Debra Rerick
President
Corporate Art Group
East Greenwich, Rhode Island
“Debra has put her heart and soul into the industry and her business she has created over the past 35 years. She has set up her team to continue on the legacy and innovation as a company. She has dedicated her time to her two daughters (with education and real-life training experience) inspiring them to be future women leaders in the print industry. Her impact will be everlasting over the next 35 years to come.” –Alisha Capobianco, VP, Corporate Art Group
How has your company benefited from teaching your employees everything there is to know about the production process, from consultation to installation?
In our industry, it is important employees are open to wearing a lot of hats in the company. Cross-training is a must and sometimes we even teach our employees backward to fully immerse them in the field (beginning them at the installation stage and working backwards). A saying we go by is “the devil is in the details” and it is true that every little detail counts.
Corporate Art Group is a family business where both your daughters have involvement. What are their roles? What advice have your given them as young women in this industry? Have you discussed a succession plan?
Both daughters, Nicole and Alisha Capobianco, were brought up in the business. From a very young age I would take them to work with me where they were surrounded by art and design. They learned hands on about the many aspects of the business, from print production to picture framing. They also learned about the aspects of running a small business, building relationships with both clients and vendors, working hard to get results, and the freedom that comes along with it. This I am sure was a big influence on them; today they are both are amazing entrepreneurs.
I always stressed the importance of education, not just hands on but in school where both attended and graduated from art schools: The Pratt Institute & Parsons School of Design and The New School in NYC. Today, Nicole is a freelance photographer and designer living in Mexico, but working remotely on independent projects including those for Corporate Art Group. Alisha is VP of Corporate Art Group, living in NYC, and runs the day to day operations including print production, marketing, and building business relationships.
We are currently laying the ground work for a succession plan, which is at the beginning stages. In moving to our next phase, Alisha clearly has the drive and skill set to continue the business, but with a brand and vision she can call her own.