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Michelle Doherty

Senior Designer

Michelle’s approach to interior design hinges on her application of creativity to daily life. Far from a means to merely improve a space’s look, she uses design to elevate its function, working in conjunction with aesthetics to create a memorable experience. In this way, her personal philosophy gels perfectly with Gary Lee Partners’ ethos, which has always relied on the client’s goals as a guide, rather than current trends or styles.

Before joining Gary Lee Partners, Michelle received a Bachelor of Arts from Purdue University in 2017 and worked as an interior design intern at Leffler Simes Architects in Sydney, Australia and Savvy Décor in Indianapolis.

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David Grout

Principal

As the firm’s Design Principal, David is an advocate for the client and for design. He recognizes that the best solutions are those that fully exploit the possibilities of design in service to the client’s requirements. David understands the value of the big idea that guides even the small decisions on sophisticated projects for smart and demanding clients. As a result, he consistently leads the project team, which includes clients, architects, interior designers, consultants, and contractors to achieve facilities that set the benchmarks for the profession.

David oversees Gary Lee Partners’ creative and management teams to ensure that the firm’s hallmarks of exceptional design and service are consistent for every client. His work at Gary Lee Partners extends across the United States, Europe, and Asia, serving some of the world’s most recognized brands to build workplace, hospitality, and residential environments. These clients have included Havas, Armani, Capital One, Park Hyatt, McDermott Will + Emery, Samsung, Laughlin Constable, and Winston & Strawn, to name a few. His design talents have also helped to shape furniture collections for Halcon, Holly Hunt, Knoll Studio, FCI, and Chai Ming Studios. David’s work has been featured in local and national magazines such as Conde Nast Traveler, Food & Wine, Contract Design, Interior Design Magazine, Chicago Tribune, and Mountain Living.

David received his Bachelor of Science from the College of Architecture and Environmental Design at Arizona State University.

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Sydney Jones

Junior Designer

Sydney’s passion for design is rooted in its ability to promote positive change. She views design as a powerful tool to enhance physical environments, engage diverse communities, and improve the way people interact, work, and socialize.

Sydney is an integral team member on every project. She excels at documenting discussions and key decisions during the design process, preparing comprehensive construction documents, and coordinating submittals with consultants and vendors to ensure seamless project execution.

Notable projects in Sydney’s portfolio include Linden Capital Partners (Chicago), Honigman (Chicago), Winston & Strawn (Dallas), GTCR (Chicago), Optiver (Austin), and American Reality Advisors (Chicago).

She graduated from Michigan State University with a bachelor of arts in interior design and a minor in entrepreneurship.

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Chantal Lapointe, LEED AP, NCIDQ

Director

Chantal has honed her design and management experience over many years of successful, high-end projects. Her instincts for timeless design are layered with cutting-edge technology and a sharp sense of what is possible within each space.

Although she is an expert in all aspects of the design process, she feels at her best during the documentation phase of each project – assembling each piece like a puzzle as she works to develop construction documents down to the finest detail.

Chantal graduated from Arizona State University with a bachelor’s degree in design. Her recent projects include over 11 floors of high-end commercial interiors in Chicago’s River Point tower, including the highly acclaimed offices of global law firm McDermott Will & Emery.

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Gary Lee

President

Passion and energy fuel Gary’s pursuit of perfection in design. With his innate ability to communicate a vision for projects, Gary convinces others to join him as he reaches well beyond the anticipated to produce consistently exceptional work. The trust he engenders in the extended team is built on a thorough understanding of good design. At Gary Lee Partners, Design 101 begins with a sense of how the environment will function for the client’s business, with how the space will feel, and with planning that considers rhythm and volume before style.

If the process is the foundation for the work, it is Gary’s mastery of detail that allows him to deliver a signature sensibility across a wide range of design projects. A rich portfolio of memorable spaces and evocative details have earned Gary accolades and awards that include the prestigious Interiors Designer of the Year and membership in the highly selective Interior Design Hall of Fame. He is equally respected by the clients who often return with multiple assignments and by a loyal team of collaborators who have worked closely with him for years.

Though many claim that Gary is a natural designer, he earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts with a focus on Interior and Graphic Design at the University of Michigan School of Architecture and Design. “The strength of the work — our legacy — is that we see the smallest detail as representative of the entire project. And we keep working until it is a seamless, elegant whole.”

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Cassandra Mruk, LEED AP ID + C, NCIDQ

Director

Cassie’s passion for interior design has led to an impressive portfolio of high-end commercial interiors, most notably global law firms across multiple cities and private investment firms. Her ability to produce sophisticated interior concepts while managing the many complex layers of her projects has made her invaluable to our firm.

Over the course of her career, Cassie has found an affinity for communicating design to those who do not share her background. She knows how to make the complexities of interior design palatable for her clients, empowering them to make more informed decisions. This passion for combining design with a firm’s branding goals for her clients’ top leaders has allowed her to grow as one of the firm’s most effective advocates.

Cassie earned her bachelor’s degree in interior design from the University of Cincinnati and studied at the Danish Institute in Copenhagen.

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Tim Salisbury, AIA

Principal

As the Principal managing GLP’s technical staff, Tim oversees quality assurance and technical coordination on all projects. His knowledge of building infrastructures and systems, competency, and project execution make him an invaluable resource for clients, co-workers, and consultants. Tim’s recent clients include BlueCross BlueShield of Illinois, McDermott Will & Emery, Winston & Strawn, The Boston Consulting Group, and Faegre Baker Daniels.

Prior to joining GLP, Tim worked as an architect at SOM, Murphy/Jahn, ISD, ISI, Torchia Associates, and VOA Associates.

Tim graduated from Iowa State University with a bachelor’s degree in architecture and is a registered architect in Illinois.

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Melissa Smith, LEED GA

Director

Melissa is a firm believer that thoughtful and creative design can improve our daily lives in subtle ways. She has shown this with her experience in the hospitality sector, where she developed conceptual ideas for football stadium expansions and entertainment lounges. Her professional pursuits within interior design began in Kansas City, Missouri, where she worked for Populous and HOK (formerly 360 Architects). She brings to Gary Lee Partners a keen eye for detail and a strong sense of what makes an interior concept shine.

Melissa earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Environmental Interior Design from the University of Kansas, where she graduated with the highest distinction.

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