“Give me the heart of a servant, tender and faithful and true. Fill me with love, then use me, O Lord, so that the world can see you.” (Michael Puryear) This quote is descriptive of Donna Carey, in our Charlottesville store. She is loving, giving, and always ready to lend a hand. Truly a servant’s heart! Here’s a little background about her:
Donna was born and raised in New York City and is the second eldest of seven. Raised by her fraternal grandparents, she was instilled with strong family values, education, a love of culture and history, creative and innovative thinking, and perseverance. Her Grandpa always quoted, “Knowledge is learning well retained.” Her Grandma always stated, “Follow your gut feelings. Never put yourself in uncompromising positions. Always anticipate!” Donna muses, “A happy balance?? I’d say so. I couldn’t have been more blessed!”
Donna is married to her senior prom date, Charles. They’re blessed with three children who were born during her favorite seasons: Spring, Autumn, and Christmas (Yes, it’s a season!) Alexis, Candace and Justin are talented in arts and sciences, as well as being athletic, cultural, compassionate, community-minded, and all have graduated from college. “Praise the Lord!!” – says Donna enthusiastically.
Donna earned her degrees in Fashion Buying & Merchandising with a minor in Sales & Communication from the Fashion Institute of Technology (SUNY). She worked for several years in soft goods: from Manufacturer to Buyer to Retail Management and a trainer in Customer Service and Sales/Marketing. Fun fact: Donna was also a model in the 7th Avenue world. She is also extremely creative and regrets not pursuing a degree in Costume Design. As a self-taught seamstress, since she was eight, she secretly wanted to be the next “Edith Head” for Broadway. Years later, she was volunteered to create costumes for her church and thus becoming the “Edith Head,” Costume Director/Designer, for over 12 years.
We asked Donna, “What are some of your favorite things about living in Charlottesville?” She responded, “It’s got a great multi-cultural vibe, good schools, history, and is surrounded by beautiful mountain settings. There’s a plethora of venues, food choices and family-friendly events. I have always loved its charm. It’s also a great philanthropic community.”
When Donna isn’t at work, she is a planner/coordinator for her church choir, friends and family; she does sewing and alterations services, and crafting; and of course she makes time for cheering on her favorite teams. She loves family road trips and visiting new towns enlivened with history and culture, gift shops, markets and maybe a winery or two. To her, it’s also a great opportunity to meet new people. At Christmas time, you’ll find her wandering off somewhere in the “trim-a-tree” area to work on her next themed tree! She loves the inspiration of it all and has been compared to having a bit of Martha Stewart in her!!
We asked Donna, “What do you like most about working at Ideal Cabinets Design Studio?” She replied, “I like the family-friendly, non-corporate atmosphere. The owners really have a strong sense of family values and appreciation for their staff and clients. I really enjoy being an Assistant to my Manager/Designer, Victoria, while handling the daily office protocol. We share ideas, and laugh often. I am grateful and Blessed to be a part of Ideal Cabinets!”
