting in their homes made Kasey eager to learn more about the industry. She left Cambria briefly to work in sales for another local window company which had similar values. In the end she knew Cambria was home and in late 2020, Kasey rejoined Cambria as a Residential Market Representative. With 6 years of sales experience and a family history of small businesses she has been able to impact over 400 Minnesota businesses by helping them spread the word about Cambria.

In 2021, she joined the National Kitchen Bath Association (NKBA) Minnesota Chapter and where she took the step into a leadership role with this association and is now the sitting Membership chair. She had the opportunity to represent her chapter at the 2022 KBIS conference down in Orlando FL which gave her the chance to meet members from chapters around the country and immerse herself into the world of design.

Kasey resides in Mound, MN, with her dog Finley. In her spare time she enjoys spending time on the lake, playing hockey, or walking to local dog parks.