By Donna Heiderstadt

Olivia McMurtrie wears many hats as a Showroom Manager in Virginia Beach, VA for national kitchen-and-bath dealer Ferguson Enterprises. As she oversees one of Ferguson’s largest showrooms in Virginia, a position she has held for almost four years, Olivia is responsible for showroom maintenance, associate product training and order management throughout the district, as well as establishing new and building on existing customer relationships. Her favorite part of her job, however, is working with her team to redesign showroom vignettes. “I take great pride in curating a space that reflects the perfect blend of elegance, functionality and innovation,” she said.

During her first year as manager, Olivia received the Ferguson Mid-Atlantic Showroom of the Year award, but she also cites a 2023 initiative among her proudest accomplishments. “This past year I worked with other showroom managers to update five Ferguson showrooms from paper price labels to digital tags,” said Olivia. “These tags allow our customers to have accurate pricing, and with a quick scan of the QR code, they can find out all the information about that product, including availability.”

Olivia, who turns 30 in early 2024 and says “driven” is the word that best describes her, can partially thank her parents for helping her hone her organizational skills while she shared — and decorated — a bedroom with her sister. “My parents allowed us to paint the walls whatever color we wanted, which gave us some leeway in depicting our personalities,” she recalled. “One half of the room was always clean and the other side not so much… sorry sis.”

These days, Olivia shares her life with her fiancé Dylan, who also works for Ferguson, and her two miniature long-hair dachshunds, Sophie and Gunner. When she’s not at work or volunteering as a member of NKBA’s Virginia State Chapter  — she’ll be on the 2024 board as Social Chair — Olivia enjoys spending time at the beach with family and friends. “There’s something truly serene and soul-nourishing about the sound of crashing waves, the warmth of the sun on my skin, and the feel of sand beneath my feet…The beach provides a sanctuary where I can unwind and find renewed inspiration,” she said, citing Key West as a favorite vacation spot.

Finding ways to spruce up her home by decorating and designing her own spaces is another passion. “My personal design preferences have evolved during my time at Ferguson,” Olivia said. “I would say my current favorite style is a mixture of organic and modern. I love clean lines and simplistic designs, but I also like to incorporate textures to give depth and warmth to the space.”