Our Team

Jennifer Gilmer, CKD is an award-winning kitchen and bath designer, renowned for her exceptional designs and expertise in the field. She founded Jennifer Gilmer Kitchen & Bath (JGKB) in 1997.

Gilmer earned her architectural and engineering drafting degree from the University of Maryland Drafting Institute in 1984 and began her career in kitchen design and sales that same year. She has been a Certified Kitchen Designer (CKD) since 1992. In her four decades of experience, Gilmer has designed more than 1,000 kitchens and baths.

Gilmer is recognized as a leader in the kitchen and bath design industry across the Mid-Atlantic region. Her work has been featured in top publications including The Washington Post, Better Homes & Gardens, This Old House, Southern Living, and Washingtonian. Gilmer’s own home has been featured in The Washington Post and Washingtonian, as well as on TLC.

‍Melissa Reyes has always had a passion for design, blending form and function in everything she does. While earning her Bachelor of Science in Biology and completing a double major in Fine Art at Duke University, she began to explore how the world around her was designed and how she could contribute to that design.

After graduation, Melissa gained valuable experience working for various design-oriented firms in Durham, NC. At the Bio-Design Studio, she managed the lab and designed biological research models. At the Center for Inquiry-Based Learning, she administered hands-on science education programs, and at Seesaw Studio, she played a key role in developing a youth-run design and entrepreneurial initiative. Additionally, she launched Galleria d’Artiste, a fine art gallery specializing in home décor and gifts.

Melissa’s growing passion for design led her to pursue formal education at Montgomery College. While there, she began as an intern at Jennifer Gilmer Kitchen & Bath, where she continues to be inspired by innovative, custom designs, superior product quality, and a commitment to excellence in every project.

Nancy McCarren, AIA, LEED AP, joined Jennifer Gilmer Kitchen and Bath in 2019. Previously she worked as lead designer for prominent architectural firms in Washington and Maryland. She is the first licensed architect on the company’s staff.

Nancy holds a Bachelor of Architecture degree from the University of Oregon School of Architecture. In 2007 she became a LEED Accredited Professional. Her experience spans high-end residential, historic restoration projects, and includes prestigious awards from the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the American Institute of Architects (Washington Chapter) and Montgomery Preservation Inc.

Nancy brings her depth of knowledge to designing and detailing beautiful and functional rooms in the spaces we use most in our homes. She enjoys collaborating closely with clients, other design professionals, and contractors.

Meghan is a native of the Washington, DC area. After graduating from James Madison University with a BBA in Marketing she began her professional career with a local experiential marketing and advertising agency. As a project manager, Meghan specialized in event sponsorship and social media marketing, developing a strong foundation in event set design and logistics.

Meghan has always held a passion for design and decided to pursue that passion when she joined JGKB. Leveraging her project management background, Meghan now provides end-to-end management of a wide range of kitchen and bath designs. With her exceptional organizational skills and tireless commitment to client satisfaction, Meghan ensures all the various aspects of the design project come together to create a unique and beautiful JGKB kitchen or bath.

Meghan has won 2 consecutive NKBA kitchen design awards and her projects have been featured online by Kitchen and Bath Business.

Noelia discovered her passion for design early in life. Originally from Argentina, she studied Environmental Engineering in Bolivia before redirecting her career toward kitchen and bath design. After a year interning at the Northern Virginia Soil & Water Conservation District, Noelia pursued her artistic passion by working at a large retailer, where she mastered design principles, sales, and project management.

Eager to grow creatively, Noelia sought out a design-focused firm and joined Jennifer Gilmer Kitchen & Bath in 2017. She began by assisting senior designers Meghan Browne and Marie Josée and now leads bathroom design projects while also working closely with Jennifer Gilmer on project management.

Noelia’s expertise continues to expand through ongoing education and industry events, allowing her to bring innovative, custom designs to life.

Marie-Josée, a French Canadian from Toronto, Canada, graduated from Queen’s University and initially pursued a career in banking, where she became Director of Training and Development, leading national teams and training hundreds of employees. Despite her success, her passion for design remained strong. After remodeling her own kitchen in the U.S., the design firm she hired recognized her talent and invited her to join their team, launching her career in kitchen and bath design.

As her expertise and design sensibility grew, she was recruited by JGKB. Marie-Josée is dedicated to creating spaces that reflect her clients' individual personalities and styles. In her free time, she enjoys tennis, running, and spending time with her family.

Originally from Texas, Ronda Royalty moved to the Washington, DC area to collaborate with both local and international leaders, including those in the UK and South Africa. After several years in this field, Ronda returned to her roots in architecture and design, focusing on kitchen design. With over 30 years of experience, she has worked with several premier local design firms and managed the successful completion of hundreds of kitchen and bath projects. Ronda's exceptional work has earned her recognition from both clients and colleagues, and her projects are frequently highlighted on Houzz for their outstanding design and client satisfaction.

Hailing from Maryland’s picturesque Eastern Shore, Alison brings a deep passion for design to her role at Jennifer Gilmer Kitchen & Bath.

From a young age, Alison has been captivated by design, antiques, textiles, and furniture. Her enthusiasm for these elements grew through her hands-on experience remodeling her own homes, fueling her drive to further immerse herself in the world of design.

Helen Maga is the General Manager of Jennifer Gilmer Kitchen & Bath. For the last two decades, Helen has ensured the seamless execution of all design and installation projects, from procurement through completion. No detail leaves her desk without being checked in triplicate.

Helen has a deep admiration for the creative design team she’s surrounded with. Her cozy home in Fairfax, Virginia is where she highlights her own personal style, a mix of both practical and whimsical, with lots of her favorite color, blue, throughout. Her favorite part of her home is her big kitchen island - the gathering spot for her family, which includes her beloved son, husband, and pup.

Helen’s kitchen is where she spends much of her free time - especially in the fall season - indulging in her favorite hobby, baking. She loves delighting her family with her homemade confections - especially her famous sweet potato pie.

Shaun, a native of Kingston Jamaica, moved to Washington DC in his mid-teens. After graduating in the field of Electrical Engineering, he chose to explore his more creative side, which led him to the arena of kitchen design.

He spent some 20 years, working as both a drafter and designer before taking a sabbatical to pursue other interests. During which time he traveled, focused on rekindling his artistic side, illustrating and creating original canvas oil paintings, along with penning 7 fictional novels.

After nearly a 13 year absence from the kitchen design field, he returned and joined Jennifer Gilmer Kitchen and Bath Design, functioning as a Technical Detailer for the multiple design teams on staff.

Brooke grew up in a small town in southern Ontario, Canada. Her love for design was sparked at a young age, as she watched her father design and construct her childhood home. She is pursuing a bachelor's degree in interior design at Yorkville University and is most inspired by transitional designs with French and antique elements. She enjoys the process of creating unique spaces meant to last forever.

Dunbar Stewart is a seasoned Brand Ambassador and Public Relations professional, currently working to promote Jennifer Gilmer in collaboration with interior designers, architects, and builders. With a decade of experience in the interior design industry, Dunbar has built a strong foundation in sales, public relations, and branding. Having a background as both an interior designer and artist, Dunbar's passion for creativity extends to furniture and clothing design. His natural ability to network and foster relationships helps him connect professionals and drive collaboration on innovative projects.

Chris grew up in Canoga Park, California. After graduating high school he went to trade school to learn about the stone industry. He moved to the DC Metropolitan area in 1977 where he started working for Boatman & Magnani as a helper in the stone trade. After many years of working on projects like the Ronald Regan Building and countless other buildings in the DC area, he attained the title of a Master Stone Mason.

In 2002 he started working for R. Bratti Associates, measuring, fabricating and installing many beautiful counter tops for customers in the DMV area including Jennifer Gilmer's customers.

After retiring from the Stone Industry in 2020, Chris came to us as our Service and Delivery Manager. He loves his work as well as the JGKB team and their clientele. Chris meets delivery trucks at jobsites when the cabinetry arrives, inspects the cabinets to make sure all have arrived in good condition. He also delivers all the kitchen and bath plumbing fixtures and ensures all of the parts and pieces are complete. He takes care of our designer's requests to pick up materials and deliver them to jobsites or to any one of our 3 showrooms. He also takes care of our clients if minor repairs are necessary.