Equal parts creative and strategic, Carol approaches every project with a discerning eye and a passion for thoughtful, timeless design. With more than two decades of experience, she seamlessly blends creative vision with project management precision and a deep understanding of hospitality, construction and development.

Although Carol’s professional foundation lies in development rather than a formal design degree, her affinity for interiors was kindled long before her corporate career began. Growing up on her family’s farm along the North Dakota–Minnesota border, she crafted her very first three-story Barbie home from scraps of wood, paper and fabric — a creation born not only from circumstance, but from imagination and an early understanding that beauty can be built by hand. When her parents later began restoring their early-1900s farmhouse, she eagerly joined in, learning how architecture, craftsmanship and heart converge to turn a house into a home. Those formative experiences revealed an instinctive eye for balance and detail that would quietly guide her path for decades to come and shaping a lifelong passion for thoughtful, timeless design. Over the years she would go on to refine that innate talent by learning from some of the industry’s most distinguished architects and designers at Marriott, The Ritz-Carlton and Disney — further deepening her appreciation for spaces that evoke both purpose and emotion.

Carol officially entered the residential construction and design field in 1997, working under the mentorship of a luxury custom home builder in Gainesville, Florida. Their collaboration on a kitchen project earned a coveted Parade of Homes award for innovative design, an early recognition of Carol’s forward-thinking aesthetic.

In 1999 she relocated to Orlando where she stepped into the corporate hospitality arena as a consultant with The Walt Disney Company. Carol later joined the Marriott and Ritz-Carlton Golf Development team under Marriott International, contributing to the development of prestigious courses including Son Antem Golf Club in Mallorca, Spain, Camelback Golf Club in Arizona and Shadow Ridge in Palm Desert, California. In 2002 she transitioned to the vacation ownership division with Marriott Vacations Worldwide and The Ritz-Carlton Development Company where she played an integral role in countless landmark projects such as:

• Newport Coast Villas – Newport Coast, California

• Grande Lakes – Orlando, Florida

• Ocean & Aruba Surf Clubs – Aruba

• Crystal Shores – Marco Island, Florida

• Las Vegas Grand Chateau – Las Vegas, Nevada

• Playa Andaluza – Costa del Sol, Spain

• Village D’Île de France – Disneyland Paris

Her Ritz-Carlton portfolio also includes acclaimed properties in St. Thomas, San Francisco, Lake Tahoe, Vail, Bachelor Gulch, Kapalua and Kauai Lagoons.

After fourteen years with Marriott, Carol relocated to Minneapolis where she was hand-selected as part of the national team responsible for constructing U.S. Bank Stadium, home of the Minnesota Vikings. In this role she represented her firm during design and development meetings and also served as a delegate for recruiting, safety training, charity initiatives and community outreach.

In addition to her undergraduate degree, Carol holds a Project Management Certificate from Florida Gulf Coast University and her OSHA 30 card. She is also an affiliate member of the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID), a licensed Florida REALTOR® and an active member of the Naples Board of Realtors, specializing in luxury properties throughout the southwest Florida region.

With every project, Carol brings a rare combination of creativity, strategy and global perspective — ensuring that Emerson Haus clients receive not just design, but a truly thoughtful experience.