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Ms. Sanderson was born in Northern Illinois and moved to South Carolina when she was eleven years of age. She studied at Anderson College , Western Carolina University and Savannah College of Art and Design. Ms. Sanderson holds the following degrees: Associate of Arts, Interior Design; Associate of Arts, Fashion Merchandising; Bachelor of Science, Interior Design; and Masters of Fine Arts, Interior Design.
Ms. Sanderson worked in the design field throughout her college career to gain experience in the field. During Ms. Sanderson's college career she produced the largest thesis project for the Interior Design department that Savannah College of Art and Design had ever seen. Many people visited the show including a group of Russians, which were at the college as guests. The project was displayed for one and one-half month due to its grandeur, usually projects of this kind are displayed for two weeks. After graduating from the Savannah College of Art and Design with her Masters of Fine Arts she continued to work to gain experience in every facet of design she could get her hands on to. During this time Ms. Sanderson was able to work on dignified projects such as:
• Designed the sets for photography shoots for the Hickory Chair Companies Fall tabloid.
• Selecting the new fabrics for Hickory Chair Companies fall market in Highpoint , North Carolina .
• Designing the interior and lighting design for a new restaurant in the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Hilton Head Island , South Carolina .
• Preformed a remodel on the house in which President Bill Clinton and his family visited while in office for their annual stay in Hilton Head Island over the New Years holiday. This remodel took place in between his visits.
• Designed schematic drawings for high-end residential homes in Sea Pines, Hilton Head Plantation, Wexford Plantation, Daufuskie Island and etc in Hilton Head, South Carolina . Other designs were located on Spring Island in Beaufort , South Carolina .
In August of 1997 Ms. Sanderson moved back to Seneca , South Carolina where she spent most of her youth. She began working in the family business, Jon Sanderson Co. which is a real estate company focusing directly on Lake Keowee . Ms. Sanderson realized the importance on having a real estate license so she immediately went back to school and acquired her real estate license November 1997. While practicing as a real estate agent focusing on the re-sale residential homes on Lake Keowee she realized that the design of these homes where all but functional. Therefore, she started her own sole proprietorship, Building and Design Services by Melissa Sanderson. Her business escalated into much more than she ever thought. She was able to team up with a few area builders and create a Design Build program that benefits the homeowner in every way possible. Since 1997 her client base has included the following:
- Marketing Head, 3M Corporation
- CFO, Insignia / ESG Corporation
- Owner of New South Construction – a nationally renowned Commercial Construction Company based out of Atlanta , Georgia . Featured in Forbes Magazines top 100 Commercial Construction Companies in the United States .
Ms. Sanderson has also been asked to be the featured Alumni for Savannah College of Art and Designs Alumni weekend the next time the focus is the interior design department. She was also asked to teach at the Savannah College of Art and Design in the Spring of 2002, she decided to not take the position as she was already entitled to her clients.
Interests, besides professional design lay in directly what Ms. Sanderson does for her occupation. Personal remodeling projects, landscape design, drawing up the “dream house” schematics that everyone wants, learning how things work and are put together and researching new products are just a few of her favorite past times. She also enjoys architectural and nature photography, free-hand drawing, and taking time to smell the roses.
Ms. Sanderson has had some major influences within her college career and professional career. During her college career she was able to study under Dr. Crystal D. Weaver PhD, who is one of the very few in the United States to hold a Ph.D. in interior design. Several of her students have been able to perform incredible tasks, one of which helped design the interior space planning of the first space shuttle. Other influences are Charles Gandy FASID, IIAD, Ms. Sanderson didn't spend a lot of time with the internationally renowned interior designer but was able to learn a lot during her time with him through student conferences and meetings. This list could go on. During her professional career people such as Bruce Hamilton – the former Marketing head of 3M Corporation, taught Ms. Sanderson how to work with people and how to gain their respect; therefore, they work harder. This is very important to Ms. Sanderson now because of all the types people one works with on and off the construction site.
Ms. Sanderson currently lives close to her family in Walhalla, South Carolina with her three dogs: Beemer, Trio, and Zeus and four cats: Silvie, Sylvester, Cocoa, and Mischief.
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