Finalist
Real Estate and Hospitality Services
After finding herself in a less than challenging job after college and observing the business practices of her employer, Deborah Donley knew there had to be a better way.
So taking a risk, she established Vocon Design in 1987, with a commitment to establishing a firm that was innovative in both its services and in its business style and culture.
Architecture ran deep in her blood, as both her father and grandfather were architects. And she had a degree in fashion merchandising, so creativity was in her bones. With this background, she created an architecture and design firm with a highly collaborative work environment and a family-first philosophy.
Donley began Vocon with just one employee working on folding tables in a rented office. She made her first pitch for a regional account for Merrill Lynch and was invited to compete against world-renowned design firms. She had just four days to prepare the presentation, while her competitors had been working for months on theirs, but despite this disadvantage, she won the account.
Today, Vocon’s clients include Quicken Loans, Goodyear, The Cleveland Clinic, KeyBank, UBS Financial and Eaton Corp.
One key to Donley’s success is her commitment to putting people first. She provides her employees with flextime and a fun, relaxed environment. The office layout is open and designed to promote collaboration, so her team members feel comfortable approaching her with new ideas.
And that office space design also helps her work better with clients. The relaxed and creative atmosphere allows her and her team to better engage with clients so they can better understand their needs. With her clients, her team strives to work collaboratively to not only transform their workspaces into happier, more accommodating spaces but to also build relationships.
Under Donley’s leadership, Vocon has become a leader in the green movement and is transforming the work environments of some of the largest and most influential companies in Cleveland, and her innovative approach makes her one of the region’s most influential entrepreneurs.
How to reach: Vocon Design, (216) 588-0800 or www.vocon.com
