Introducing Kelly Nelson, CJ’s New Director of Sales
The commercial interiors industry is always changing. From styles and materials to the way people use their workplaces, there’s always something new to consider. But the goal remains the same: to create spaces where people feel comfortable and can do their best work.
At CJ & Associates, helping our clients make those decisions means continuing to learn ourselves. We need to understand what’s available, look beyond what we’ve done before, and bring ideas that make sense for each business and its people.
Welcoming Kelly Nelson as Director of Sales is part of that investment in our customers, our partners, and our team. With 15 years of experience in commercial interiors, Kelly brings a view of the industry that reaches well beyond our local market.
A Broader View of the Industry
Kelly has spent his career on the manufacturing side of commercial interiors, working with dozens of dealers across the country. His work has connected him with architects, designers, and businesses ranging from small companies to Fortune 1000 organizations.
He’s had the opportunity to see how different dealers work, how they support their customers, and how they approach challenges. He brings those experiences to CJ, along with ideas we can put to work for our team and customers.
At CJ, Kelly will use that experience to help us look at our own processes, build on what we do well, and identify where a different approach could benefit our customers. He’ll focus on supporting our business development team, building relationships within the architecture and design community, and working with our vendor partners to better support our customers.
Why CJ Felt Like a Fit
When Kelly first sat down with President Kim Hastings, he felt like they had known each other for years. As they talked about CJ, its family ownership was something he could relate to. Kelly grew up in a family that owned sawmills in the hardwood timber and lumber industry, and he appreciates the flexibility to sit down, talk through a challenge, and find a solution without layers of approvals.
He also understands the special kind of trust customers place in a family-owned business, knowing the people behind the name stand by their work.
As Kelly was introduced to the people across sales, design, and operations, he found a team that was excited to come to work and truly cared about helping the people they worked with every day.
It didn’t take long to see that the culture at CJ was something truly special.
More Than a Place to Work
What Kelly enjoys most is working with business owners who are excited to give their employees a great place to work and their customers a welcoming place to visit. We spend so much of our day at work, and he’s passionate about helping businesses see what’s possible for their space.
A better workplace doesn’t always require a large budget. Sometimes it starts with rethinking a layout, choosing furniture that better supports the work, or helping a customer understand options they haven’t considered.
With so many products, decisions, and details involved, commercial interiors can feel complicated. Kelly believes part of our job is to help customers take it one step at a time. They don’t need to be experts in furniture or space planning. They need people who will answer their questions and help them make decisions with confidence.
His approach to customer service comes back to the Golden Rule: treat others the way you would want to be treated.
Passing Along What He’s Learned
When Kelly talks about his career, he gives credit to the leaders and mentors who invested in him. They shared advice, introduced him to people, and helped him find opportunities he might not have had on his own.
“I’ve been blessed to work with great leaders and mentors throughout my career. So much of where I am today is because of their wisdom and the opportunities they helped create for me,” Kelly says. “I’m looking forward to paying that forward.”
That part of his story says a lot about how he wants to lead at CJ & Associates. He knows what it feels like to have someone take an interest in your future, and he wants to offer that same support to others.
Outside of work, Kelly spends much of his time with his wife, their young sons, Bradley and Luke, and their English Setter, Trudy. As a family, they enjoy fishing, hunting, and visits to the Brookfield Farmers Market and the Milwaukee County Zoo.
We’re pleased to welcome Kelly to CJ & Associates as we continue investing in our team and the clients we serve across Wisconsin. Get to know Kelly and connect with him on LinkedIn.
