The Kitchen Collection : Profiles

Profiles

* Jackie * Barry * Debra * Lee * Robyn * Colette *

Jackie Balint, CKD Owner of The Kitchen Collection LLC

Mix in the broadening life experience of being an Army officer's wife, living in 28 different places over 23 years, plus a continuing love of travel. Now add formal training and certification in kitchen design, plus over 25 years of passionately pursuing a career in doing kitchen design at the highest levels and she loves to cook.

Barry Balint, our chief financial officer and go-to guy for tasks large and small. A military officer and aerospace industry veteran whose knack for logistics and problem-solving helps make daily life run smoothly.

Debra Balint received her design degree from FIT. She has extensive studies in art history, period styles, design and cooking. She has a background in construction, electricity, plumbing, and cabinet installation and the mechanics to provide the knowledge necessary to assist her clients in creating their perfect, functional kitchen.

Debra@TheKitchenCollection.com

Lee Schweickert, our office manager, has been working in the kitchen and bath industry for 21 years. She knows each client and helps keep their projects on track. Lee is the glue that holds the whole place together.

Lee@TheKitchenCollection.com

Robyn Manger has remodeling in her blood. "Every home I've lived in we have remodeled, in both my growing up years and married life," Robyn says. "I've always thought that's what everyone does." The years of knowledge gained is now applied to her projects at the Kitchen Collection. Robyn has been a member of our team since July 1999. With Kitchen and Space planning studies added to her construction background, she guides her clients through their projects with patience and expertise.

Robyn@TheKitchenCollection.com

Colette Lopilato grew up around construction. "My mother designed a new house every 5 years and she acted as the general contractor for their construction. I loved to be around the construction site and see the transformation of a home. I have been remodeling homes ever since and was the contractor on the addition we built on our house in Maryland." Lucky for us Colette recently moved back to California from Maryland, where she was an award-winning artist. She has a degree from the University of California, Santa Barbara and is currently in the Interior Design program at UCLA. Colette also loves to cook and utilizes this knowledge in the design process. It is not enough to have a kitchen just look great. It must also function well. Through her classes at UCLA, Colette hopes to bring the perfect balance of function and form to create beautiful kitchens that really work for her clients.

Colette@TheKitchenCollection.com

Jackie came to The Kitchen Collection in 1983 as an independent designer. In 1988 she and husband Barry became owners, turning it into a family business and are now joined by their daughter Debra.

In a way, Jackie has been working on family home-improvement projects her entire life. "I grew up with a Dad who was an engineer but his hobby was rebuilding our house. He moved every existing wall and even the roof line. He had two daughters and we were his helpers. Early on I was putting insulation in walls and straightening nails, and thought nothing of walking around on bare floor joists."

Over the years as a businesswoman and designer, Jackie has built The Kitchen Collection by developing strong relationships with top local contractors. She has filled her showroom with the finest kitchen products