Gurnet Consulting
The sleek Gurnet Consulting 4R Award. Alt Text: A polished stainless steel sculpture incorporating a fused 4 and R mounted on a black wooden stand.
Gurnet Consulting: Driving Project Management Excellence in New England
Since 1999, Gurnet Consulting has distinguished itself as the go-to advising agency, specializing in project management solutions for top businesses across New England. As an employee-owned and operated company, Gurnet prizes a thriving corporate culture and understands just how critical it is to their success.
Commemorating High-Performing Consultants with the 4R Awards
When Gurnet decided to take their strategic partners’ appreciation to the next level, they commissioned Ahlers Designs to custom design the 4R Awards. The challenge was to honor Gurnet’s high-performing consultants and create a three-dimensional representation of the company’s core “R” values: Reputation, Referrals, Relationships, and Results.
Crafting a Sculptural Tribute to Gurnet’s People-First Approach
Gail Ahlers, the founder of Ahlers Designs, designed a standing sculpture of a “4” and an “R,” which she wrought in fine stainless steel and coated with a sleek satin finish. After constructing bases of reclaimed lumber for the sculptures, she then attached each one with two custom plaques: one proclaiming Gurnet’s core values, and the other proudly bearing the name of the honoree.
The sleek Gurnet Consulting 4R Award. Alt Text: A polished stainless steel sculpture incorporating a fused 4 and R mounted on a black wooden stand.
Reflecting on the Meaning Behind the 4R Awards
During the design and creation process, Gail found herself reflecting on the significance of these awards. Gurnet’s core values are not only important workplace motivators but also serve as invigorating reminders that opportunities for excellence, innovation, and leadership present themselves in countless situations—both large and small.
Elevating Corporate Culture Through Captivating Sculpture
Ahlers Designs’ collaboration with Gurnet Consulting exemplifies the studio’s ability to create custom-designed artworks that celebrate the values and achievements of organizations. By incorporating meaningful symbolism and sustainable materials, these 4R Awards serve as a powerful testament to Gurnet’s commitment to their people-first approach and the limitless potential of their high-performing consultants.
Explore Ahlers Designs’ portfolio of custom sculptures and learn how we can collaborate to elevate your brand or commemorate your organization’s milestones.
Rhode Island State Council on the Arts
Celebrating the Power of the Arts: Ahlers Designs’ Custom Challenge Coins for the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts
Championing the Arts and Cultivating a Vibrant Creative Ecology
the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts (RISCA) is a government agency that champions the arts, bolsters artists, and cultivates a vibrant creative ecology in the state. While their game-changing work reaches across state lines, it has also made quite the splash overseas.
Commemorating a Landmark Partnership with Japan
When RISCA established a high-level outreach trade operation with Japan, a country that deeply values giving and receiving gifts, the agency sought a work of art to mark this landmark event. They were looking for a piece that would honor their Japanese partners while imbuing the partnership with an unforgettable sense of ceremony.
Ahlers Designs’ Commitment to Celebration, Joy, and Honor
At Ahlers Designs, our fine art works are fueled by our commitment to celebration, joy, and honor. When RISCA recognized its mission in our own, the agency commissioned a custom Challenge coin—a distinctly American commemorative object that has been used since the 20th century to build camaraderie and express fellowship.
Designing a Custom Challenge Coin to Showcase American Craftsmanship
With a keen attention to RISCA’s message and an understanding of the partnership’s cultural and economic significance, Gail Ahlers, the founder of Ahlers Designs, set about designing a custom Challenge coin that displays RISCA’s logo on one side and the Rhode Island State Seal on the other. These custom cast pewter coins accentuate the blue-ribbon American quality and craftsmanship that Ahlers Designs is known for.
Elevating the Arts Economy Through Captivating Artworks
Randall Rosenbaum, Executive Director of RISCA, commended Ahlers Designs on its ability to create art that exemplifies timeless beauty and the power of the arts economy. “I believe the quality of work helped to show my Japanese partners that we are an agency that honors craftsmanship,” said Mr. Rosenbaum. “This will aid in our work to deepen and broaden relationships with potential collaborators in Japan and elsewhere.”
Explore Ahlers Designs’ portfolio of custom sculptures and learn how we can collaborate to elevate your brand or commemorate your organization’s milestones.
Women’s Business Development Center
Chicago Women’s Business Center Honored with Sculpture
Empowering Women Entrepreneurs for Over 27 Years
The Women’s Business Development Center (WBDC) in Chicago, Illinois, has helped over 15,000 women either start or grow their businesses for 27 years. The cofounders and co-presidents, Carol Dougal and Hedy Ratner, also started the Women’s Business Development Conference, which has helped even more women entrepreneurs from around the world.
Commemorating the Extraordinary Contributions of Dougal and Ratner
In celebration of Dougal and Ratner’s lifelong leadership and contributions, the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) commissioned Ahlers Designs to create a piece of art for each of these extraordinary women.
Capturing the Essence of the WBDC’s Headquarters
In her research, Gail Ahlers, the founder of Ahlers Designs, found that Hedy Dougal and Carol Ratner have spent the past 17 years operating from Willoughby Towers, a building overlooking Millennium Park in downtown Chicago. The artwork she designed is from the viewpoint of looking from the park back towards their building.
Incorporating Sustainable and Symbolic Design Elements
The frame of the artwork is constructed of 100-year-old reclaimed lumber, cut from an old factory beam. The main element portrays the building in steel, and the tree branches feature the “W” logo of the WBDC, forged in steel and layered in real 23k Gold Leaf. Gail also placed a few chrysanthemum flowers (the official flower of Chicago) constructed from recycled Pepsi cans, with each flower’s center containing a cluster of pearls to symbolize “beautiful things that can manifest when you overcome adversity.” Pearls are also very sentimental to the co-founders, as they helped one of their first clients bring her pearl business from the kitchen table to a successful corporation.
Elevating Women-Owned Businesses Through Captivating Sculpture
Ahlers Designs’ collaboration with the WBDC and WBENC exemplifies the studio’s ability to create captivating, custom-designed artworks that celebrate the achievements and values of women-owned businesses. By incorporating sustainable materials and meaningful symbolism, this sculpture serves as a powerful testament to the WBDC’s enduring impact on the entrepreneurial landscape of Chicago.
Explore Ahlers Designs’ portfolio of custom sculptures and learn how we can collaborate to elevate your brand or commemorate your organization’s milestones.
Ahlers Designs is a certified woman-owned business through the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) and the State of Rhode Island.
Gail Ahlers is an active member of the local business community and advocates for small businesses.