Staff

Mary Hoyt

VP of Business Development

Mary joins the Phelan’s team after serving as the Lead Designer at Klinger Paint and Interiors. A Cedar Rapids native, she graduated from Washington High School and attended the University of Iowa studying Sociology and French. From living in Chicago to Denver and back to Eastern Iowa, Mary has a passion for working with people in her community and providing design guidance and personalized service of the highest quality.

As her career progresses, she finds each project culminates in her increased ability to consult toward successful relationship development and accommodate the individual needs of clients. Mary is active in the area Homebuilders Association, the Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance Impact Cedar Rapids group, The Cedar Rapids Museum of Art Gala and various design groups in the corridor!

Mary Akin

Residential Interior Designer

With 33 years in the fashion and interior design profession, Mary is proud to be associated with Phelan's. Her background includes over 15 years as an Interior Designer and Store Manager for Ethan Allen. Mary has won numerous awards during her career including Ethan Allen's "Circle of Excellence", and Top Customer Service. "Let me take the challenge out of decorating your home. I am committed to making it a fun experience while creating the ambiance you envision your family and guests enjoying. Whether it is an entire house or simply one piece I will make sure you receive the best service and great quality products. I look forward to helping you discover your style."

Stacie Reid

Residential Interior Designer / Residential Co-Manager

Stacie joins the Phelan's team after a lengthy stay at the Great Furniture Mart. She earned her Interior Design degree at Iowa State University and is very excited to work with Phelan's customers to help them develop the perfect style for their home. "I like to provide design solutions that create each client's unique style, which reflects their taste and personality. I feel it is important for the space to look beautiful and function well. It gives me so much pleasure when I interpret my clients' dreams into the home they have always wanted."

Ami Boring

Residential Interior Designer

Ami joins the Phelan’s Residential Design team after graduating from Iowa State with a Bachelor’s Degree in Interior Design and a minor in Sociology. While in school, Ami studied abroad with the Iowa State College of Design in Rome, attended lectures in London and completed an internship for Luxury Residential and Retail Design in Los Angeles with Kari Whitman Interiors. Ami enjoys the challenge of creating a functional space that exceeds expectations. With every project her priority is ensuring that the client’s vision is brought to life. Above all, Ami strives to develop relationships with her clients by providing them with fantastic customer service.

Timothy Van Rheenen

Residential Interior Designer

Timothy joins Phelan’s Residential Design team after graduating from Iowa State University with a bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Design. Throughout school, Timothy had the opportunity to complete several renovation projects, as well as an internship with George Boyle Designs in Dublin, Ireland. Timothy enjoys working closely with clients to determine a style and vison, as well as helping to create unique spaces that match individual needs and wants. Timothy believes the collaboration between a designer and customer is a great way to make a home look and feel the best it can be!

Joanne Ungs

Residential Design Librarian

Joanne works at Phelan’s part-time as the Residential Design Librarian where she is busy updating catalogs and fabrics from various vendors and manufacturers. Joanne is famous in our office for her homemade cookies. She bakes a batch every Saturday that she works as our receptionist and lucky customers to the store on those Saturdays enjoy her creations.

Kolene Acheson

Director of Operations and Secretary/Treasurer

A twenty-five year veteran in accounting, Kolene has practical accounting experience in both retail and manufacturing operations. Her course work was done at Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids, and her career at Phelan's began in 1998 with our accounts receivable department. Kolene has mastered all of our administration positions and was promoted to Office Manager in 2006. In 2017, Jolene became an officer of Phelan’s Interiors and took on the responsibility of Director of Operations in 2018. Kolene is responsible for the smooth operation of the office and the positive experience each vendor and customer receives.

Vanessa Kearns

Director of First Impressions

After obtaining a bookkeeping certification in the fall of 2019, Vanessa also brings over 12 years of experience in customer service to Phelan's with her. Although a novice to the interior design world she looks forward to the knowledge and experience a new industry will bring. In her free time she enjoys being crafty, being social and managing her household of 4 boys who keep her very busy!

Kayla Phelan-Monroe

Vice President

Kayla began working at Phelan's in 2013, making her the fourth generation to be involved in the family business. Her role is Commercial Account Manager and Business Development Executive. She enjoys working directly with clients to maintain existing relationships, foster new relationships, and help guide clients through the design process and installation completion. Kayla studied journalism and communications at the University of Iowa, then gained 3 years of corporate sales experience working at Hibu (formerly Yellowbook) as sales account manager. Through professional experience, Kayla has developed an ability to identify the needs of clients through careful listening and provide excellent customer service all the way through project completion. Outside of work at Phelan's, Kayla enjoys community involvement on multiple levels. She is a current member of Metro North Rotary club, board member and secretary of the Eastern Iowa chapter of International Facilities Management Association (IFMA), and is also a trainer and coach at Kosama Cedar rapids. Kayla is very excited to be part of the family business and aspires to continue the tradition of exceptional professional design services and quality customer care in the commercial department at Phelan's.

Nancy Birkicht

Commercial Flooring Estimator

Nancy Birkicht joins Phelan's from the flooring industry, with a concentration in tile distribution. Nancy has over 20 years of experience in operations, customer service, purchasing and inventory management; skills she uses to provide the most efficient flow of information between the commercial sales, design and operations departments. Her attention to detail ensures every commercial project receives the utmost care in the most efficient manner.

Amanda Darrow

Commercial Interior Designer

Amanda joined the Phelan’s team in 2019. She graduated from the University of Northern Iowa in 2011 with a degree in Interior Design. Amanda most recently worked in the Iowa City area as an Interior Designer specializing in flooring and custom tile.

She loves coming up with creative solutions to difficult design problems, making the space functional, unique, and beautiful all at the same it.

Karissa Muller

Commercial Interior Designer

Karissa joined the Phelan’s Interiors team in 2019. She is a 2009 graduate of the University of Northern Iowa with a degree in Interior Design and minor in Art. Prior to working at Phelan’s, Karissa was the lead Interior Designer with Ament Design. She also brings to the team a unique expertise in marketing and project management making her extremely well rounded and capable of providing the best turn key design service for her clients. Karissa is committed to providing each client with functional and creative design through personalization and strives to design with joy.

Tyree Cooper

Director of Lasting Impressions

Tyree joined the Phelan's team in the summer of 2019. He is a graduate of Linn Mar High School in Marion. He furthered his education by attending Kirkwood Community College where he earned his degree in Culinary Arts. Tyree has many diverse skills including being a certified forklift operator, grounds maintenance, and warehouse dock working experience. In his free time, he enjoys watching sports, playing video games, hiking, camping, bowling and spending time with his children.

Paul Phelan

Paul Phelan

Paul entered the family business in 1983 after two years of retail management schooling at Ellsworth Community College and four years job experience in the home furnishings and jewelry industries. His first responsibility was the retail paint division, working with home owners and contractors. Experiencing numerous successful relationships with contractors, Paul was able to expand the products and services offered to our client base. As the company continued to develop commercial and contract clients, Paul was an integral part in the commercial department’s beginnings. Paul has continued to improve his management skills through volunteering for numerous community organizations. In 2001, he was president of Daybreak Rotary and earned Rotarian of the year for his Gearing Up For Kids initiative. He has been the recipient of the Betty Barry Volunteer Award, The Rotarians Service Above Self award, the Child Advocate Alternate Services Award, and the Community Services Trustee Award to name a few. Paul and his wife Kathy have three children, and Paul is active in his church community as well.