Hailing from the city that lays claim to the invention of the automobile, Stuttgart, Markus naturally loves German cars. But here in New York City you’re more likely to see him zipping around taxis and traffic cops on his fancy high-tech push scooter.
Markus brings over 15 years of experience in international business development in the IT, internet and manufacturing industries to StyleFactory. Most recently he managed the US operations of the leading European vertical search portal for home furnishings, Moebel.de. As a consultant to top management, Markus led business development and restructuring projects in the Middle East, Europe and the US. A co-founder of an early software-as-a-service platform, StageBuilder, Markus oversaw the acquisition of the business in 2000 by an international IT firm. As CEO of the US operations of Netlife AG, a German software company focusing on online banking and brokerage solutions Markus was part of the executive team that guided the company through a successful IPO in 1999.
Markus holds a MBA from the University of Cologne and a PhD from the University of Goettingen.
Besides his new ‘baby’ StyleFactory, Markus enjoys spending time with his family. As a lifelong sports enthusiast, Markus is an avid Marathon runner, skier and soccer coach for his kids.
Sebastian Reichelt - COO/CTO
Ever heard of a nutcracker? Sebastian could tell you lots about these wooden toys which are hand-made in his hometown in the Ore Mountain region of East Germany. Craftsmanship and wooden toy making have been the area’s backbone for centuries. Naturally, craftsmanship runs in Sebastian’s family: his grandfather was an upholstered furniture maker.
Prior to Stylefactory, Sebastian managed IT & web development for the US subsidiary of the leading European vertical search portal for home goods, Moebel.de. This experience, combined with his background, drive and desire to make things happen, makes Sebastian a natural fit as COO & CTO for StyleFactory.
Sebastian holds a Master of Science in Industrial Engineering, having studied at Chemnitz University, Germany, and MIT’s European partner school, ETH Zurich in Switzerland. His background includes work with Audi’s Global Processes team and consulting projects for international firms like ABB and Volkswagen Mexiko.
When not streamlining a process or creating a great UI, Sebastian can be seen on his road bike racing in Central Park or in a biker peloton on winding roads in upstate New York. He also plays the piano and enjoys skiing - a passion left over from his days as a competitive nordic skier.
Joel Edmondson - Creative Director
Joel Edmondson comes to us from North Carolina by way of Savannah where he received his M.F.A. in Furniture Design at SCAD. Combined with his undergraduate degree in Business Administration, he is the perfect balance of right and left brained thinking to manage StyleFactory’s merchandising, product development, and art direction. His design career was kick-started with an apprenticeship at Pfeifferlab in San Francisco and multiple exhibitions at ICFF in New York.
As an in-house furniture designer and production manager for Lorin Marsh, a high end to-the-trade firm in New York, Joel learned the process of managing a product from start to finish; from design, to production, and delivery.
Growing up in the heart of furniture manufacturing in America, he has gained an appreciation for craft and responsible manufacturing. Having researched Mass Customization for his MFA Thesis, Joel has a unique perspective on the future of design, believing that by applying lean manufacturing processes that leave little impact on the earth, products can meet the unique needs of individual consumers at a competitive price
Derek - Social Media Manager/Blogger/Researcher
Derek is Stylefactory’s PR Manager/Blogger/Researcher/Coffee Getter. When he’s not forgetting whether Joel wants milk or cream, he’s spreading the word about democratic design.
Before coming to StyleFactory, Derek has had a lot of experience with ‘viral’ content. His projects have been featured in popular outlets like The Washington Post, Time, Wired.com, The Huffington Post, Politico, and dozens of smaller websites and newspapers.
When he’s not at StyleFactory, Derek spends the majority of his free time saving puppies and orphans. He is especially thrilled when he can do both at the same time.
Kait Handler - Blog Contributor
Kait is a New Yorker living in our nation's capital while finishing up her MA in the History of Decorative Arts and Design at the Smithsonian, where she focuses on twentieth century architects as furniture designers.
Interested in the fusion between social networking and the spread of design trends, she spends too much of her not-so-spare time exploring the presence of the design world on the Internet, and posting large quantities of links to her Facebook feed.
When not at the Library of Congress tracking down the origin of the conversation pit, Kait is watching re-runs of The Larry Sanders Show, or working hard to keep her houseplants alive.
Lilian - Creative Research Intern
Lilian is in her senior year at Parsons, New School for Design and is studying Design Management.
She lived in Taipei, Shanghai, Paris for some time before moving to New York. Time spent in those cities provided her with valuable experience, which contributes to her greatest passion, the intersection of art and commerce. She specializes in Market Research and Strategic Planning.
