Across the Board: Get to Know Stephanie Kalantarians

Stephanie Kalantarians is one of seven principals at GuernseyTingle. Her role on the board is in Business Development. With a B.S. in Architecture from Virginia Tech and 27 years of experience it comes as little surprise that this is something she has wanted to do since she was a child.

“I wanted to be an architect since I was 12. I grew up around building. My parents built the house I grew up in, and my dad restored trucks and houses, had welding equipment, woodworking equipment. He was always making something. Our time spent together was the Sunday drives looking at buildings. That’s what we did as a family, look at buildings.”

Life Lessons in Family and the Great Outdoors

Growing up in a log cabin in Gloucester, Virginia, Stephanie found herself surrounded by nature and spending her time outdoors. “I spent a lot of time playing in the woods growing up, we were always outside doing something. There were these giant vines that grew from the trees, and there were big hills, so we’d swing and jump and that was one of our fun adventures.” Even now, her hobbies are rooted in those early memories. “I love being outside. I have to be outside every day. I go stand-up paddle boarding, hiking, walking, biking, basketball.”

Reflecting on people in her life who taught her a lesson, Stephanie instantly thinks of her mother.

“She always told me -“You’re great at getting stuff done Steph, but you’re not very great at resting,””- said Stephanie. “I always try to remind myself of that and I’m getting better at it. Getting the balance right is important. I don’t want to look back 20 years from now and say I had a great career and that’s it. Making time for self-care, I think I’ve lacked that in the past, that is a priority and I think that filters out into how you interact with other people.”

Developing business through a passion for people.

Stephanie’s Business Development role on the GuernseyTingle leadership team was an obvious fit given her passion for connecting with and helping people.

“My very first job was working at Morgan’s Drug Store in Gloucester,” said Stephanie. “It was a pharmacy with a lunch counter that’s been around for a hundred years. I worked at the lunch counter and made milkshakes and hamburgers and I loved it! My favorite part was really the people. Meeting the people and seeing my regulars.”

This passion for people and meeting their needs has carried over into her projects. “When we talk about projects it’s not just design, it encompasses everything, it’s client relationships, consultant relationships, the people,” Stephanie noted. “I don’t think most realize how much architects are people managers as much as they are designers. My mantra is to be respectful of the team I work with. Everyone from the roofer to the CEO. At the end of the day, I want to say that I treated everyone with respect.”

Meaningful projects that make a difference.

Over the course of her career, Stephanie has supported numerous design projects. All are important, and a few take on extra special meaning.

“For me personally The Pavilion at Williamsburg Place is the most impactful project I’ve worked on,” Stephanie explained. “It’s a psychiatric hospital and I have family members that suffer from mental illness, so I have lots of experience with people in that situation. The fact that I could help contribute to something for someone in that situation is why it’s so meaningful to me. Mental health is a cause that is important to me, along with that, I have a personal passion for homelessness and addiction. That’s why I plug myself into places that can help those that are not always in a position to help themselves.”

Keeping the legacy going.

Looking ahead, Stephanie is honored to be a Principal at GuernseyTingle and to have worked with former president and visionary Tom Tingle, praising him for his leadership over the years.

“I feel proud to say I’m a principal here. We try to be as fair as possible and that precedent, for me, was always set by Tom,” said Stephanie.

“I feel very fortunate that I had 18 years with him. He’s always been the fairest and even keeled person. He set the tone and demeanor for the firm. I’m proud to say I was part of that, and I get to keep the legacy going.”