We love what we do

Tina Turner

Founder and Principal

When Tina began her commercial furniture career in 1992, she found it natural to rely on her creativity and honest approach to produce memorable projects and build lasting relationships with clients. Today, she infuses those core values into everything she does at STIR.

Tina’s passion for helping others – both personally and professionally – is on display in a tireless work ethic she attributes to her parents. While it might have been mom and dad who set the example, Tina’s unique ability to make work seem fun is what has made her (and STIR) so successful. Her friendly approach means clients often get more than a simple transaction; they become part of the STIR family for years.

Before co-founding STIR with Steve Walters in 2012, Tina held leadership roles in a variety of areas of the commercial furnishings industry including in sales, business development, marketing and strategy. Most recently, she served as president of Kitchen and Bath Source here in Denver, where she managed the daily operations of representing kitchen and bath product manufacturers to independent dealers across Colorado. While there, she grew sales for each of the manufacturers they represented by more than 200 percent. Tina will tell you it was all about building strong working relationships with everyone involved in the process – something she continues to practice to great effect here at STIR.

Outside of the office, Tina remains active in the design community, and particularly in green building. She has earned LEED AP designation and continues to be our resident sustainability expert. She is an active member of the International Interior Design Association and the Denver Chamber of Commerce. In the community, she has served on the Survivor committee for Relay for Life, and has been a troop leader for Girl Scouts of Colorado for four years. Outside of work, you’ll find Tina with family, cooking, reading, traveling or enjoying everything the Colorado outdoors has to offer.

Steve Walters

Founder and Head of Operations & Sales

At STIR, we pride ourselves on being true partners, both to our clients and to the manufacturers we represent. We have earned a reputation over the years for being knowledgeable, friendly and highly responsive. This culture of service all started with Steve.

Since co-founding STIR in 2012, Steve has made it his mission to make the experience of working with our company positive and rewarding in every way. It’s a strategy that has led to the kinds of lasting relationships that are the underpinnings of STIR’s success.

Steve brings more than three decades of architecture, interior design and strategy expertise to his role as head of Operations and Sales for STIR. Before teaming up with Tina to found STIR, Steve was the president of Interior Design Connection, LLC, executing award-winning remodel designs for private residences and corporations alike.

Steve’s success throughout his career has not gone unnoticed. He has been consistently recognized over the years for achievement and performance within the design industry, including awards from the Home Builders Association (HBA), International Interior Design Association and the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID), where he also served on the board of directors.

In his spare time Steve enjoys all things food and libations.  You’ll find him seeking out new restaurants, cooking with family and digging in the garden. Travel is also a passion as time allows, exploring various wine regions and beach destinations.

Emily Keppel

Director of Sales and Marketing

Emily stumbled upon the contract furniture world when she moved to Denver from St. Louis in search of an active lifestyle. The job hunt led her to the furniture dealer world where she had been for over four years. She is excited to be on the Rep side of the industry where she can connect with Dealers and the A&D community. Through Emily’s time in the furniture industry, she has found that she loves to help clients create a space where they can increase efficiency and can enjoy working. With her background as a Studio Art Major, experience in Marketing and Guest Relations and her Ancillary knowledge, she is a great addition to our high-energy, customer focused team.

Emily found her active lifestyle in both the mountains and the city. Some of her favorite things to do are skiing, hiking, camping in the mountains and live shows, park days, and exploring new restaurants in the city. Although she still cheers for St. Louis Blues Hockey and Cardinals Baseball, Denver has become her home and she is loving every second!

Nina Entine

Senior Sales & Customer Service Specialist

Nina began her career at a furniture dealership in Florida where she enjoyed helping create ideal workplace environments through ergonomics, functionality, and design. After traveling the country in search of a new and exciting place to call home, she fell in love with the Boulder/Denver area, trading the tropical swamplands of Florida for the breezy mountains of Colorado.  Nina enjoyed 6 great years at Designtex before moving over to the STIR team.

When she isn’t slinging furniture and textiles, Nina is out juggling her favorite hobbies: live music, museums, traveling, reading, eating, hiking, and befriending your pets.

Amanda Walker

Studio Concierge & Sales Specialist

Amanda found her way to STIR in search of a position in the Design community. With her skills in organization, attention to detail, and a passion for interior design, she felt that she could be a valuable asset to a design organization. Coming from a background in Exercise Science and working in Healthcare Facilities, Amanda has always been enthusiastic about helping others. She is very excited to dive into the world of commercial furniture.

She recently moved to Denver coming from the mountains of North Carolina and is happy to now call this place home. The mountains are much larger in Colorado and she is ready to explore every part of them. Outside of work you can find Amanda skiing, hiking with her dog, exploring new cities, and going for long bike rides.

Kendall Hovater

Librarian

A variety of emotions arise when you talk about “your high school” years. For Kendall, that discussion leads to the moment she discovered what she wanted to do with the rest of her life.

It was her sophomore year, and there was an elective course called Interior Design. She signed up, learned about residential and commercial design, and decided this was the industry she wanted to work in.

Fast forward a couple years, and she is studying to attain a Bachelor of Arts in Interior Design at Metro State University while working at STIR part time. At STIR, she is gaining a broader knowledge of the industry and getting to see it from the manufacturer’s perspective.

In her free time, Kendall loves to cook and create delicious meals for friends and family. Her favorite? Fried chicken.

Julie Winje

Special Projects and Sales Coordinator

You may remember Julie, our former Studio Manager, who has come back to join us part time as our Special Projects and Sales Coordinator. Not only does she bring 15 years of industry experience, but also a calming energy to the STIR Studio and a natural knack for multitasking. She prides herself on her attention to detail and consistency – two qualities our clients happen to highly value.

When Julie isn’t working at STIR, she is busy managing her busy floral design business, Inspired Designs. In her free time, you will find her spending time with her family, hiking, traveling and cooking. We are happy to have her back!