Colette Aro Email & Phone Number

New York, United States

New York City Metropolitan Area

New York City

My primary role at RLA is to address staffing and scheduling challenges across the firm's 100+ ongoing projects. Since joining the firm, I implemented strategic weekly meetings, introduced project management tools, and initiated a total overhaul of the server's filing structure. These changes targeted communication and efficiency obstacles within the firm's design teams, and improved schedule adherence across all projects. My secondary role is to maintain the firm's social media presence and assist with project proposals.

New York City Metropolitan Area

As a proposals coordinator on the marketing team at Rafael Vinoly Architects, an internationally renowned Architecture office based in lower Manhattan, I developed physical and digital materials in pursuit of multi-million dollar master planning and architectural projects. Working closely with the Business Development Director, as well as the lead architect and principal designer Rafael Vinoly, I sharpened my skills in the development various marketing materials on tight timelines. The workload primarily consisted of creating proposal packages in InDesign; copywriting for proposals and the website; the design and binding of physical books; posters; promotional videos; brochures; powerpoint presentations; administrative expense logs and documentation.

San Francisco Bay Area

Mark Cavagnero Associates Architects (MCA) is a 75-person architecture firm that specializes in the architectural design, interior design and master planning of performing arts centers, large apartment complexes, offices and university buildings, primarily in the San Francisco Bay Area where the office is located. I joined MCA first as an executive assistant to the firm's founder and lead architect Mark Cavagnero, then transitioned into a design role as a junior architectural designer. As Mark Cavagnero's assistant I arranged meetings with important clients, coordinated his schedule, kept detailed expense reports, managed the logistics of important meetings, stocked office supplies, and arranged business trips. After demonstrating my can-do attitude and meticulous work ethic, the firm's partners created a full-time junior design architect position for me where I learned architectural and interior design skills. As a junior architect I worked on interior design projects such as Salesforce San Francisco and Dublin, and pursued new projects with the competitions team. I left the firm to pursue my dream of living in New York City.