About Us

Early Days

Design Presentation began operations in the early 1990s as a division of a New York-based sourcing company, assisting US and European firms in identifying vendors and providing Quality Control services for a wide variety of engineered products. The firm got into the CAD drafting services by accident, as a favor to a sourcing client. The first customer, in the late 1990s, was an engineering firm that required conversion of engineering drawings to AutoCAD after the original computer files were lost. The team tried to find a good CAD drafting vendor for them, but realized that they could do the job faster, better and cheaper if they hired people and did the work themselves. Soon thereafter, the firm’s landlord, a New York-based real estate company, hired Design Presentation to convert their archive of architectural blueprints into AutoCAD and upload them on the company’s website. It was then that it became clear that this could be a sustainable business, and the firm began to market the service to existing sourcing/QC clients.

At first, the conversion process involved the collection physical drawings from clients, but it quickly became evident that without a network of offices, the cost and risk of shipping documents back and forth was prohibitive. In order to avoid damage of drawings in transit, Design Presentation introduced a policy of only accepting electronic copies (i.e. raster or bitmap images) of drawings. If a customer does not have access to a scanner, they are referred to a network of affiliates across the USA. Not only is this approach safer, but it is also faster, less expensive and more eco-friendly than couriering documents back and forth. In order to further reduce cost, Design Presentation adopted technologies that enabled the automation of parts of the process via a workflow system that customers could access. This low cost raster to vector CAD conversion service, combined with the company’s Quality Control heritage, became popular among US architects, engineers and construction firms. Before long, the division had grown sufficiently large to operate as a separate company, which was formed in New York in 2002, and incorporated in 2004.

Evolution of the Company

Having developed a high degree of confidence in Design Presentation’s quality and reliability, clients began to ask for red-line changes, architectural detailing and 3D models. This presented a major challenge, as it required the firm to invest in training, new software and new people. Re-creating engineering drawings is relatively easy, because very little judgment is required, but as one moves up the learning curve and tackles more complex assignments, there are often multiple solutions, and a certain amount of subjectivity and creativity is involved – and therefore Quality Control becomes harder to define.

Despite the challenges, it became clear that moving up the learning curve was important for the company to continue to expand and to provide a career path for its employees. While raster to vector CAD conversion will remain an important part of Design Presentation’s business, particularly since many companies are now switching from 2D CAD to 3D CAD (e.g. Revit, BIM), most of the company’s growth today is coming from new services such as CAD detailing, renderings, 3D modeling and 3D walkthroughs.

Recent Expansion and Future Plans

In 2006, a group of private angel investors, including Managing Directors at Goldman Sachs, Union Bank of Switzerland (UBS) and the International Finance Corporation, invested in the Design Presentation to fund international expansion. Today Design Presentation has over 100 CAD draftsmen and representatives in a dozen countries. The company has established subsidiaries and representative offices in Europe (UK, France, Italy), Asia (Japan, India, Singapore), the Middle East (UAE, Israel) and Australia.

Having built a reputation on quality and reliability, Design Presentation’s goal is to become the leading global provider of CAD support services, serving both industry and governments. Growth will come from two sources: new, higher value-added services and additional geographies. The corporation plans to grow primarily through organic means, but is also evaluating options to acquire smaller companies who can contribute to either geographic or product expansion.

Our Clients

Today, Design Presentation's clients include the most demanding, quality conscious customers in the world:

1. Fortune 500 companies
   
2. Governments
   
3. Large Architectural & Real Estate Firms
   

Our Team

			Fay was born in London, England and has spent her entire career in international business beginning with the European Dept. of the London Chamber of Commerce. She then emigrated to the United States where she earned a degree in Busines Administration and held positions in export management, international marketing liaison and international logistics. Fay has dual U.S. and U.K. citizenship. She is bi-lingual in German and speaks fluent French.				Avinish Kumar manages the CAD Studio and is responsible for Design Presentation operations. Avinish is one of the founding members of Design Presentation and is involved with the operation since the inception of the company in 2002.   Avinish has over 18 years of experience in international business, sourcing, QA and account management.
	Fay Lachmann				Avinish Kumar
	(Manager, North America)				(Director)
	Princeton, NJ				India
			Harry is a Member of the Association of State Flood Plain Managers (ASFPM), the Maryland Association of Storm Water and Floodplain Managers (MASFM), the Lower Delaware and Maryland Building Officials Association (LDMBOA) , DHI (The Door and Hardware Institute) and CSI (Construction Specifications Institute), and the Maryland Building Officials Association (MBOA). He has studied the science of Flood Mitigation extensively and, working with the new Format of the Construction Specifications Institute (CSI), Harry has written Specifications for that have been accepted by CSI’s MasterFormat . Well versed in all aspects of Flood Mitigation, Doors and Hardware, and Plans and Specification details and writing, Harry travels the country attending conferences and seminars, and frequently conducts educational sessions for professionals concerned with these issues. Harry has a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from the University of Notre Dame-South Bend, Indiana, where he was a member of the 1966 National Championship Football Team at Notre Dame.				After graduating from college, Lenny began his career at Kendall Company in their Marketing Research & Strategy group. He then spent 15 years working for a small manufacture's rep organization in the electrical & mechanical fields, after which he formed his own company marketing high efficiency chillers coupled to a commercial ice storage system.
	Harry Alexander				Lenny Cook
	(Sales Representative)				(Sales Representative)
	DELAWARE MARYLAND EASTERN PA				RHODE ISLAND Eastern MA CONNECTICUT
			Skip graduated with a BS degree from Clemson University with honors in Microbiology in 1977. Skip has been in sales and marketing in one capacity or another his entire business career, including product management, territory sales and sales management. He has worked in a diverse field from metal cutting tools to medical diagnostics to building materials.				For over twenty-five years Benjamin has worked with Fortune 100 companies and Small Businesses alike, helping them to increase productivity, reduce costs and gain market share primarily based on business process improvements as well as technologically advanced systems, diversity of resources. He has assisted them in adopting new methods of business management and resources now available in the information age, helping even the smallest of companies in moving from local to Global.
	Skip Elliott				Benjamin Hoga
	(Sales Representative)				(Sales Representative)
	NORTH CAROLINA SOUTH CAROLINA				SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA (mainly San Diego area)
			Tim Marlowe has over 20 years of experience in the design, print and publishing industry, and specializes in providing high quality and complex print solutions. He is based in England, but works with clients throughout the UK.				Justin is a graduate of the University of Iowa, where he received a Bachelor of Science in Geography with an emphasis in Urban and Regional Studies. Justin has been in the Architecture, Engineering and Planning field for almost 10 years and has worked on projects in the US, Costa Rica, Panama, London, Korea, Shanghai, Doha, and the United Arab Emirates. Prior has served as a Planner and Project Manager on numerous international projects, and has worked on several large scale master planning efforts.
	Tim Marlowe				Justin Stensland		He has extensive experience in land planning using GIS and AutoCAD Civil 3D to provide detailed land analyses, based on topography and geographical surveys, that lead to more strategic land use and  project feasibility assessments, as well as more precise and comprehensive overall planning efforts.  Justin has also authored best practice and training materials for his team to ensure that the tools available are being implemented accordingly.  His ability to prioritize various site limitations, anticipate necessary approvals that are required, assess potential impacts to schedules, and determine cost estimates makes him a valuable resource for his clients.
			Marshall MacEuen has been in the electric business since 1978, with a focus on lighting since 1982. Experience includes 4 years with an electrical supply wholesaler, 19 years with manufacturers' agencies, and 5 years as regional sales manager for a lighting manufacturer.   Marshall holds the Certificate of Technical Knowledge from the Illuminating Engineering Society and is Lighting Certified by the National Council on Qualifications for the lighting Professions. Member of the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America and the U. S. Green Building Council.   Resident of Alabama since 1968, graduate of Western Kentucky University.
	Marshall MacEuen
	(Sales Representative)
	ALABAMA

International Advisory Board

			Yasuyuki Sakurai is Founder and Principal of Taico Limited. Prior to founding Taico, Yasuyuki was a Section Manager at Kisho Kurokawa Architects and Associates, where he worked on projects ranging from the designing of the Embassy of Japan in Greece to urban design in Malaysia. He has 15 years professional experience in Architecture, and is on the Board of Directors of the American Institute of Architecture.   Yasuyuki received a masters in Architecture from the University of Southern California, as well as a bachelors in Architecture from the same institution.				Jessica Kumbier holds a double Master degree in Business Administration from ESCP-Europe in Berlin and MDI Gurgaon in New Delhi. During and after her degree she has worked for the Metro Group and delivered advisory services to ICT companies in Germany and India. Before venturing into Business Consulting, Jessica had pursued a career in international politics after receiving her first degree in European Studies. She worked for a member of European Parliament and several NGOs in Brussels and New York. Today, Jessica is working in the ICT sector with a geographic focus on emerging markets.
	Yasuyuki Sakurai				Jessica Kumbier
	(Member, International Advisory Board)				(Member, International Advisory Board)
	Japan				Germany
			Nicola Trudu studied Politics in Italy and holds an Advanced degree in International Relations. He started his career in Portugal, then, after obtaining a Master diploma of EU Community Advisor and Project Consultant from the ULB, he has been working for the European Regional Information Society Association in Brussels. in 2007 he left Europe for studying international trade in Brazil. Moreover, he has acquired a double MBA degree (MEB-PGPIM) jointly organized by the ESCP Europe and the Management Development Institute in Gurgaon (India). Nicola today is an International Business Consultant, enabling worldwide IT companies entering in the Mediterranean and Latin American markets.				Adrian Hardwick-Jones is a seasoned professional architect; project manager and MBA graduate, with 26 years of experience in the construction/ real estate business, in Europe, Asia, and now India. Adrian's range of experience not only covers specific building types of Hospitality, Retail, Commercial, Mixed Use and Infrastructure projects, but also strategic and corporate planning. It is latter expertise that led to the founding of Strategic Blueprint, which has successfully provided advised to Real Estate companies and consultancy firms either operating in India or looking to enter the market place.
	Nicola Trudu				ADRIAN HARDWICK-JONES
	(Member, International Advisory Board)				(Member, International Advisory Board)
	Italy				India
			Ileana Skorlich is specialized in Executive Search and Coaching. Also has professional experience in Public Relations, Protocol and Written Translation. Ileana is a Founder and Director of Search & Asociados, Human Resources consulting firm, based in Mexico since 1992, devoted to Executive Search, Coaching, and different kind of projects related to Human Resources, supporting national and international clients. Previous to this; she worked in Banca Serfin (today Santander) and Citibank as a Public Relations Manager. She earned her degree in English-Spanish Interpretation -Translation from Bell College, Saffron Walden, England and Berlitz, Mexico City. She is certified as an Executive and Personal Ontological Coach by Newfield Consulting. She is fluent in English.				Serhan Gungor has a degree political science and public administration from Middle East Technical University, Ankara. He worked as quality systems auditor in Wal Mart Stores inc. Since 1997, Serhan has been working as a professional in travel industry.
	Ileana Skorlich				SERHAN GUNGOR
	(Member, International Advisory Board)				(Member, International Advisory Board)
	Mexico				Turkey