- A&R GROUP
September 2, 2022
MEET THE PRESIDENT
OF A&R DESIGN
From childhood, Brenda Johnson had a passion for creating
spaces. The way a well-designed space can affect a persons
mood and outlook intrigued her.
“This is why I do what I do. I started with a fine arts degree from the University of Georgia that has ushered me into 30- plus years of working in different sectors of interior design,” says Brenda.
She owned and ran an interior design business, dabbled in commercial office design, and even acted as a freelance interior designer for a time. Each phase of her design journey provided her with many tools that she now brings into her role as President of A&R Design. Over the course of her design career, she has had the opportunity to work on a variety of projects, but one she is most proud of is the renovation of a beach house she completed for the Athletic Director of the University of Alabama.
“I did warn him that I was a UGA grad, but his trust never wavered. I can see why he was so successful in his tenure at UA as he told me, ‘I hired you because you are skilled at what you do and I am not.’ I can imagine that was his motto in his role at Alabama. Still there was the temptation to throw in a picture of our beloved bulldog mascot UGA,” joked Brenda.
The first project she worked on for A&R was in 2009 at the Holiday Inn Express in Gulf Shores. Two years ago, she was able to complete a refreshing renovation at that same hotel. Her long tenure at A&R Group has given her the opportunity to watch A&R Group grow into the company that it is now.
“A&R Group stands out due to the dedication and drive of the founders, Ken and Angela Patel. As leaders, Ken and Angela are not content with the status quo are continuously looking for ways to grow and add value to what A&R Group offers. Today they have created a company that offers a full array of services. It is an honor to be a part of this community and I look forward to seeing what comes next,” Brenda states. Her role as President A&R Design is to set goals for the Design Team, listen to the team, and provide the team with the tools and encouragement they need to succeed. She believes when her team has the ability to thrive in their roles, their contributions will add to the success of A&R Group as a whole.
“This is why I do what I do. I started with a fine arts degree from the University of Georgia that has ushered me into 30- plus years of working in different sectors of interior design,” says Brenda.
She owned and ran an interior design business, dabbled in commercial office design, and even acted as a freelance interior designer for a time. Each phase of her design journey provided her with many tools that she now brings into her role as President of A&R Design. Over the course of her design career, she has had the opportunity to work on a variety of projects, but one she is most proud of is the renovation of a beach house she completed for the Athletic Director of the University of Alabama.
“I did warn him that I was a UGA grad, but his trust never wavered. I can see why he was so successful in his tenure at UA as he told me, ‘I hired you because you are skilled at what you do and I am not.’ I can imagine that was his motto in his role at Alabama. Still there was the temptation to throw in a picture of our beloved bulldog mascot UGA,” joked Brenda.
The first project she worked on for A&R was in 2009 at the Holiday Inn Express in Gulf Shores. Two years ago, she was able to complete a refreshing renovation at that same hotel. Her long tenure at A&R Group has given her the opportunity to watch A&R Group grow into the company that it is now.
“A&R Group stands out due to the dedication and drive of the founders, Ken and Angela Patel. As leaders, Ken and Angela are not content with the status quo are continuously looking for ways to grow and add value to what A&R Group offers. Today they have created a company that offers a full array of services. It is an honor to be a part of this community and I look forward to seeing what comes next,” Brenda states. Her role as President A&R Design is to set goals for the Design Team, listen to the team, and provide the team with the tools and encouragement they need to succeed. She believes when her team has the ability to thrive in their roles, their contributions will add to the success of A&R Group as a whole.
