Natalia Benitez-Levent

Experience

• 

  Periquet Galicia Interior Architecture and Lighting

  Aug 2002 - Jan 2005

  Junior Interior Designer

  *Tasks included assisting principal designer with drafting of plans, FF&E, selection, sourcing and purchasing of furniture, fabric, artwork, lighting and finishing materials, project coordination and implementation of project alongside the contractor and the client.*Successfully completed several high end private residential and marketing model homes projects.*Referral of 3 Professionals in the field of Interior Design all of which continued on with the Business for the next 4 years onwards. Show less

• 

  Budji Layug + Royal Pineda Architecture and Interior Design

  Jan 2005 - Jan 2007

  Head of the Department, Interior Design

  *Tasks included the overall authority and responsibility for the operation, workflow and coordination of projects assigned to the department by the principal designers. This also included overall responsibility for the successful maintenance and improvement of the management system.*Led and motivated a staff of 8 designers (4 Architects and 4 Interior Designers) *Completed a large scale boutique hotel beach resort project (Discovery Shores Boracay Island) and an institutional project for the United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) Southeast Asian Regional Headquarters in the Philippines and India respectively along with the firm’s principal designers.*Worked with a team of international consultants for design development.*Travel to Hong Kong and mainland China to outsource furniture and inspect and develop design, proportion and quality of items prior to delivery to project site.*Travel to Singapore, Thailand and India for various Project Inspections.*Responsible for the Interview and Recruitement of staff under the Interior Design Department. Show less

• 

  The Environments Collaborative

  Feb 2007 - Apr 2008

  Interior Design Officer

  *Conceptualized, planned, designed, developed and furnished interiors for large scale multi-national corporate offices such as Procter and Gamble, Accenture and Unilever Philippines as well as several high end residential apartments around the metropolis.*Worked with and collaborated with a team of designers, architects, project managers and engineers in developing, planning and implementing various interior it-out projects.

• 

  Gruppo Benitez Interior Design + Space Planning

  Apr 2008 - Oct 2011

  Founder & Principal Designer

  *Conceptualized and founded an Interior Design + Space Planning Firm composed of a team of 2 designers / architects that specialized in quality, high end residential and corporate design.*Developed and completed a range of several successful projects.*Tasks include meeting with client, proposal drafting, total interior design conceptualization and design presentation, FF&E and project budget management, construction supervision and management, interior architectural design and sourcing and purchasing of furniture, lighting and owner supplied materials, project turnover and financial close-out.*Built good client relationships with a network of international clientele with residences in Manila.*Developed client base utilizing various Networking Strategies and Systems.*Recruited a team of 2 Architects as staff who successfully completed 3 years with the business.*Interview on National TV Channel Show ANC Shoptalk (20mins) for Space Management – September 2011 Show less

• 

  Home Centre

  Dec 2011 - Nov 2014

  Assistant Manager, Visual Merchandising

  *Tasked with conceptualizing, creating and implementing store window and in-store merchandise displays every 6-8 weeks per year (creation of in-store instruction manual / kit).*Created product arrangements and facilitated photo shoots for Brand Development channels such as store catalogues, on-line website, print media and the like.*Designed and furnished rooms for winners of the yearly Room Makeover Competition utilizing Home Centre Furniture and Household Products.*Responsible for Kuwait Market in the GCC with tregular territory visits to ensure store display standards are met.*Work with the Household and Furniture Buying Departments to coordinate product selection and implement successful in-store displays to boost sales and revenue.*Led teams of Visual Merchandisers in Store Display Workshops to successfully assemble and implement new displays and merchandise arrangements. Show less

• 

  Red Leaf Exhibitions Organizing

  Feb 2015 - Jun 2016

  Business Development Manager

  *Prospecting new clients for the business*Building and growing the client database through various marketing techniques such as cold calling, attending trade shows and networking, internet and social media research, etc.* Attending meetings with prospective clients and old clients to asses design requirements and budgets*Drafting quotations for projects and seeing them through to completion and signing (contracts)*Co-ordinating with Marketing Team / Sales Team in for project requirements*Project management at the office and on-site during build-ups for trade shows, exhibitions and events Show less

• 

  Casa Levent Germany

  Jun 2016 - now

  Housewife and Mother