Ask Patty Perschino about her role as VP of Finance at Architectural Designs and the answer covers a lot of ground, from finance and compliance to HR and vendor relationships. But keep the conversation going and it always finds its way back to the people. After nearly a decade with AD, Patty genuinely loves this company and the team who make it what it is.

Some of the most meaningful contributions to a company never make it into a headline. Patty has spent years doing exactly that kind of work, building the systems and structure that support every part of AD as it grows.

She created AD’s employee handbook, helped shape the benefits the team relies on, and led the move to automated tax compliance as the business expanded. It’s work that supports the people here as much as the business itself.

“AD has always been about putting customers, designers, and employees first,” she says. “That hasn’t changed. Even as the company has grown and evolved, that commitment has stayed at the center of everything.”

Having worked closely with Kitty Connor and with AD’s leadership across two CEOs, she has had a front-row seat to how that culture has held. “The leadership here has always listened to my suggestions, which makes me feel valued,” she says. “That’s something I don’t take for granted.”

She’s quick to credit the Customer Success team. “They’re steeped with knowledge and extremely helpful to customers and designers,” she says. “That attitude extends across the whole team. It’s consistent, and it makes a difference.”

When it comes to house styles, Patty’s favorites come from two very different places: her childhood and the kind of home she keeps coming back to.

The first is the Victorian style. Her grandparents lived in one. “That style immediately takes me back to being a little girl,” she says. “It was warm, full of character, with details that you just don’t see everywhere,” she adds. “Those homes have a presence that’s hard to explain if you didn’t grow up around them — but for me it’s instant.”

The second is the sprawling one-story farmhouse — wide views, easy access to the outdoors, plenty of space for family and friends to gather. “That kind of living feels generous and easy,” she says. Her must-have follows the same idea. For Patty, it comes down to flow — open, connected spaces that move easily from one room to the next and ideally reach outdoors. “That’s what I come back to every time,” she says.

Stay tuned as we continue introducing the team behind Architectural Designs. And if you have a question about a plan or just want to get started, our Customer Success team is here to help.