Dorrie Felder has been general manager of Herman Miller Workplace Resource, an office design firm, since August. Previously, she was employed at Perdue Companies for almost 20 years.
WAS THE DECISION TO MAKE THIS MOVE A DIFFICULT ONE?
Felder says it was a “no brainer.” “The Herman Miller brand has always been very strong and the at the forefront of Jacksonville. I was up to the challenge of trying to keep it at the forefront and to work with such wonderful products and team members.”
WHAT DO YOU LIKE BEST ABOUT YOUR JOB?
“I love that no day is the same. No matter what the plan for the day is, the phone will ring and we’ll have an opportunity to meet with a client. And that will change the whole structure.”
WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES?
“As a general manager I am responsible for making sure we have a high level of performance. I want to know how we can be working more efficiently. We’re a small organization and I want us to work as a team by figuring out what needs to be done and who the best person to get that job done is.”
WHAT IS THE MAIN GOAL OF YOUR COMPANY?
Herman Miller strives to improve the quality of life at work. “We have to do this on a functional and an aesthetic level; one without the other just wouldn’t work.”
WHAT IS THE MOST CHALLENGING PART OF YOUR JOB?
“I love the challenge of continually performing at a high degree of success. Nothing remains stagnant. We’re constantly looking for ways to get better and we have some really formidable competition. We have a lot of respect for them, which in some degree helps make us better.”
WHAT SEPARATES YOU FROM THE COMPETITION?
“Service. Besides our products, we really want to understand our clients, to put ourselves in their place, so that we can offer them what they want, not just what they should have.”
HOW IS THE GROWTH IN JACKSONVILLE SHAPING THE WAY YOU RUN YOUR BUSINESS?
“There is a challenge of staying good in a shifting marketplace. We’re identifying our need to change with all the recognition Jacksonville is getting, including the Super Bowl. This is what I find really exciting.”
WHAT IS YOUR BACKGROUND?
Felder studied business at Old Dominion in Virginia and spent almost 20 years at Perdue, serving as the president of commercial flooring for some of that time.
DO YOU HAVE A WORK PHILOSOPHY?
“I look at work or business as a true partnership. I don’t necessarily believe in a hierarchy with the people I work with, and I think it has to be that way with clients as well.”
DO YOU CONSIDER YOURSELF A CREATIVE PERSON?
“I don’t have a design background, but having been in this business so long, some creativity is bound to rub off on you. I think my sense of creativity is what helps me figure out how to do what we’re doing better, how to make our clients happier.”
HOW DO YOU LIKE YOUR CURRENT LOCATION?
Felder loves being on the Southbank. “I am very passionate about Jacksonville and its growth. I am excited about the resurgence of the Southbank and I love having San Marco as a home away from home. It’s an inspiring place to be.”
WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE PIECES IN THE COLLECTION?
“The hallmark of the Herman Miller collection is the Aeron chair. And I love the Eames lounge chair. The marshmallow sofa is also pretty cool.”
HOW DO YOU SPEND YOUR FREE TIME?
“There isn’t a lot of it. I just read a book called ‘Good to Great’ by Jim Collins, which was great. And I enjoy the arts.” She also enjoys spending time with her husband Lanny and their two cats.
— by Bailey White