Early in her career, Pam Goldstein Sanchez’s advisers encouraged her to “down-play” the home management side of her degree. Sanchez (BSHE ’84, Consumer Economics and Home Management) disagreed.

 “Interestingly enough, the home management side of my degree prepared me in large part for residential space planning and design,” said Sanchez, owner of Pam Sanchez Designs and a member of Fusion Design Group LLC in Atlanta. “Understanding how a family uses space and understanding how their daily chores are performed in that space helps me create more efficient home designs that streamline family flow.”

Sanchez, a Certified Master Kitchen and Bath Designer and an allied member in the American Society of Interior Designs, formed her referral-based design firm in 2001. Her focus centers on custom cabinetry and design for both new and renovation projects in the residential market.

“We specialize in providing design and product solutions that are not available otherwise,” Sanchez said. “Our services include taking the time necessary to listen to the client, interior designer, architect and builder, going through the plans or job site and working out design solutions that satisfy the entire design team. We then use restoration-quality products to fulfill the client and design team’s specific needs.”

Sanchez’s designs have received numerous notable awards and recognitions, including three first-prize kitchen awards by ASID during a single awards banquet, several first-place Kitchen Design Awards from the Atlanta Home and Lifestyles magazine, and being chosen for the Junior League Home Tour in 2002 with Weidmann and Associates Inc.

Sanchez said she chose to focus on custom cabinetry because she sees it as one of the most important aspects of design-driven projects.

“Custom cabinetry projects include selecting and designing special colors, wood species, cabinetry sizes and shapes, specialty accessories and intricate design and precise fit,” she said. “It allows for appliances to be completely hidden and allows the designer to solve storage problems with custom-made accessories and gives accessibility and usability of each inch.”

With the increasing time and money spent on home interior renovations, Sanchez has seen her field explode in recent years.  In 2004, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, Americans spent more than $10.5 billion remodeling kitchens and $7.2 million on bathroom renovations. The average was $26,888 for remodeling a kitchen – much of which went to custom cabinetry.

Sanchez credits her FACS degree with much of her success. In fact, Sanchez said her degree “has helped my career through very diverse coursework that taught me how to gather information, plan and execute. The combination of business, art and sales prepared me to create one-of-a-kind projects that fulfill my client’s dreams with unique designs and high-tech products. This degree has afforded me the opportunity to focus on homes and lifestyles, which gives me great advantage over business-only or art-only degrees.”

While a student at FACS, Sanchez had two favorite professors whose teachings continue to influence her today.

“My first is Dr. Anne Sweaney, who inspired me to work hard and pay attention to the details,” Sanchez said. “The second is Dr. Joseph Painter who encouraged me to take a break and find humor in the day-to-day pressures.”

Sanchez continues to be active in the college, particularly through “Designing Dawgs,” a continuing education and networkin g program for FACS alumni and students who are active in the interior design field. Having been involved with Designing Dawgs from the very beginning, Sanchez is one of the “Lead Dawgs” for the program.

 “My experience as a Lead Dawg has been rewarding by introducing me to genuinely exceptional professionals and students. Together we work to increase the (college’s) capability to place exceptionally qualified and trained students in rewarding positions with the most prestigious firms.”

Now Sanchez is involved in another major FACS project: Working with faculty member Becky Gill to establish a National Kitchen and Bath (NKBA) certification emphasis for furnishings and interiors majors in the college.

“Becoming an endorsed college is so important because a furnishings and interiors student can reduce the experience time needed to attain their certifications allowing them to earn more, sooner after graduation,” Sanchez said. “This program also ensures that the UGA kitchen and bath specialist student will be more comfortable when they enter the work force. The connection and support that NKBA will offer UGA ensures the student will enjoy a more satisfying and focused career start.”

Sanchez said she’s happy to be able to contribute to a college that has given her so much.

“Giving back is so important. Without the BSHE education and training I received at UGA, I would not be prepared to marry both the artistic and analytical skills that made my success possible,” she said. “I hope that through my involvement, I can give back to the systems that created my opportunities. The career preparation through FACS allows livings to be earned while making our client’s world a better place through more functional, visual and healthy environments.”