|
|
|
Meet the Staff
|
Maria
McGill - Sarospatak, Hungary. Maria moved from Hungry
to St Petersburg, FL when she was 16. After high school, Maria
wanted to learn the Vienesse Wlatz. So she went to the local
Fred Astaire Dance Studio, where she quickly became a successful
dance instructor.
Steve McGill
- Wichita Falls, TX. Steve started in the dance industry with
Fred Astaire Studios in 1972 where he met Maria (and it was
love at first site!).
Steve and Maria moved to Texas
for a short while before coming back to gorgeous St Petersburg
where they opened a studio of their own. After 16 years running
a successful dance studio in St. Pete and welcoming their
beloved son, Chris, in 1993, Maria and Steve started Designs
to Shine in 1996 - and the rest is history!
Steve & Maria are also
NDCA adjudicators. |
 |
Summer Gray
- Clearwater FL. Started working at Designs to Shine in 2000,
as an intern in the stoning department and has stayed ever since.
Now as Creative Director for Designs to Shine, Budapest, and
Entrada Couture, Summer splits time between the Design Studio
in Florida, and traveling to competitions to design dresses
face-to-face. |
 |
RuthiePerkins
- Nashville, TN. Took up Ballroom Dancing in 1999 as pro-am
and has since achieved numerous accomplishments including U.S.
and World Open Pro-Am Smooth Champion, 10 Dance Champion, 9
Dance Champion and numerous Ohio Star Ball Championships in
addition to many others. Ruthie met Maria in 2001 and developed
a friendship that in 2006 would turn into a buisness relationship
as well. Ruthie has been with Designs to Shine since 2006 as
a Sales Representative. |
|
Selena Morano
- |
 |
Michelle Butler
- Chicago, IL. University of Wisconsin. After school, Michelle
traveled abroad extensively. After spending nearly 10 years
traveling from the Far East to Great Britain to North Africa
and then to South East Asia, Michelle, her husband and son,
moved to Florida to be closer to family. She has been with Designs
to Shine since 2004 and is now our Sales and Business Manager. |
|
Jessica Ayers -
Hanover, PA. York College of Pennsylvania. After school, Jessica
moved to Florida in 2005. She has been working with Designs
to Shine since 2006 and is now involved with Production Management,
HR, and Marketing. |
 |
Laura Riley
- Cleveland, OH. Northern Kentucky University, located adjacent
to downtown Cincinnati. She has been working with Designs
to Shine since 2008 as our newest edition to our sales team. |
 |
Paul Lopez
- San Antonio, TX. International Fine Arts College, Miami FL
& Art Institute of Chicago. Paul relocated to Florida, via
LA, to continue his career as a Theatre Costume Designer. Since
2006, Paul has been with Designs to Shine and is now the Purchasing
Agent for the company. |
| Photo Coming Soon |
Ilona Buckner
(Maria's Sister) - Rochester, NY. After living in Texas for
a few years, Ilona moved to St. Petersburg has been working
with Maria ever since the conception of Designs to Shine. Ilona
is our Master Stoner and is the supervisor of all dress embellishments.
|
 |
Eva Varga
- Budapest, Hungary. Eva moved to Philadelphia, PA in 1988 and
then to Florida in 1997 to be closer to family. Eva and Maria
met as friends about 1 year before Eva moved to Florida and
she has been working with Maria ever since. Eva is our Expert
Seamstress/Tailor. |
 |
Ioulia Sviagotor
- Moscow, Russia. Ioulia started with Designs to Shine in 2000
after completing 2 bachelors degrees, in Fashion Design and
Inter-Cultural Communications. She is our head designer and
specializes in the draping style and funky designs that Maria's
gowns are especially known for. |
|
|
