Meet the Makers

Marketing Growth Manager

Katherine Lee

Prior to joining Fireclay, Katherine spent 5 years as a designer and project manager in landscape and interior design. Her first experience selling Fireclay was in 2012 while working for a sustainably focused home improvement store in Austin. Katherine has a degree in architecture from the University of Texas. She can be found drawing, hiking, or anywhere near a horse. 
 

Inside Residential Sales Manager

Emily Riechel

Emily hails from sunny Southern California and moved to San Francisco to study Interior Design. After design school she worked in a local furniture showroom where she developed her skills in color coordination and spacial planning. From there she started a small real estate staging company before joining Fireclay. On the weekends you can find Emily at the beach, baking, reading, or hanging out with her cute dog, Bosley. Emily can be reached at [email protected]

Favorite thing about Fireclay: The people. My fellow design consultants and coworkers are among some of my favorite people in the world. We all care deeply about what we do.

Commercial Sales

Katie Emigh

Growing up in California's Central Valley, Katie has always been passionate about her native state. After attaining her art degree from UC Santa Cruz, Katie spent time in San Diego and finally made her home in San Francisco. Working in picture framing for the last decade while simultaneously inching toward her master's degree in Library Science, Katie has a keen love for organization, art and design. She delights in afternoons spent listening to NPR, having a bizarrely comprehensive knowledge of modern television and road trips in her little red car. 

Favorite Thing About Fireclay: that our tile is a gorgeous artisan product with an ethical heart of gold
 

Brand Manager

Lindsey Bourcier

Lindsey's passion for architecture and design brought her to Fireclay, where she currently serves as Brand Manager-- overseeing all brand communications, campaign development, content and social media strategy as well as new product launches. When she's not at Fireclay, Lindsey enjoys urban beekeeping and spotting victorian architecture.

Favorite thing about Fireclay: Canine coworkers!

Brand Partnerships + PR Manager

Kali Gibson

Kali hails from the Pacific Northwest and majored in Journalism and double minored in Comparative Literature and Communication Studies at the University of Oregon. After working at a magazine and then visual merchandising, her interest in interior design grew and she joined the sales team at Fireclay. Six months later, she moved over to marketing where she manages partnerships and PR. 

Favorite thing about Fireclay Tile: I love that every single tile is made by hand and made to order. 
 

Drawing Program Manager

Denise Bahr

Earned a Bachelor of Science in Interior Design at San Francisco State University. Early in her college career  she had an art background that evolved into a love for interior design. Her approach to interior design is to make each room a functional piece of art. In her free time she dabbles in various DIY projects while blasting Foreigner.

Favorite Thing About Fireclay Tile: The numerous ways that we strive for sustainability and our Contemporary Hand Painted Collection.

Director of Sales

Caitlyn Child

Caitlyn moved from Portland, Oregon to join the Dream Team in 2014. She has a degree in Art History with an emphasis on Industrial and Architectural Design History. Over the last several years Caitlyn has been teaching art classes and delivering excellent customer service as a case manager. She is passionate about design on a micro level from fixtures, building materials and lighting. In her spare time she enjoys exploring her new city's various markets and restaurants, building furniture and bowling.

Favorite thing about Fireclay Tile: The constant experimentation and innovation of colors, shapes and hand-painted patterns creating infinite design possibilities.

Sr. Graphic Designer

Serena Sea

Serena hails from Southern California. She moved to the Bay Area for art school and graduated with a degree in graphic design from California College of the Arts. Before joining Fireclay Tile, Serena worked at several small Bay Area design studios where she worked on branding, print and web design projects, oftentimes for clients in the nonprofit sector. In her free time Serena enjoys cooking, gardening, bicycling and doing DIY projects with her husband. She's also completely obsessed with her boxer pup, Herschel.

Favorite thing about Fireclay Tile: The amazing colors and timeless design
 

Design Consultant

Brittany Buchser

Brittany’s background in Art History at UC Santa Cruz helped her discover a vast archive of diverse architectural elements and art movements that have become influences in her own life. Her post-graduate education in Interior Design at FIDM and professional experience with sales and design consultant services  contributes to her awareness for the design and installation processes. Brittany values personal connections and collaboration with clients while creating long lasting and unique designs using Fireclay tile. Brittany enjoys the yogi-lifestyle, singing/ playing guitar, & anything outdoors. 

Training and Development Specialist

Lauren Ritchie

Lauren's love of design led her to Fireclay, where she worked as a Design Consultant for several years before becoming Fireclay's first Training & Development Specialist. Now Lauren brings her creativity and love of learning to training and developing Fireclay's tile stars! Lauren is a person of many interests and in her free time you can find her thrifting, nesting at home, and exploring the Bay Area.

Favorite thing about Fireclay: My lovely co-workers and being surrounded by color every day!

Manager of Salesforce Operations

Cleo Schiff

Cleo is a San Francisco born native who has lived all over the west coast, basically anywhere her dad could get a good wave session in. After graduating from UC Davis, Cleo moved to Bangkok, Thailand to teach English for a year before moving into the e-learning software industry. It was an amazing experience for her as the Thai culture is so rich in history and influential in design today.   Upon returning to San Francisco, Cleo headed up online customer acquisition for Own Products.  Now she manages Fireclay's Salesforce org and development. 

Favorite thing about Fireclay Tile: I am proud to be a part of such an influential company with roots in sustainable manufacturing!  Tile to the People!

Extrusion Manager

Fernando Menchaca

I have been at Fireclay Tile for 11 years where I love the process of creating tile. Outside of work, I like to go fishing, play my guitar, hang out with my wife, and being the best dad I can be for my newborn son.  

Favorite thing about Fireclay Tile: The endless growth opportunities and being able to see all of the effort that goes into one beautiful piece of tile. 

Handpainting Manager

Rosa Plascencia

Favorite thing about Fireclay Tile: I love to handpaint Cuerda Seca tiles.

Senior Design Consultant

Sabrina Vance

Sabrina grew up in Connecticut, but moved to California a several years ago to San Luis Obispo, where she studied Interior Design. In her free time, she enjoys playing the guitar and songwriting. 

Favorite thing about Fireclay: Seeing all the creative tile ideas designers, architects, and homeowners come up with. 

Commercial Sales

Alex Bolanos

Alex has worked at Fireclay for over 13 years and manages our trade orders and customer service. She is exceptionally detail oriented and friendly, and truthfully she could teach MBAs proper customer service. When not at the office Alex enjoys spending time with her three children. You can reach Alex at [email protected]

Favorite thing about Fireclay Tile: The hand made characteristics of our tile.

Maintenance Manager

Ramiro Plascencia

I am the proud father of 3 great children, who I love spending time with in my free time. I came to Fireclay Tile after having worked at Stonelight Tile shortly after starting my family-- almost 30 years ago!

Favorite thing about Fireclay Tile: I love the product we create and that we use mostly recycled materials-- we care about our planet. It's great to see how much this company has grown and evolved over the past 30 years. 

Senior Showroom Design Consultant

Wendy Ruffier

Wendy attended interior design classes at Canada College which reignited her love for interior design after raising her children. Wendy has previously worked in two high-end showrooms and a design build firm before joining Fireclay. Throughout her 15 years of experience, Wendy's favorite part of a project is still designing with tile. 

Favorite thing about Fireclay Tile: The Cuerda Seca handpainted collection. This technique has been popular through out the world for centuries. I love that Fireclay is keeping the art alive.

Creative Director

Jamie Chappell

Jamie joined the Fireclay Tile team as Creative Director in 2013. Prior to working with Fireclay Tile she sold the companies products in boutique retail shops throughout the country. Her expertise lies in merchandising, product development and retail store design with over 10 years experience in home improvement retail. She has worked for sustainably minded start-ups in Seattle, WA, San Francisco, CA and Austin, TX. Her passion for bold art and clean design with a healthy dose of restraint, drive most creative decisions in her life and at Fireclay Tile. Away from the daily creative routine, you’ll find her in the pottery studio, camping, hiking, or if she’s lucky… two stepping. Jamie holds a degree in Art History from Virginia Tech.

Favorite thing about Fireclay Tile: The raw creative energy that exists at our Aromas, CA factory.

Fireclay Tile CEO

Eric Edelson

Eric Edelson joined Fireclay in 2009 to manage the business. Previously, Eric was the Vice President of Finance and Business Development at Nuun & Company, the leading sports beverage product in specialty retail. Before Nuun, Eric spent four years at Lehman Brothers in its Private Equity and Principal Investments groups. Eric has a BA from Amherst College and an MBA from Stanford University. Eric is an avid runner loves spending his weekends in the Marin Headlands. Eric can be reached at [email protected]

Favorite thing about Fireclay Tile: Our customers - they rock

Senior Design Consultant

Tiffannie White

Oakland native Tiffannie White comes to Fireclay with an extensive background in Culinary Arts where she started a company specializing in film catering. With her mother and grandmother's eye for interior design and entrepreneurial spirit embedded in her, Tiffannie studied Architecture and became a Design Consultant with Fireclay Tile. Connecting with people and providing meaningful experiences is her strong suit. Outside of Fireclay, you can catch Tiffannie creating memories with her family, enjoying the outdoors, trying Pinterest recipes, freelancing design projects, and dancing with her kids. 

Favorite thing about Fireclay: Getting the opportunity to help a client's design vision come to life, and all the wonderful connections made with both clients and colleagues. 

Senior Design Consultant

Terapan Lilittham

A San Francisco native, Terapan graduated from UC Berkeley with a degree in Integrative Biology and worked in healthcare, sustainability, and visual merchandising before breaking into the interior design industry. He eventually started his own Home Organizing & Design business which introduced him to Fireclay Tile. At Fireclay, he has found a love for the sustainable production process and enjoys guiding clients to thoughtfully manifest their tile dreams. In his free time, you'll find him researching new organizational hacks, planning his next vacation, or looking for new restaurants & bars in SF to explore. 

Favorite thing about Fireclay: All the friendly faces. We're all real people who just really love tile. 

Commercial Sales

Christy Gatchell

Christy has worked with luxury brands in the Dallas Design Center for most of her career. With her Interior Design Degree from Stephen F. Austin she naturally gravitates to commercial and residential interiors and architecture. 

Christy Joined Fireclay Tile in May 2017 and has worked on an array of Texas projects including The Adolphus Hotel, Epic Deep Ellum, The Statler Hotel, Whole Foods, Hiatus Day Spa, Facebook Corporate, and Sixty Vines Restaurant just to name a few. When Christy is not working you can find her cheering on her kids at their sporting events. Her favorite one to watch is lacrosse. Christy also loves to cook, walk her dog,  hang by the pool or lake, and travel.

My favorite thing about Fireclay Tile: I love the people of Fireclay Tile. We have a dynamic and diverse group of employees that I consider to be like family.

Commercial Sales Manager - East Coast, Texas, Mountain Region

Sarah Roorda

Experienced in launching products and branding campaigns on a national scale, Sarah has worked in A+D sales and marketing strategy for over 10 years. Her love of design started young—her first BIG project involved meticulously replicating a pattern from Kmart's Martha Stewart Bedding Collection onto her bedroom walls. It is this same commitment to customization that explains Sarah's love for Fireclay and its nearly infinite combination of colors and sizes resulting in spaces that are entirely unique to the project and firm. Sarah resides in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn and can often be found wandering its streets with her dog, Frankie.

My favorite thing about Fireclay Tile: The incredible group of artists that make up our factory team. I am so proud to introduce their beautiful handwork to the equally gifted architects and designers we're lucky enough to partner with.

Commercial Sales Manager - Central + Western US

Victoria Engels

Victoria joined the Fireclay team in 2016 with over a decade of experience working in architectural and design communities throughout the Midwest. She has a degree in Interior Design from the University of Wisconsin Stout and resides in the vibrant city of Chicago. She has spent her career immersed in the materials side of the design world and has cultivated a lifelong interest in sustainable building practices. An avid traveler, Victoria is curious about global art and design and its impact on community and culture. Outside of Fireclay, you can find her exploring Chicago with her family and meeting as many dogs as she can.

My favorite thing about Fireclay Tile: Our commitment to crafting beautiful tile in a sustainable way that takes into mind our planet, our people, and our communities. 

Design Consultant

Grace Van Oosbree

Grace is a Californian through and through and has lived all over the state from Oakland to San Diego to Santa Cruz. She has a Bachelor of Fine Art from Cal State East Bay, with an emphasis in spacial planning and color theory. Grace also has a strong background in visual merchandising, sales management, and installation art. Fireclay perfectly blends her two passions: interior spaces and environmental sustainability. In her off time, you can find Grace crafting, gardening, and playing with her dog Basil!

Favorite thing about Fireclay: The stunning handmade product! Each piece of tile has it's own character and personality that blends with the others for that perfectly, imperfect harmony. 

Senior Design Consultant

Jane Pantsyr

Born and raised in Europe, Jane relocated to California in her adolescence. It was there that she found her place in the Bay Area in Santa Cruz, where she studied Art History before moving to Berkeley.  

Passionate about the environment, Jane has always chosen to work with the most sustainable and ecologically responsible brands throughout her career.

In her free time you can find Jane exploring new hiking trails with her dog Lada, tending to her garden and hunting for new furniture gems to restore.

Favorite thing about Fireclay: The level of customization, endless color and shape combinations will stoke the creative fire in just about anyone!

Commercial Sales

Susan Schemm

Susan Schemm has over 17 years of experience in the design industry, as well as a degree in Interior Design from The Art Institute. From working in the MD/DC and VA area as a designer, teacher and A&D sales rep- she is very familiar with local, national and global market trends. She is passionate about art, architecture, and a good book. When she is not working, Susan can be found Ubering her four boys to and from lacrosse games, and journaling. 

My favorite thing about Fireclay Tile: How conscious we are about keeping our people and planet first. I love our team; it is so inspiring to work with people that push me to do my best and learn something new every single day. I enjoy introducing Fireclay to clients-- I truly believe they fall in love with our tile and our story, the same as I have.

Commercial Sales

Maggie Rybak

Maggie was born, raised, and attended college in the Midwest. After three cold years in Chicago, Maggie moved west to San Diego, where she now calls home. 

Maggie has a BS in Strategic Marketing from the University of Kansas, as well as an AS in Landscape Architecture from Southwestern College. The latter degree helped Maggie transition from a successful career in advertising sales to an exciting and challenging position as a designer. Maggie ultimately combined her passion for design with her skillset in sales, and found her happy niche as a manufacturer representative.

Maggie is a self-confessed media junkie for all things interior design, from magazines to blogs to television, she is constantly in tune to the way a space can make you feel, and why.

When she's not working or rearranging shelves, Maggie's two little boys and husband keep her very busy.

Favorite thing about Fireclay:  Our B-Corp certification, passion for craft and dedication to sustainability make our products' beautiful on the inside too!

Showroom Design Consultant

Megan Flannery

A Bay Area native through and through, Megan received her Bachelors of Arts in Studio Art & Art History at Saint Mary’s College before venturing across the Bridge to find a home at Fireclay. Megan has always been drawn to the arts and after being introduced to interior design, she quickly realized that tile is truly the art of any space. Megan was initially drawn to Fireclay for their beautiful handmade tile, as their “tread lightly” attitude only served to better the tiles’ beauty. Megan is happiest with a coffee in hand, solving riddles, spending time outdoors, or painting at her kitchen-table-turned-studio.

Favorite thing about Fireclay: The design dogs (and, of course, the tile).

Showroom Design Consultant

Ariel Ashor

Ariel is a San Diego native with a Bachelor's of Science in Interior Design from San Francisco State University. Ariel worked in the design industry for several years at the San Francisco Design Center before finally landing at Fireclay. 

You can find Ariel spending her free time jogging by the beach, doing yoga, snuggling with her dwarf rabbits Raindrop and Schmear, or hunting down the best cup of coffee. 

Favorite thing about Fireclay: The people, the amazing tile, and of course the dogs! 

Graphic Designer

Loni Johnston

Loni made her way from the dusty deserts of Calexico to the coastal breezes of the Monterey Bay after graduating with a double major in graphic design and photography. Before joining Fireclay Tile, Loni worked as a designer at an agency. She discovered the joy of working with non-profits and bringing their good causes to life with powerful design. When she’s not in the office, Loni likes going on hikes with her favorite podcasts, traveling the globe with her fiancé, and snuggling with her cat Pfeiffer.

Favorite thing about Fireclay: Tile's ability to transform ordinary spaces into lovely settings

Commercial Sales

Sylvia Fajen

Sylvia was born and raised in Northern California and is proud to call the Bay Area her home. After receiving a studio art degree from UC Santa Cruz, she made her move up to Oakland and worked in fine art framing for almost 10 years while also playing music and touring with her band before starting a family and finding Fireclay Tile. In her spare time she can be found exploring the Bay with her husband and son, planning trips with her best gal pals, or searching for new pieces to add to her art collection.

Favorite thing about Fireclay Tile: My amazing coworkers!

Design Consultant

Kristina Kerley

A Southern California native, Kristina found her home in San Francisco when she moved up here for college. She holds degrees in both Journalism & Culinary Arts and has a background as a food and culture writer, cook, & events coordinator. Her proclivity for interior design, patterns, and color led her to pursue a job with Fireclay. From writing to cooking to design, Kristina has always allowed her creative passions to be the driving force behind her career path, but one thing has always remained consistent - her desire to genuinely connect with the folks she interacts with in a meaningful way. 

Outside of work, you can find her tending to her houseplants, cuddling her two cats, experimenting in the kitchen, traveling, learning a new craft, and reading anything she can get her hands on. 

Favorite Thing About Fireclay: The focus on innovative design and sustainability, our commitment to treading lightly on the earth, and the endless color combinations to find inspiration through! 

Sales & Client Support Supervisor

Brieanna Lines

I've been with Fireclay Tile for several years and absolutely love it! When I'm not at Fireclay you can find me at the beach or taking my sister to basketball tournaments. Prior to Fireclay, I've worked in the customer service industry for 4 years.

Favorite thing about Fireclay Tile: No matter where you go, either the Factory or the San Francisco showroom, you always feel at home. Fireclay is truly a welcoming place to work with friendly faces everywhere you look.

Sales and Client Support Specialist

Julie Fernandez

I am a proud mom of two gorgeous kids, Emma and Maxx. I am also married to my soulmate and we love going on gym dates and watching movies at home. Family is everything to us. I have worked in customer service/reception since the age of 17. Prior to Fireclay, I attended beauty school and I love hairstyling on the side. I came to Fireclay through an agency after being a stay at home mom for 2 years. Fireclay gave me the opportunity of a lifetime!

Favorite thing about Fireclay Tile: How supportive and friendly everyone is. Their everyday attitudes are always positive and energizing. I love the desire this company has to grow, improve, and make the workplace a safe and happy place for every employee.

Sales & Client Support Specialist

Nick Cordova

I attended California State University, Monterey Bay (CSUMB) and graduated with a degree in Social and Behavioral Sciences with a concentration in Social History. Some of my hobbies outside of Fireclay include spending time outside, backpacking the Sierra's, and kayaking the Monterey Bay. I enjoy watching sports and am always down for reruns of The Office.

Favorite thing about Fireclay Tile: Working with such wonderful people day in and day out.

Senior Accountant

Maria Maggiora

I have my BS in Business Administration from California State University, Sacramento. I was born and raised in Gilroy. Before Fireclay, I worked as a Staff Accountant for Mainstreet Media who owned the Gilroy Dispatch, Morgan Hill Times, Hollister Freelance, and several other local newspapers for 13 years. When not crunching numbers, I love to hang out with niece and nephew, my family, and my boyfriend Nathan. We enjoy exploring California's history, finding new waterfalls, Disneyland, and country concerts. 

Favorite thing about Fireclay Tile: The people-- Everyone always has a smile.

Product Development Supervisor

Juan Carlos Garcia

I've been with the Fireclay Tile family for 13 years where I currently work in Product Development. I love the different colors, sizes and shapes that are glazed every day-- It's never boring. In my freetime, you can catch me studying at Cabrillo College. 

Favorite thing about Fireclay Tile: There are a lot of opportunities to grow and learn. 

Inventory Lead

Cody Fisher

Besides working at Fireclay Tile, I am currently attending Gavilan College. When I have spare time, you can find me working on my cars, listening to music, or helping others in any way I can. I came to Fireclay looking for something outside of my comfort zone and have loved it ever since! 

Favorite thing about Fireclay Tile: The Culture. Everyone is so selfless and genuinely cares about the person next to them. 

Glaze Manager

Alfredo Garcia

I've been involved in the Ceramics Industry for more than 25 years. I first got my start in making tile at McIntyre Tile and Sonoma Tile before joining Fireclay, where I'm very happy to be. Why? Because I really like Fireclay's product and handmade process. I studied Ceramics at SRJC but am mostly self-taught with the help of knowledgeable coworkers I've met along the way (who I am very thankful for). In my freetime, I love art, running, mountain biking, and hiking. 

Favorite thing about Fireclay: The magic in making tile  

Roller Hearth Kiln Manager

Enrique Tamaniz

I am the Manager of our Roller Hearth Kiln (RHK) Department and have been with Fireclay for the last 5 years. I am the father of two children whom I love.

Favorite thing about Fireclay: Fireclay Tile gives me the opportunity to be part of the story that we are creating with tile every day. 

Sample Department Co-Captain

Ivan Mejia

I was born in LA, but grew up in Aromas where the Fireclay Factory is located. I’ve known of Fireclay for many years through family and close friends before joining the team 3 years ago-- it’s been an amazing ride. The Sample Department has evolved a lot in the last 3 years, with many more great changes to come! When I'm not at work, I enjoy watching all sports, but soccer is my number one. In my free time, I like to explore new places and hang out with friends and family. 

Favorite thing about Fireclay: I like how it’s a healthy work environment. There are many opportunities for everyone.

Delivery Driver

Raul Vega

I was born in Mexico but grew up in California. I've lived in Aromas my whole life and I've always known of Fireclay Tile. In fact, I've had several family members and friends who have worked at Fireclay for as long as I can remember! I graduated from Cabrillo College and attended Sacramento State with the hopes of finishing my education at SJSU. I am a huge sports fan (Go DUBS!!) but my passion will forever be soccer. When I'm not working at Fireclay, you can catch me at a soccer field near you, either training or coaching.

Favorite thing about Fireclay Tile: I love how no matter how complicated or impossible any task seems, you will always find hardworking people who will give it their all.

People Specialist

Jocelyn Mondragon

I was born and raised in LA county, before moving to study at UC Merced. Prior to Fireclay, I was a recruiter at a staffing agency. When I'm not at Fireclay, I enjoy spending time with family, trying out different restaurants, and traveling.  

Favorite thing about Fireclay Tile: Not only is it a company that produces beautiful tile, it’s a company that has and follows great values.

Sample Department Co-Captain

Andres Garcia

I first came to Fireclay because my brother, Juan Carlos, recommended me. I have been with Fireclay since 2013 and got my start in the Shipping and Receiving Department where I quickly became Captain of the team. Since then, I have worked in almost every department here at the Fireclay Factory and have learned so much. When I'm not at Fireclay, I love outdoor sports, going to the beach, and listening to live music. I play in a band every weekend where I get to travel and meet new people.

Favorite thing about Fireclay: I love my job and the product we make and sell! 

Shipping Manager

Alejandra Morales

I've been with Fireclay Tile for almost 2 years and I love it. Prior to  coming to Fireclay, I was an Onsite Manager at a staffing agency. When I'm not at work, I enjoy spending quality time with my family and my 3 kids. We love going to the movies and the beach, trying different restaurants, and going on mini weekend getaways. 

Favorite thing about Fireclay Tile: Fireclay is truly a welcoming place to work with friendly faces everywhere.

Plant Manager

Sal Cuellar

I grew up in the South Valley town of Gilroy just north of Aromas and come from a proud Mexican-American family from Guadalajara Mexico. I have been involved in manufacturing operations for close to 7 years. I have been blessed to be supported by wonderful family and friends my entire life. I am a true believer in second chances with a never-quit attitude. #ganas

Favorite thing about Fireclay Tile: Developing People and providing new skills and opportunities to the Central Calif. Coast community. I also enjoy being part of people-first driven company with a continuous improvement culture in all operations. I am honored to lead operations that support a vision started 30+ years ago.

Continuous Improvement Manager

Nirmal Ravichandran

I am an Engineer who loves to work with machines and continuously improve processes to provide a safe and ergonomic work environment for our team members and best quality products for our customers. Outside of work, I get lost in the beauty of California's hills, hiking and sightseeing.

Favorite thing about Fireclay Tile: Kindness in people and care towards saving planet by sustainable manufacturing practices.

Commercial Sales

Lisa DeCaire

Lisa joined the Fireclay family in September 2019. Originally a proud Spartan from Michigan, she has called Colorado home since 2003. Promoting and selling hard surfaces in the commercial realm is a welcome challenge after spending a decade in the world of residential kitchen design and remodeling. Her love of bold colors and daring design paired with this conscionable company make Fireclay a perfect fit!  Out of the office, Lisa can be found gardening, tinkering with this and that, and jumping on the trampoline with her son.  

Favorite thing about Fireclay Tile: The wonderful team of people, from the office to the factory.

Commercial Sales

Carolina Albano

Carolina comes to Fireclay with a deep history in exteriors, having been in building envelope and rainscreen systems for the past 12 years. 

She holds a Bachelor and Masters Degree in mechanical engineering from Georgia Tech, with a specialization in materials. Tile sales and design is her blood, as her dad was in tile sales until he retired to help run her brother's three restaurants. 

A native of Venezuela via Miami, Carolina had enough of Atlanta winters and moved her family to Los Angeles. The hiking, the beach, the weather, the people, the art, the music, the entertainment, the fun! What's not to love?
On weekends, she's usually hiking, reading, recording music, or watching Formula 1 races.

Carolina is passionate about education, ecotourism, personal development, and sustainability in building materials.

Favorite thing about Fireclay Tile: We are a conscious company. We intentionally set out to do good, be the change and proudly walk the talk. Oh, and everyone is super nice :) 

Senior Manager, Sales and Client Support.

Annie Acheatel

Annie Acheatel joined Fireclay in late 2016 as a Commercial Sales Coordinator and today leads the Sales and Client Support Department. Her responsibilities include managing the customer service team, shipping & logistics, and the installation support program.  

As the daughter of an architect and an interior designer, Annie has always been immersed in design. She has built her professional career working in creative arts, interior design offices and real estate development firms. Annie holds a BA in Dance from UC Irvine and although she has officially hung up her dancing shoes, she still enjoys dancing every night in her living room with her husband & two young children.

Favorite thing about Fireclay Tile: Our creativity and our kindness.

Sales and Client Support Specialist

Bekah Denney

I grew up in Morgan Hill, but have lived in Aromas for the last 5 years. I love being able to work in the great community that I live in! Prior to Fireclay, I went to college locally and worked for a cloud based bookkeeping firm. I also went to cosmetology school and did hair for the last 10 years. When I'm not at Fireclay, I love spending time with my husband and my corgi. We enjoy hiking, biking, and doing anything outdoors! 

Favorite thing about Fireclay: I love the positive energy that I feel from the people I work with and the company as a whole. I love working for a company that believes in using business as a force for good and I'm proud to be a part of it. 

Glaze Making Supervisor

Abigail Freed

Born and raised in Georgia, Abby relocated to Portland, OR to attend Lewis & Clark College where she graduated with a B.A in Fine Arts with a concentration in Ceramics. After college, she spent a few years doing research and development for another ceramic tile company in Portland before joining the Fireclay Team in 2019. When she is not at work, you can find her hanging out with her old fat pitbull, hiking, cooking real Southern food, and working on her own ceramic practice. 

Favorite thing about Fireclay Tile: Working for a sustainable, empowering, and ecologically conscious company.

Commercial Sales

Dave Spaulding

Dave joined Fireclay in early 2020, bringing 15 years experience in the interiors industry. After a successful career in furniture sales and retail management, Dave is thrilled to continue his passion for design as an A&D representative with several years experience in ceramics.

A lifelong Midwesterner, Dave calls Chicago home. When not working, Dave is a passionate home cook, traveler, husband, and cat dad.

Favorite thing about Fireclay Tile: The passion for ethical, sustainable business practices while remaining committed to beautiful materials!

Director of People

Laura Martinez

As the daughter of Mexican immigrants, Laura brings her passion for immigration, diversity & inclusion to the People Team at Fireclay Tile.

Laura speaks Spanish fluently, is an identical twin, and mother of three (two of which are twins!). In her spare time, Laura is Head Coach for the Spirit of Morgan Hill Softball league, and an active member of SHRM, NCHRA, and the NNA.   

Favorite thing about Fireclay Tile: Our opportunity to design creative programs, solve challenges in partnership with all levels, be in front, and in support of business goals is all stuff I am super excited about. Tile to the People!

Commercial Sales

Unha Kim

Originally from Central California, I moved to the Bay Area for college where I studied Graphic Design at CCA. After a few years as a print designer in San Francisco, I relocated to New York, eventually deciding to switch over to design sales after falling in love with NYC’s design and architecture industry. For the past ten years, I’ve worked for both emerging and established design brands across commercial lighting and furniture. My favorite thing about what I do is being out in the field, collaborating with creative people on great projects, providing excellent customer service along the way. I value honesty, transparency and working with a product that has a positive social and environmental impact— all reasons I’m thrilled to have landed at Fireclay! Apart from work, I live a low-key life on the Upper West Side with my husband and son. I love my family, food, drinking coffee, museums and running in Central Park.

Favorite Thing About Fireclay: The beautiful product that's handmade in a thoughtful, fair and sustainable way.

Sales and Client Support Specialist

Emma Pirtle

Emma grew up in Aromas, CA, and later moved to San Luis Obispo to study Event Planning at Cal Poly, SLO. Though most of her experience is related to event planning and marketing, she was ultimately drawn to Fireclay for her interest in interior design. Emma loves seeing personal styles and abstract ideas come to life through design - something that resonates with her in event planning as well. When she is not at Fireclay, Emma enjoys hiking, attending concerts, traveling, and trying out new recipes.  

Favorite Thing About Fireclay: Our commitment to serving our community, fellow employees, and the environment! I also love seeing our tile come to life through installation photos.

Production Scheduling Specialist

Erika Austin

Erika is a team player and very excited to join the Fireclay Family! She most recently worked as a Planner for a Lidar Manufacturer in Silicon Valley. Erika has many years of experience in Customer Service and Sales. Her passion is her family and she's always up for a challenge and trying new things. Whenever she gets the chance, Erika loves to head to the beach and just listen to the waves— It's what makes her soul happy!

Fireclay Board of Directors, CEO + Co-Founder of Harlow

Michelle Arnau

Michelle has spent the last 20 years as a leader in the CPG industry, helping to build disruptive brands across numerous health + wellness categories. In her current role as CEO and Co-Founder of the start-up Harlow, she is channeling her passion for creating businesses-for-good to reinvent the pet personal care space. 

Prior to starting Harlow, Michelle spent 11 years as a method PBC “person against dirty” where she led the turnaround of the cleaning + dish businesses in her role as Home Care GM, launched the award-winning “Say No to Jugs” campaign as the head of Brand Experience and most recently, led the North American organization in her role as VP, GM North America to deliver double-digit top and bottom-line growth, build the industry’s first LEED platinum-certified manufacturing plant and scale to a successful exit to SC Johnson in 2017. 

Prior to joining method, Michelle spent eight years in CPG leadership positions across Clorox, Nestle Powerbar, and Bevology, a natural beverage start-up based in San Francisco. 

Michelle holds an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and a B.S. in Business from UC Riverside. She lives in San Francisco with her best dog friend, Beatrice and spends her free time underwater as a Hawaii almost-resident and as a certified rescue diver. 

Fireclay Board of Directors, Managing Partner at White Road Investments & Director of Finance at Clif Bar & Company

Deven Clemens

Deven grew up in California and Hawaii. He started his entrepreneurial journey 25 years ago in post-communist Prague and has since built up an eclectic set of skills and experiences.  He is a managing partner at White Road Investments where he and his colleagues invest in healthy, active brands that focus on sustaining people, communities, and the planet. In addition, Deven is the Director of Corporate Finance at Clif Bar and Company where he leads a team responsible for corporate development,  bank relationships, and financing.   Prior to joining Clif, he worked with Bank of America and BofA Securities for 8 years in various roles from financing telecommunications projects in Brazil to consumer products companies in the Bay Area. Being a CFA charter holder, he loves the finance side of house but secretly walks on the creative side.  He lives in Marin County with his family and prefers being outside exposed to the elements.  

Favorite thing about Fireclay:  The people: The Fireclay team is super high energy and very passionate about making great products. From the management team to the kiln operator, the sense of "people on a mission" runs throughout. 

Fireclay Board of Directors, Business Advisor

Greg Colando

Greg Colando is a graduate of Illinois State University and has an Executive Masters from Keenan Flagler Business School. He has over 30 years of experience in building and leading both large and small businesses. Greg has also owned his own business. 

A large part of Greg’s career was spent with Interface Inc, one of the largest commercial carpet tile manufacturers in the US. While with Interface He designed and built the business division FLOR. FLOR was the first multi-channel business selling carpet tile direct to the consumer. Greg also served as President of the commercial division of Interface.

Greg became involved with Fireclay due to Eric Edelson's desire to learn about the building and development of the FLOR brand. Eric wanted to pursue a sales and marketing strategy similar to FLOR. After being introduced to Fireclay, its people, its mission, and spending time with Eric, Greg was sold. He wanted to play a part in this journey. 

Today, Greg fills a great deal of his time as a business advisor to two commercial contract companies and also serves on two boards, one of which is Fireclay. Greg is married and has three children and four grandchildren. He is a Chicago native and still makes Chicago his home.

Favorite thing about Fireclay: The passion its people have for the company, its success, and its customer. That is something that is very special and very difficult to achieve. 

Design Consultant

Jennifer Dresel McNicholas

Jennifer is originally from the Midwest and is now based in Boston. After earning her degree in Communications and French, Jennifer spent over a decade working in the fashion industry in New York and Chicago before landing in Boston. It was during this time that she developed her keen eye for design as well as a passion for building meaningful relationships with her clients. A lover of puns and dad jokes, Jennifer also enjoys yoga, painting, cooking, and traveling the world.

Favorite Thing About Fireclay: Definitely the people! I've never felt so welcome in a space and it's a really magical thing. 

Senior Salesforce Developer

Collin Mulhern

After graduating from UC Berkeley with degrees in Computer Science and Political Science, Collin spent six years as a software consultant working with clients in industries ranging from fishing to pharmaceuticals to green energy. Eventually, his consulting work brought him to Fireclay where he spent two years helping rebuild and refine the tools used by the sales and manufacturing teams. When the opportunity arose to officially join the Fireclay team, he already knew it was a perfect fit.

In his spare time, Collin enjoys cooking, board games, trivia nights, and daydreaming about his next travel destination.   

Favorite thing about Fireclay Tile: Being part of a passionate, motivated team of problem solvers who are dedicated to doing right by their customers, their colleagues, and the planet.

Showroom Design Consultant

Mark Jacques

Bay Area native Mark Jacques joins the Fireclay Tile team after years spent in the A&D industry with Carnegie Fabrics. For over 20 years Mark has used his eye for color and design as an internationally celebrated make-up artist; teaching classes coast to coast while working behind the scenes at globally celebrated events. When not working, Mark can be found producing charity events and volunteering with the non-profit organization he has been a passionate member of for nearly 20 years, having served as Vice President and mentor to many. In his free time, Mark enjoys spending time with his fur babies, cycling, working on projects around the home and spending time in the kitchen whipping up some magic.

Logistics and Warehouse Supervisor

Sonny Bennett