🎙️ Check out Shira’s episode on HAVAN’s podcast ‘Measure Twice, Cut Once’
Tell us about yourself & your company?
Shira: DOS Design Group, in a quick summary, is a one stop shop to get Part 9 projects from concept to permit, with first class advice and consulting through every step. I’m a partner with too many hats; Certified Residential designer, Supervisor, Lead Designer, Salesforce Admin and programmer.
How did you get into the residential construction industry?
Shira: My amazing husband, Nicholas Petrie, convinced me we should quit our jobs, start a company designing and/or permitting Residential projects. When he met me, I was designing architectural scale models and working part time in the movies, in sculpting and miniatures. He would ask me to design, laser cut and paint interchangeable walls and structures as terrain for his tabletop games as a way to figure out how to get me to date him.
What keeps you in the industry?
Shira: The freedom to innovate, dream and evolve both technically and creatively. I am challenged on a daily basis with unique Code and Zoning scenarios that keeps work interesting. Plus I have the opportunity to work on projects all over the Province and even in other parts of Canada, so I get to see landscapes in a variety of different climates and locales.
While navigating covid-19, what new opportunities have you discovered?
Shira: I like working from home way too much, and have completely forgotten how to do my hair and makeup … opportunities, not much has changed at work, we’re still ticking along as usual. The great part for us is that due to the technologies that we use to document sites and communicate with each other we were all Cloud based so we could all work remotely without it massively impacting our performance. In fact we have actually gone further and started using more Zoom and Video conferencing than ever before and we can share the recordings from those meetings with everyone which is fantastic.
It’s 11AM Saturday morning, what are you up to?
Shira: Working on LEGO inventions with my 7 year old.
What are your hobbies?
Shira: Honestly, I think it’s work ….. I design houses with my kid for random properties that look cool. I also come up with new Wall Assemblies trying to determine how to reduce costs for construction projects and still keep to the same performance level.
Proudest moment?
Shira: My kid made a triple changer transformer out of scrap Lego!
What have you done in your community in the last year?
Shira: I have been helping out a local not-for-profit autism school, Greater Heights Learning Academy, with donations of furniture, toys and what not to help them with their facilities as well as to raise money for the school as they are a fantastic school.
Best work perk at your job?
Shira: Flexibility
Last HAVAN member you spoke to?
Shira: Damian Newcombe from Newcombe Wood Concepts & Construction, who I am doing this podcast with.
What inspires you?
Shira: TV – sometimes I feel like I live a sitcom.
What are you excited for / looking forward to right now?
Shira: The first Season of Loki, the Witcher Season 2, the new Rick and Morty Season is coming out, basically all of the new shows coming out.
Share an interesting fact about your life?
Shira: My fist job when I came back to Canada after College was an IATSI sculptor for science fiction props.
Last piece of advice you have received?
Shira: “Find a way to make exercise fun and make it a group activity with your Partner.” Also “Don’t leave the Kitchen while you are cooking.”
Starbucks order?
Shira: Iced, decaf, coconut milk Latte
Song on repeat right now?
Shira: Nick loves music so I just listen to whatever he is playing
Where were you born?
Shira: Vancouver
Pets?
Shira: Yes, an adorable Crested Pom mix puppy.
Favourite destination?
Shira: Rome
Does pineapple belong on pizza?
Shira: YES! With balsamic glaze
First concert?
Shira: Janes Addiction maybe?
Last show watched?
Shira: For All Mankind
Fun fact about you?
Shira: For Nick’s first challenge before he got to officially date me, he had to find me a Huichol bead Jaguar while on a trip to Mexico to start our first art collection together. It took him 12 hours of walking from store to store before he found an awesome one in the basement of a building a block from his Hotel – after basically giving up, he randomly decided to go down this set of stairs to get another bottle of water and sees exactly what he had been looking for in the Store across the aisle from the convenience store. Which proved that he was willing to go that extra mile for me.
What do you collect?
Shira: Blown glass hearts and Mexican Huichol bead art
Netflix guilty pleasure?
Shira: Other than that I love science fiction and fantasy shows but really I love the Bridgertons. The Witcher (anything with Henry Cavill in it)
Shira: @dosdesigngroup
