Faculty & Staff
Co-owner/Co-Founder
Karie Calhoun, instructor and professional, brings a wealth of experience and talent to each of her jobs and classroom. Karie has over 25 years of commercial, residential, healthcare and government design experience. Her career took off after she graduated with her Interior Design BA degree from Anderson University. After working in a professional design studio for a few short years she took the NCIDQ exam (National Council for Interior Design Qualification) and holds the NCIDQ certificate. Karie has had numerous jobs published in magazines and interior design books and has won several ASID design awards for her projects.
She has been teaching design courses for sixteen years and treasures her time with her students. There is no greater joy for Karie than to share her knowledge of interior design with future designers.
Cindy Grosso
Co-owner/Co-Founder
Cynthia R. Grosso is an award winning speaker, columnist, and author who focuses on personal and professional image. She is also the founder of the Charleston School of Protocol and Etiquette.
Ms. Grosso has appeared on the Dr. Phil Show, Oprah, and other national TV shows, written about in Woman’s Day Magazine, Marie Claire Magazine, Esquire Magazine, Working Woman Magazine, Women’s World Magazine as well as many others. She has been published well over 100 times and is the author of several books.
Ms. Grosso is a graduate of the University of South Carolina and is an award-winning adjunct professor at several local colleges.
Through the years she has purchased, restored, redesigned and sold many properties. She is the co-owner of DesignRefined, an interior design business.
Ms. Grosso has received several awards to include the prestigious “Business Person of the Year” award given by the Chamber of Commerce in her area. She has also received the Outstanding American Award for outstanding community service given by the United States Jaycees.
Ms. Grosso loves to help people with their personal image to include their personal space.
Jamie Werner
Instructor
Jamie Werner, instructor and professional, brings a fresh perspective to each of her jobs and classroom. Jamie has over 8 years of commercial, residential, healthcare and government design experience.
Jamie graduated Clemson University with a Bachelor of Arts in Architecture in 2011. She started taking classes at a tech school where she met Karie. From that point she started working at a commercial furniture dealer and eventually moved to an architecture firm.
She holds the NCIDQ (National Council for Interior Design Qualification) certificate.
Jamie enjoys working the architectural interior side of mostly commercial projects.
She has been teaching design courses for five years and enjoys the classroom and the fresh energy the design students bring to the design field.
Rhiannon Esposito
Instructor
Instructor and professional, Rhiannon Esposito, has been in the industry for 15 years having worked for builders, interior designers, and architects. Beginning her career in New York and Pennsylvania, she relocated to Charleston SC in 2010.
Her professional experience has concentrated on residential and hospitality projects. For the past eight years, Rhiannon has been managing a high end flooring showroom as well as recently becoming the owner of Ivory Home Studio, a consulting firm and design studio.
Rhiannon has found a new love as an Instructor at Charleston School of Interior Design where she enjoys interacting with the students and sharing her passion for the profession.