Coaching a middle school lacrosse team at a tournament

For undergraduate, I attended the Catholic University of America in Washington, DC where I had the opportunity to pursue both of my passions, Architecture and Lacrosse.  During undergraduate, I worked for The Heiserman Group (now called Streetsense) on restaurant and hospitality projects, and then joined Burt Hill to gain some experience larger scale university projects.  While going to school and working in the field of architecture, I also coached and managed a middle and high school level lacrosse league, and for one year assistant coached a high school. 

At the end of college, and having already done some work in the field of Architecture, I knew I graduate school was my next step. I jumped at the opportunity to attend University of Colorado at Denver, to study Sustainable Architecture and spend some time in the Rocky Mountains hiking, snowboarding, boating and wakeboarding. 

Ryan and Jessica visiting Snow Lake, WA in 2012

During graduate school, after many years of being friends, my husband and I got married.  We moved to Ft Lewis, WA where Ryan relocated with the US Army 1^st Special Forces Group.  While there, I worked for an interior architecture firm, Strategic Initiatives, as well as on base working with pre-school age children of military families.  We loved our time in the Pacific Northwest, but we knew we needed somewhere warmer and with less rain!  

Growing up with family all over Texas, I have always felt a connection to the state, and I knew early on I loved everything about Austin. The friendly people and their passion for keeping everything “local” made this city unlike any place I had ever lived.  When an opportunity to pursue residential design at a growing company in an awesome city arose, I knew I had to jump on it.  I have also been able to stay active on the lacrosse field!  I am currently coaching high school and middle school  teams through the club Texas Play Hard, as well as serving as assistant coach for the Bowie High School team (GO BULLDOGS!).

I can’t wait for what is to come, and am extremely happy to have joined such an amazing team and company!

Graduation at UTSA with my parents and grandparents

I was over at my friend’s house and she showed me her sister’s room who was away at college… I had never seen anything like it, her walls were a tapestry of exquisite drawings, her shelves contained beautiful basswood models and her drafting board displayed an infinite array of pens, colors, markers, and every other drawing tool you can think of! “My sister is an ARCHITECT” my friend said. I didn’t know exactly what that meant but I was sure that if I got to draw, color, make models, and find ways to repurpose my little debbie boxes after I was done eating them that I would be happy being an architect.

I studied architecture at the University of Texas in San Antonio. I remember on my first day of studio they told us to close our eyes and draw lines on our sketchbook without any further instruction. Once we all opened our eyes everybody seemed to have these rebellious curved lines that didn’t obey the perimeter of the paper. Mine in contrast, were short, repetitive, and within a uniform boundary… Welcome to Architecture School.

Traveling to Santorini during college

I received my bachelors of architecture at UTSA and about two months later moved to picturesque San Diego California to attended NewSchool of Architecture & Design. One of my most memorable experiences was studying abroad in Rome, Italy for an experimental studio observing the “virtual morphology” of ancient cities. There sprung my passion for patterns, scale, and structures of connectivity, and in turn urban planning became my concentration of studies.

I came back to Texas in 2009 and I currently work at PSW Homes in Austin. The interdisciplinary collaboration among architects, civil engineers, land acquisition, investor services and sales (all in-house) has proven to be the best experience in comprehensive design methodology which promotes affordable, and conscientious urban living in Austin. I get to contribute in the design of master plans for sustainable communities, as well as engage in the intimacies of designing someone’s dream home. Its a perfect combination!

Graduation from NewSchool of Architecture and Design at the Salk Institute by Louis Kahn in San Diego, CA

Open Door Preschool plays a critical role in our regional education system by bringing young children from diverse socio-economic situations, with various educational needs, into  classrooms together. These kids learn to play together, and enhance development in all areas. The model is unique, and currently 35% of students are receiving a tuition subsidies. Open Doors operates three preschools, which collectively serve approximately 210 children from the age of two months to five years. Approximately 25% of their children have special needs, ranging from physical disabilities to severe at-risk factors.

The school’s operation also includes a social work program, linking families to community resources and providing parent education and counseling as needed, including on-site family therapy. They also collaborate with several non-profit programs— including the Foster Grandparent Program, the Arc of the Capital Area, the Criss Cole Rehabilitation Center and School for the Blind (providing volunteer work experience for their
students with visual impairments), and the Sustainable Food Center (who established an organic garden, which has evolved into an outdoor classroom)—in order to provide students with a nurturing, stimulating, and challenging experience.

A few notable projects completed by PSW were:

– Moving a wooden stage (check out the photos!)
– Weeding the gardens
– Building a sandbox
– Removing an old sandbox
– Installing large “instruments”

Moving the stage was such an intense undertaking that it deserved its own photo gallery.

I have always been drawn to design and land development. While in high school, I discovered the AutoCAD program and learned that I enjoyed the design aspect of computer aided drafting. Enthusiasm for CAD led me to ITT Technical School and my experience there enabled me to work with various design disciplines such as landscape architects, civil engineers, architects, and electrical engineers. After graduating with an Associate’s Degree in Computer Science, I decided that I wanted to further my education and came to the University of Texas in Austin. Early on in my tenure at UT, I joined the Texas Crew Rowing Team and fell in love with the sport. Out of state opportunities to study architecture arose, but didn’t want to leave my team behind and ultimately decided not to continue down that path. In 2009, I graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Urban Studies and Geography but it was the height of the recession and I found myself battling to find a job. It was scary time for me but I managed to land a job with the State of Texas as a social worker. I thought I had found my new career path, but I couldn’t seem to let go of my interest in design and land development, the area that inspired me to go to college in the first place.

Texas Invitational 2008, Texas Vs. Wichita State

After a couple of years waiting for the economy to turn, my longtime friend and mentor invited me to join Tom Groll Engineering. While working with Tom, I was able to learn a great deal about Civil 3D and design work.  Due to a change in workload at the firm and a desire to find new ways to grow professionally, I decided to see what other options were available. By that point, I’d been working with the AutoCAD program for over 9 years and luckily, PSW Real Estate presented a new challenge and an opportunity that I could not resist.

At PSW Real Estate, I’ve already been able to incorporate what I’ve learned in the past with my new civil engineering team.  I am grateful to be a part of an innovative company that is rethinking the way we develop small urban settings like Austin. PSW Real Estate is a company headed in the right direction, and I look forward to growing with the company as well as our clients.

Next time you are driving down South 1st Street and you see rubber-necking near the 2000 block, assume cars are slowing down to look at the fine display of pumpkin carving excellence on the PSW porches.

Happy (early) Halloween!

Whether you have settled into your PSW home or you’re looking to purchase one, it never hurts to get a few ideas to get your creative juices flowing. Below are 10 design trends that will make great additions to your PSW home.

TREND: Emerald

As Pantone’s 2013 Color of the Year, Emerald did not reach the widespread popularity one might expect so you won’t have to worry about bumping into the same color pallet at your neighbor’s home. Use Emerald in your living or dining room- as a jewel tone it brings sophistication as well as a pop of color. Not committed to an entire emerald room? Throw pillows and vases make great statements without beating your budget.

TREND: Geometric Shapes

From the runway to the foyer, polygons seemed to have crept into all aspects of the design world. Here in Austin, Son of a Sailor‘s geometric influence in their jewelry has gotten national recognition. Their pieces can be seen in boutiques throughout SoCo as well as online. For your home try sprucing up a tabletop with a handmade terrarium from Land of Salt.  But if you feel that your love of triangles would be better expressed in a big way, go big- really big. Put your DIY skills to the test and paint a mural. The one pictured may seem complex, but there are many options for beginners.

TREND: Framed Art

Art will never go out of style, but trends in displaying it are always evolving. Most recently, the trend has been to pair old and ostentatious frames with new artwork. To get started on your own collection or to add some affordable new pieces, check out søciety6. Once you find your favorite piece, you can order it in any size framed or unframed and you can even get it screen printed on a pillow!

TREND: Animal Heads

For many Texans, animal heads have been a long time accessory in home decor. Axis, White Tail, and as well as Mallards have long adorned our living room walls and weren’t the least bit trendy. Now thanks to West Elm, White Faux Taxidermy, as well as others, animal heads have become a nationwide phenomenon that even the purest of vegans will be able to get behind. For an unexpected touch, go with White Faux Taxidermy’s T-rex- the kids will love it.

TREND: Wallpaper

For years wallpaper was almost as dreaded at popcorn ceilings. The same ivy, floral clusters, and weird art deco prints seemed to have taken over entire neighborhoods. But fear not, wallpaper has come a long way since fruit patterns and swirls. Wallcoverings can add a luxurious and sophisticated element to any room. Try choosing the largest wall in your room to make a big statement, or pick a small space to frame in with molding to make your wallpaper look like custom art.

TREND: Stone

Add a touch of glam to your coffee table with these gems from Aerin (cheaper version here). They’re already thousands of years old so would won’t have to worry about damaging them.

TREND: Moroccan Touches

The subtle Moroccan influences in this New York apartment come directly from the source. American couple,  Samuel and Caitlin Dowe-Sands spent years in the town of Marrakech, Morocco before settling in New York. Pottery Barn has been a long-time fan of Moroccan touches, most notably in their rugs and lighting. If you’re looking to implement this design trend into your home Marrakesh Lattice is a timeless choice.

TREND: Wall Planters

To brighten up your home, bring a bit of the outside in. Plants omit oxygen, so in addition to looking fresh, they are actually making your home fresh too. Utilizing wall planters is a great way to draw attention to a space without taking up room. A personal favorite is the selection that urbilis has to offer.

TREND: Wood Elements

Wood pieces add a earthy and industrial tone to your interiors. Mix your classic glam style with a wood accent wall to add variety, or mix up a mostly modern room with rustic wood furnishings. Collecting old (discarded) fence boards from the neighbors is great way to get free supplies.

In choosing companies to recognize, the Austin Chamber looks for best practices that demonstrate a company is going above and beyond to achieve excellence in a particular area of their business.  No one understands how important PSW customer satisfaction is more than Production Manager, Billy Doer.

“PSW Real Estate strives to eliminate defects and mistakes during the construction process.  On the occasion where a defect, service error, or mistake occurs, we implement a strict policy of contacting the customer immediately and completing the service order within 48 hours. The last thing we want is to a homeowner who is anything but 100% satisfied.”

As any of our current homeowners can attest, PSW continues to serve them long after the homes are purchased. Once residents have been in their house a few months, we host a community meeting to collect their feedback. Buyers discuss their likes (and dislikes) about their homes, how they use the space, and their impressions of the overall feel of the community. PSW has a deep understanding of homeowners needs, demonstrated by the fact that 20% of our employees are PSW homeowners or in the process of purchasing a PSW home. In other words, we assume you want to live where we want to live.  And we rely on the golden rule when dealing with customers, treating others as we would want to be treated.

So if you don’t have plans on September 4th, come out the awards ceremony to see the Austin Chamber of Commerce announce the winners of each category at the Hilton Austin. It’s a great chance to hob knob with some Austin PIPs and root for your favorite home builder!

]]> http://www.pswrealestate.com/austinchamberfinalis/feed/ 0 http://www.pswrealestate.com/meridithbrewer/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=meridithbrewer http://www.pswrealestate.com/meridithbrewer/#comments Mon, 29 Jul 2013 16:41:09 +0000 http://pswrealestate.com/?p=3371 Selling sustainable, modern and sophisticated homes with a company whose culture is founded on core values such as customer service is a match made in heaven for me.  And to top it off, this amazing opportunity is bringing me back to my roots in Dallas where I was born and raised and where much of my family still lives.

I am thrilled to introduce Dallas to PSW’s inspired communities, as they become the new standard of urban living in the DFW Metroplex. In my first few months with PSW Real Estate, I have been impressed daily with the thoughtful process that goes into each design decision to create sustainable, high quality, comfortable homes and communities. I am honored to be a part of this company and movement, as I am personally passionate about creating a healthy home and lifestyle. 

After graduating from The University of Texas at Austin in 2000, I started my professional career in the marketing department at Southwest Airlines headquarters in Dallas. There I learned the importance of believing in what you are representing as well as teamwork, loyalty, culture and most of all customer service.  In 2006, I returned to Austin to marry my college sweetheart, Todd, and four years later we welcomed our sweet son Harrison. We also have two furry kids – King Charles Cavaliers Royal and Campbell. (Yes, as in Daryl K Royal and Earl Campbell. Our house obviously bleeds a little orange.)

I have been so fortunate to have spent the last 7 years soaking up all that wonderful Austin has to offer as a full time professional Realtor with Keller Williams Realty and Realty Austin.  I am grateful to have had the opportunity to represent many loyal clients in buying and selling every type of property over the years. 

And then, as fate would have it, I was presented with an opportunity to leverage my experience in both real estate sales and marketing when PSW asked me to represent their communities back in my hometown of Dallas. The fact that PSW is a company whose core values I share personally and professionally made it an obvious choice for me. I look forward to assisting new homeowners find their perfect home in a PSW/DFW community. And yes, I will bring a little bit of my Austin hippiness home with me, folks – show me the way to the nearest farmers market!

Be sure to check out our DFW vision at www.pswdallas.com and “LIKE” us at https://www.facebook.com/PSWRealEstateDFW to stay up-to-date on our exciting developments in Dallas/Ft. Worth.  See you soon!

Meridith’s 3-year-old son, Harrison

The Brewer Family