Manufacturing CEO of over 30 Years
Sustainable Product Designer of over 30 Years
I have built multiple manufacturing facilities in the USA and visited manufacturing facilities in over 40 countries (traveled to over 55). I initiated and managed manufacturing contracts in the USA, Italy, Mexico, Peru, China, India, Vietnam, and Turkey, starting in the late 1980s.
I am the author of several books, including Climate Change and Interior Design, and have lectured at colleges, ASID, AIA, and USGBC.
As a product designer, I specialize in re-inventing, designing, and producing eco-responsible consumer goods. I’ve used bio-degradable and compostable Bio-Plastics for injection and hand casting, up-cycled iron cast, welded and forged iron, machined and cast aluminum, bamboo, and FSC Certified wood products, GOTS Certified organic cotton and textiles for bed, bath, draperies, and upholstery. I’ve also designed with Eco-Silk, natural woolen fibers, and alpaca wool, as well as developed patented zero-VOC food-based paint, hardware, furniture, and low-VOC flooring.
Current Project
Glass Boxes LLC
2020 to Present – Founder and CEO – Prefabricated Homes, Made in the USA, Modular Certified, Inspired by International Modern, Mid-Century Modern, and the architecture of Mies van der Rohe and Philip Johnson. Our ‘Glass Boxes’ are designed in-house and contracted to manufactured home companies. We provide custom double and triple pane windows up to 10′ tall with wide open spaces and ceilings up to 10’8″. Biophilic spaces to bring nature indoors. We also have a ‘Chilled’, reduced temperature home site and community in the works that reduces exterior homes site temperatures up to 18 degrees from ambient temperatures.
Past Project
The Healthiest Paint You Can Buy™
2002 to 2023 – Founder and CEO – Patented, healthy paint made with up to 96% food ingredients.
Our patented food-based wall paint is easy to use and applies and protects like standard interior wall paint. Made with milk casein, food-grade bamboo cellulose, food emulsifiers, fungicide, bactericide, mildew retardants, and preservatives.
Past Project
Anna Sova Home L.P.
2002 – 2022 – Founder and CEO – Luxurious, Eco-Responsible Home Products and Manufacturing Company. Lead Product Designer specializing in international manufacturing of all products used in the home from bamboo flooring made without formaldehyde, organic wool, and cotton carpets, to my patented paints made from up to 99 % food grade ingredients, and home textiles for bed and bath made from organic cotton. 2002 SKAL Certified and in 2018 GOTS Certified. Also developed essential oil aromatherapy bed, bath, and body products.
We had a flagship store in ABC Home NY for eight years. Our products were carried in Nieman Marcus, Bloomingdale’s, and specialty linen stores in three countries. After over twenty wonderful years, we closed Anna Sova Home. It was fun!
Past Project
BLW Properties L.L.C.
1996 – 2010 – Founder, CEO, and Owner – Over a 14-year period, in the Dallas Design District, I separately purchased three adjacent buildings: 140, 138, and 136 Glass Street. I also purchased a 1.5-acre parking lot on Record Street which I later ‘traded’ (the trade also involved monogrammed towels) for the over 1.5-acre rail bed behind my building. I extensively renovated the 45,000 sq. ft. building combined with the rail bed parking lot for a total of 2 acres. In 2006 the building burned down and in 2009 I sold the 2 acres profitably. I also rebuilt the business in a new building and sold it profitably in 2017. I named the company after my grandmother, Barbara Lewis Walker, a successful businesswoman and my mentor.
Past Project
The Antique Drapery Rod Co. Inc.
1992 to 2017 – Founder and CEO – Manufacturing historically authentic window hardware, ready-made draperies, and accessories. We managed between 60 to 200 employees for 23 years. Our products were sold to Neiman Marcus, Bloomingdale’s, Bed Bath and Beyond, Sears The Great Indoors, Calico Corners, and over 300 independent retail stores. In 2017, after 25 years and over 150 Million in sales, I sold the company. It is still operating successfully today, 32 years later.
Past Projects
WAWACO Restaurant Design and Management
1984 to 1990 – Founder and CEO – Renovated to profit two restaurants. Designed and built 3 restaurants from scratch. General Management of 4 restaurants and purchasing contracts for 4 units plus two other restaurants, managed up to 120 employees and sold my investments profitably. I built and owned Nero’s Italian the first seven years. After I sold Neros, it was open a total of 26 years.
WAWACO Interior and Product Design
1976 to 1984 – Founder and CEO – Interior and Product Design, commercial and residential. A Licensed General Contractor, my staff and I managed up to 60 contractors per job site.
Greensmile Interior Landscaping
1974 to 1976 – Founder and President – Landscaping for commercial and residential properties. Managed 3 employees, multiple management contracts, and sold the contracts to start an Interior design company.
Whitney with Captain Paul Watson on a Sea Shepherd mission.
Service Projects
Ecclesiastic Projects:
- St. Michael and All Angels Church (SMAA) member since childhood
- SMAA Church 6th Grade Confirmation Teacher
- SMAA Mission work in Cabrini Green, Chicago
- SMAA Mission work with the Lakota Indians in South Dakota
- SMAA Mission work in Santiago, Cuba
Homeless Hiring Projects:
- Implemented Homeless Hiring Programs thru WAWACO and The Antique Drapery Rod Co Inc. for over 30 years. Have brought over 100 people off the street for different periods of time, including many permanently
- Ms. Walker is near completion of a book on how entrepreneurs and C-level executives can hire or help hire the homeless thru their businesses and corporate or charitable organizations
- Published a YouTube Channel with employees’ personal stories about hiring off the street. Watch Now
Environmental Projects:
- Member of SeaShepherd.org for over twenty years. Volunteered as a vegan chef on several small campaigns
- Member of the Captain Paul Watson Foundation
- Past (and some current) membership in numerous environmental organizations: Greenpeace, Neptunes Navy, Environmental Defense Fund, Earth Justice, Union of Concerned Scientists, Sierra Club, National Audubon Society.
- Pro Bono talks at Colleges, ASID, TAID, and USGBC, regarding her book Climate Change and Interior Design
Social Memberships:
- Past Member Board of the Dallas Opera
- Past Member of the Dallas Montaigne Club
- Past Member of The Dallas Gun Club (sporting clays)
- Past Member of The National Horse Show of America (showed 3 Gaited Equitation, Roadster, and Fine Harness)
Public Interest Groups:
- Over twenty-year member of Planned Parenthood
- Habitat for Humanity Donor
Whitney with Captain Paul Watson on a Sea Shepherd mission.