JKAISER WORKSPACES
DECADE OF DESIGN
Jessica Kaiser Founder & CEO
JKaiser Workspaces
Creativity & Personal Touch Impacting Workplace Culture & Environment
By Loni Nannini
In the past decade, JKaiser Workspaces has evolved into a powerhouse in the $579-billion global industry of commercial furnishings and design.
Since 2019, JKaiser Workspaces has twice been ranked as one of America’s fastest-growing private companies in the country by Inc. 5000. In 2020, the company was at the top of the list for fastest-growing companies in Tucson with 274% growth. The full-service furnishings and design firm is led by Founder and CEO Jessica Kaiser, who prides herself on unparalleled personalized service.
“Even as my revenue has grown, my staff stays small and that is intentional,” Kaiser said. “I like efficiency. Sometimes when companies get too big, the client experience suffers. I like to operate very small and work hands-on with my clients.”
That clientele spans the public, private and nonprofit sectors. Kaiser has designed more than 1,300 projects of varying sizes for partners in education, healthcare, food and entertainment, financial services, mining, utilities, defense, technology and other industries.
Kaiser’s portfolio includes the $20 million headquarters for Hexagon Mining in Downtown Tucson, the $62 million University of Arizona Student Success District, the $29 million renovation of the UA Chemistry Building, and the $40 million Tucson GEICO office. Other projects include Pima JTED Innovative Learning Center at the Bridges, Hughes Federal Credit Union, Tucson Electric Power and many more.
Through her work, Kaiser has cultivated professional relationships with many local, regional and national stakeholders in the building and design industries. Frequent collaborators include Swaim Associates Architects, Bourn Companies, Sundt Construction among others.
The extensive network stems from a foundation of commercial furnishings.
“When describing my business, I lead with commercial furnishings because we really are product-based,”
Kaiser said. “The industry is interesting in the sense that you can be a commercial designer and not procure furniture. But JKaiser Workspaces is a one-stop shop where we can assist with furnishings and every aspect of interior design − ergonomics, acoustics, lighting, artwork, architectural finishes, greenery and accessories, basically anything from the drywall in. We can create a total turnkey design package if that is what a client needs.”
Kaiser works routinely with premier manufacturers whose products feature high-end and luxury finishes and lifetime warranties.
“Jessica really has a passion for office furniture and for the design work that she does,” said Tony Ferradino, a principal for 360 Furniture Group, which has worked with Kaiser for 15 years. “She loves picking out fabrics, finishes and color schemes for her customers and getting them the best products to fit their needs. We use her work with Hexagon Mining and Hughes Federal Credit Union as case studies on our website and showpieces if we have customers in Tucson.”
Kaiser’s extensive knowledge is a huge asset to clients who view their projects as investments in both their businesses and their employees.
“Jessica has a wide range of availability from different manufacturers and can look at design styles as well as price, and work with us to find the best solution for each client, not only aesthetically and functionally, but within their budgets,” said Michael Cuthbert, principal with Swaim Associates Architects and a frequent collaborator with Kaiser. “Maintenance is always a concern for our clients, and she knows the products that will last and provide the highest quality for the best price.”
“First and foremost, Jessica is a professional,” said Ian McDowell, VP and regional director for Sundt Construction. “She does what she says she will do when she says she will do it”
PHOTO BY CHÉ WILSON
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“She is very reliable and always shows up prepared with answers,” McDowell added. “We can recommend her to business partners and know the job will turn out well. She always delivers on what she says.”
Kaiser’s customer care is grounded in her creativity and problem-solving skills.
“I have always been creative, and I think my love of guiding people and helping to solve problems drew me to this field,” Kaiser said.
She said she honed those skills and her business acumen as a real estate professional after relocating from the Pacific Northwest 20 years ago.
When the residential real estate bubble burst in 2008, the mother of three transitioned into project management for a small commercial furnishings firm. She knew immediately she had found her niche.
She immersed herself in furniture sales, taught herself AutoCAD, the prominent design software, and learned the ins and outs of operating a commercial furnishings firm. After several years, she struck out on her own with a small office in Connect Coworking in downtown.
“I had enough money saved to start my business with no debt and I said, ‘If I can’t do this in six months and be profitable, I don’t want to be doing it.’ That is not a traditional business model, but normal is not my pace. I blaze trails,” she said.
JKaiser Workspaces was profitable within the first month and business snowballed. In 2015, the company moved to a space in the basement of Bourn Companies at 20 E. Congress, cementing a mutually beneficial relationship between the developer and the designer.
Business continued to boom until the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. By April 2020, JKaiser Workspaces had lost $1 million in anticipated revenue.
An offer to buy out her lease and the furniture in her showroom enabled her to transition to remote work and weather the pandemic.
In 2021, she again partnered with Bourn to build out a dedicated space in the vacant first floor of the building known as City Park at 40 E. Congress
St. It was a strategic move to maximize her business profile, particularly since her client, Hexagon Mining, occupies the upper floors.
“I have always loved the energy downtown and I have always appreciated the synergy with Bourn and Hexagon,” Kaiser said. “For my 2,000-squarefoot-office, I basically get a five-story showroom because Hexagon is so great about letting me tour clients through their space.”
The working showroom gave JKaiser Workspaces its first street presence while helping Kaiser realize her philanthropic aspirations.
“I really put my mark on it and designed it exactly the way I wanted, from the dirt floors up,” she said. “I love this space, and I love working here. In ad dition to showcasing what we do, it provides a space for the community to come together for events and fundrais ers.”
Kaiser said she is grateful for op portunities, through JKaiser’s work, to elevate corporate culture for her clients and work experiences for their employ ees and, ultimately, the community.
“I have built a business where I have an impact on the community, the envi ronment and on the way people work, not just in Tucson, but around the globe,” said Kaiser.
On the design horizon, Kaiser is gratified by trends in flex working mod els and workspaces dedicated to general health and wellness, including gyms, yoga spaces, meditation rooms and oth er quiet areas.
“It is rewarding to see that many businesses are taking mental health and their overall concern for work families into consideration when furnishing and designing spaces. It has also been really cool to see the hybrid work model develop,” Kaiser said.
Ultimately, Kaiser looks forward to continued expansion of her professional network and her long-term client base.
“I want to work on meaningful projects and have partnerships of longevity,” Kaiser said. “I am strategic about the projects I take on because I know I am entering into relationships with my clients. I support them not just throughout the lives of their projects, but as years go by with the care of their furniture.”
PHOTOS COURTESY JKAISER WORKSPACES
JKAISER WORKSPACES
PYRAMID FEDERAL CREDIT UNION
PYRAMID FEDERAL CREDIT UNION
JKAISER WORKSPACES
HEXAGON MINING
PIMA JTED
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Process & Communication Maximize Productivity Support from Start to Finish Ensures Customer Satisfaction, Efficiency
By Loni Nannini
Creative, concise, customized, clientcentric: the JKaiser Workspaces approach is built around principles that deliver superior designs while optimizing wellness and productivity for clients and their work families.
“I want to maximize every budget and make sure I deliver the most impeccable designs possible while helping teams be more efficient and ergonomically comfortable,” said Jessica Kaiser, founder and CEO of JKaiser Workspaces. “This is a benefit to the health and productivity of employees and, therefore, the overall profitability of the company.”
JKaiser’s design philosophy centers around communication, Kaiser said. The process often begins with referrals from existing clients or Kaiser’s extensive professional network of architects, developers, contractors and colleagues.
Next, a programming session with the client and stakeholders clarifies project goals. Conceptualization also involves space planning, including sizing and placement of offices, conference rooms, break rooms, flex spaces, public spaces and furniture placement.
“We talk about how they office, whether they prefer a hybrid model or a full-time workspace, and various functions of the different teams and departments, and whether people collaborate or work independently,” Kaiser said. “I want to understand their pain points and where they want to go as a company so I can incorporate that into their interior.”
Kaiser establishes a list of deliverables and prepares a design contract with an option for à la carte services. Her product-based services encompass furniture specification, space planning, project management, power planning and installation while an interior design
scope may include architectural finishes such as paint, wall coverings, flooring, lighting, art and other accessories.
One highlight is a digital presentation displaying options for “good, better and best” models at different price points.
“My clients see a good range of product so they understand that I am not leading with an agenda or quota-driven model. I want to meet all their needs for budget, timeline, aesthetics and function,” she said.
Finally, Kaiser establishes timelines and provides project management, working closely with contractors and other stakeholders to meet deadlines.
Kaiser’s efficient coordination of scheduling, product delivery and installation boosts overall client satisfaction, said Matt Dickey, project manager for Bourn Companies. A frequent collaborator with JKaiser Workspaces, Bourn has developed more than 4.2 million square feet of industrial, commercial and mixed-use real estate across the Southwest.
“JKaiser Workspaces is unique. She is relatively small, but she provides ultra highquality service,” said Dickey. “As the owner, Jessica can be flexible and she is committed to making sure that projects progress appropriately. When it comes to the install and finish, she is there working alongside the install team to ensure that everything comes together perfectly.”
Kaiser’s solution-oriented mindset is on full display at the 65,000-square-foot headquarters for Hexagon at 40 E. Congress St.
For its “crown jewel,” the company envisioned an open and modern industrial feel representative of its image as a global leader in digital reality solutions that combine sensor, software and autonomous technologies.
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“Jessica was great about listening to everyone, gathering varied opinions and then finding the perfect solution,” said Laura Hearron, an executive assistant for Hexagon. “A good designer hears what you are saying and fits the furniture and design to the client’s needs, and Jessica is an expert.”
Kaiser worked closely with Bourn Companies, architects and engineers to optimize space and furniture planning in the large-scale project. Kaiser also selected furniture, artwork, large-scale wall graphics, custom window film, lighting, millwork, white noise, flooring and decorative accessories. She coordinated furniture delivery via a lift to the upper floors, which required temporary closure of the streetcar line anterior to the building.
“Partnering with JKaiser Workspaces proved to be pivotal in ensuring our facility was completed on time, on budget, and without the stress typically associated with such projects,” said Nicholas Hare, VP of mining for Hexagon Mining. “Both agile and attentive, JKaiser was always flexible enough to deal with ever-changing project details and time-
lines without sacrificing deadlines.”
JKaiser and Bourn also collaborated on construction of the 200,000-squarefoot Tucson GEICO Office completed in 2019 on a seven-month timeline.
In addition to supplying design layout and furnishings for office spaces, conference rooms, training rooms and break rooms, Kaiser sourced soft seating in flex spaces, lobbies, dining areas and the cafeteria. The non-traditional spaces give employees “a take-me-away-fromthe-office feel,” while central engagement zones in each quadrant facilitate management-employee coaching and collaboration.
“Our goal was to create a modern building that maintained an open, outdoor feel to bring energy into the space and energy into people,” said Chris Ott, site operations manager for GEICO. “Jessica was a big help in brainstorming and finalizing ideas for effective collaboration spaces. We spent a lot of time on small details.”
Kaiser’s attention to detail, guidance and experience were also key for a recent renovation for Hughes Federal Credit Union. The 80,000-square-foot facility, which functions as a back-office
location for lending and call center staff, required a customized build-out for offices, meeting and training rooms, and cubicles.
“Jessica listened carefully to the various stakeholders to conceptually understand our initial vision for the project,” said Andrew Britton, president and CEO of Hughes Federal Credit Union. “She then guided us through a thought process that resulted in adjustments that made the finished product much more successful than we had envisioned originally. Jessica’s ability to blend our vision, practicality, and her forward-thinking gained by her experience allowed the final product to be a huge success.”
Ultimately, Kaiser is all about delivering superior design to satisfied clients in a timely, efficient manner.
“Not only am I going to hit deadlines, which I am very effective at, but I provide communication and support for my clients with their architect, contractor and vendors,” Kaiser said. “That is one of the things that really wins them over. At the end of the day, they feel supported and that feels good.”
Biz
Philanthropy Essential to the Business Model JKaiser Workspaces Impacts More than Clients
By Loni Nannini
Jessica Kaiser is on a mission to elevate and inspire people, workplaces and the community.
For the founder and CEO of JKaiser Workspaces, philanthropy is both personal and professional.
“I believe a good business model is also a means for investment in the community. I want to focus on efficiency and profits because then I am able to have a bigger impact on the community,” Kaiser said. “Philanthropy is part of that focus.”
That philosophy is woven into the very fabric of her company. Kaiser surrounds herself with like-minded colleagues and stakeholders in the furnishings, design and construction industries, and prides herself on lifting others up as a woman-owned business.
“I approach my role as an employer with the memory of how difficult it had been to be an employee in many different roles,” Kaiser said. “I like to train people and provide the support that I often didn’t receive as an employee.”
That support extends to internships and shadowing opportunities to provide local students with exposure to a multitude of roles within a design firm.
“I got great hands-on insight into the everyday life of a project manager and interior designer,” said Olivia Del Castillo, who completed an internship for JKaiser in June 2024. “Jessica fully trusted my capabilities. She included me in meetings and phone calls. We spent one-on-one time working with software and discussing attributes and characteristics of her design projects.”
The Northern Arizona University student said the internship spurred her motivation and reaffirmed her pursuit of a major in interior design and a minor in construction management.
“Jessica is very inspiring,” Del Castillo said. “During my internship she was more than my boss. She is open to ideas and is determined and diligent in her work, but has a soft kindness that makes her very personable and easy to talk to.”
Kaiser’s entrepreneurship is also the means to elevate women and children in the community.
“Having grown up in a family where I wasn’t necessarily protected and cared for in the way I should have been, I have empathy for children in the foster care system and otherwise marginalized kids on the cusp of society. I know what it is like to be there,” said Kaiser, who became a mom at age 19. Ten years later, she was a divorced mother of three with no family nearby. She credits a fierce innate strength with enabling her to survive and thrive and driving her to help others.
“There is just a fire in me that says, ‘We will move on and heal and be better than we were.’ I use that to help as many people as possible,” Kaiser said. “It is so powerful to redirect a child’s life and women become so powerful when they are supported.”
Kaiser translates words into action through charitable giving to organizations including The Salvation Army Hospitality House, Beauty From Ashes Ranch, Girl Scouts of Southern Arizona, Boys & Girls Clubs of Tucson,
Tu Nidito Children & Family Services, Lapan Sunshine Foundation, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Planned Parenthood, Global Children’s Fund and many more.
She has also been an avid volunteer with I Am You 360, a local nonprofit dedicated to supporting youth and young adults who are in the foster care system or experiencing homelessness. Last year, Kaiser spearheaded the firstever fundraiser to benefit the I Am You 360 Small Home Experience, Tucson’s first green, energy-efficient tiny home community for adults ages 18 to 22.
Havana Nights Prom 2023 came together on an eight-week timeline and was a revelation for the grassroots organization, said Desiree Cook, I Am You 360 founder and CEO.
“We had never done a fundraiser like this before,” said Cook. “Because of who she is as a confident woman in her field and in the community, Jessica Kaiser took us to another space and place, helping I Am You 360 raise over $110,000 for our tiny home roofs.”
For her part, Kaiser is grateful for the chance to directly impact displaced youth through the I Am You 360 Tiny Home Community slated to open this fall. In addition to safe, affordable housing, the project will provide residents with opportunities for secondary education, assistance with saving for home ownership, and a holistic curriculum featuring training in financial literacy, cooking and other life skills. The goal is for unhoused youth to become “wholly healed and productive” and to end generational homelessness.
