Chicago-based Mary Cook Associates (MCA), a national, award-winning commercial interior design firm, today announced the hiring of Peggie Grossman as business development associate. In this role, Grossman will combine her real estate and design expertise to collaborate with firm leaders to identify and pursue new business opportunities across established and emerging markets and cultivate relationships with key stakeholders.

“Over the last several years, even as we emerged from a global pandemic, our firm achieved exponential growth by bringing our expertise to new geographic regions and industry segments as well as expanding existing client relationships,” said Mary Cook, president and founder of Mary Cook Associates, which has seen contract interiors revenues increase by 433% and procurement and installation revenues grow 175% since 2017. “As we work to continue that trajectory and drive our strategic growth initiatives forward, Peggie will be an incredible asset to our business development efforts with not only her deep industry knowledge and connections, but also her proven track record establishing strong professional networks in prominent markets including Chicago and New York.”

Grossman brings nearly two decades of residential and hospitality design and real estate industry experience to her new position. Her robust background includes previously serving as design director for Empire Hotel Group, a boutique hotel group on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, overseeing all design, programming, and furniture, fixtures and equipment (FF&E) selections for renovations of existing properties as well as ground-up boutique hotel projects.

She also worked with Kinzie Real Estate Group in Chicago, providing development marketing and broker support services, and Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Chicago as a residential real estate broker. Additionally, she served as design coordinator for Edward R. James Homes, a prominent homebuilder on Chicago’s North Shore.

“Peggie’s multi-disciplinary experience aligns perfectly with MCA’s priorities, giving her an excellent foundation on which to build connections across the various sectors in which we work,” added Josh Kassing, MCA’s senior vice president. “With her firsthand understanding of how end-users interact with the built environment, she is a natural choice to communicate our firm’s capabilities and researched approach to creating designs that truly enhance user experiences and deliver measurable returns for our clients.”

Grossman received her bachelor’s degree in interior design from Harrington Institute of Interior Design in Chicago and holds an Illinois real estate broker license.

For more information about Mary Cook Associates, visit www.marycook.com.

About Mary Cook Associates:

Established in 1986, Mary Cook Associates (MCA) is a fully integrated interior architecture and design firm nationally known for creating innovative interiors for leading owners and developers of real estate. The firm’s projects include multifamily, model homes, student living, senior living, clubhouses, restaurants, and hospitality environments. MCA’s work emphasizes functionality, showcases possibilities, and delivers a measurable R.O.E.® (Return on Environment). MCA’s team includes more than two dozen designers and architects that are strategic, imaginative and skilled at designing a wide variety of spaces that respond to demographic, geographic and lifestyle influences of target markets. Smart, functional spaces that establish immediate connections with their users and boost Living Better by Design℠, increase property value, and accelerate sales and occupancy rates are the hallmarks of the results MCA consistently achieves. Currently celebrating its 35^th anniversary, the firm continues its national presence with award-winning work that spans 36 states. www.marycook.com.

Peggie Grossman has joined Chicago-based commercial interior design firm Mary Cook Associates as business development associate. (Image credit: Mary Cook Associates)