A few words from Dawn Carroll, Over My Shoulder Foundation Co-Founder and Executive Director

Exciting news is underfoot. The American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) has adopted Over My Shoulder Foundation (OMSF) as its charitable partner in March!

To top it off, both myself and Grammy award winning singing legend Patti Austin (co-founders of OMSF) are being recognized this year for our service in the design community at the New England ASID 2013 Excellence in Design Award gala at the end of March.

ASID New England President Mary Beth Haggerty says, “I know they have poured their heart and soul into mentoring”. That couldn’t be more true. As some of you may know, Over My Shoulder Foundation is my passion project, a side job that I do because sharing and spreading Mentorology (the art and science of mentoring) is the most important thing I can think of doing with my free time. That being said, doing basically 2 full-time jobs is exhausting!

For my “real job” I am a stone designer at Cumar Marble & Granite. Our company is currently in its 8th generation of leadership in stone sourcing and fabrication in Everett, MA. Without mentoring and apprenticeships, the work that we do would not be possible. It is because of both my jobs, Cumar and OMSF, that I am so VERY excited to announce that both I and Patti Austin are being recognized this year for our service in the design community at the New England ASID 2013 Excellence in Design Award ceremonies.

Here’s Patti and I at Cumar, being mentored!

We are being recognized for bringing mentoring to the forefront of thought in the New England design industry. How have we done it? Well, miracles and a LOT of hard work. We’ve launched major events like Designing the Next Generation, an inspirational evening of mentoring story and songs, and the MIDDIES which are the New England award ceremonies designed to recognize design professionals who share their time, expertise, and wisdom with upcoming generations of designers.

With this ASID recognition for the community service we’ve done through OMSF, I am further energized to guide my OMSF Co-Founder Patti Austin (a Grammy Award-winning singing legend and Design Mentee) in the beginnings of her blossoming career as an interior designer.

Mentoring, Music and Design are coming together – more and more each day!

Please root for Patti, Cumar, Over My Shoulder and I as we continue unraveling the dream we have of spreading our passion for Mentorology through Over My Shoulder Foundation!

-Dawn Carroll, Over My Shoulder Foundation Co-Founder and Executive Director

Have you been mentored to such success that you won an award? Please comment or write to us and share your mentoring stories with Over My Shoulder Foundation so we can keep inspiring others to focus on Mentorology – the art and science of mentoring. Don’t forget to find Over My Shoulder Foundation on Facebook too!