| Sisters
Share Creativity Gene |
By Sabrina Enayatulla
Observer Staff Writer |
| It's not everyday that family ties turn into business partnerships,
but for sisters Susan Rose and Karen Loehr, it seemed natural
to merge their talents and eventually form their own company.
|
| The sisters were born on a prairie in Kansas and moved to
Reston with their parents and two brothers in 1976, where
they attended Herndon High School. Their father worked for
the government and their mother was a local artist. The Jo
Ann Rose Art Gallery in Reston is named for their mother. |
| As the girls got older, Rose moved back west to attend Kansas
University, where she majored in journalism, and later went
to Tufts University in Massachusetts, where she earned her
master's degree in urban and environmental policy. Loehr,
who is three years older than Rose, stayed on the east coast
and earned her bachelor of fine arts degree from the Corcoran
School of Art. |
| Rose has 16 years experience developing communications materials
that explain complex, technical information. |
| Her career began as an editor for high-tech, electronics
publications. Over the years, she has specialized in writing
brochures, newsletters, and other materials to educate targeted
audiences about programs or products. Rose's expertise is
explaining complex technical information to audiences with
no prior subject-matter knowledge. |
| Loehr has 20 years of experience designing and producing
corporate identity systems, including logos, proposals, and
marketing materials. Her expertise is executing complex projects
from concept to design, such as annual reports, proposals
and trade show materials. |
| As a senior designer at Computer Sciences Corporation, Loehr
won numerous awards including the American Institute of Graphic
Arts 50, Art Directors Club of Metropolitan Washington, and
the District Two Addy. Loehr's work appears in the books "Creativity
30" and "Creativity 29," for which her work received a gold
medal. |
| She also won the Washington Printer's Guild, Best Use of
Paper and the Silver Inkwell Award of Merit. |
| Loehr's association experience includes working as art director
for the Door and Hardware Institute and publications coordinator
for the American Production and Inventory Control Society. |
| About four years ago, they decided to form Two Sisters Creative
Inc. "She made me do it," Rose said with a smile. "But I also
let her be president," Loehr added. |
| Loehr is the company's creative director. |
| Although the sisters' talent and creativity blend so well
together, the women say they still find time to do what they
loved before they started the company. |
| For Loehr, her comfort is in her artwork, for Rose, it's
in her writing. Loehr said she often retreats to her art studio
in Bethesda, Md., where she knows her creativity can flow
without being analyzed. No clients to tell her what colors
mesh well, only her creative juices, a few quiet hours and
a paintbrush is all it takes for Loehr to get re-energized.
|
| Rose has been known for her yearly Christmas letters to
family and friends about her antics as a single woman living
in the suburbs. Some friends suggested she write a book and
so, "Confessions of a Frog Kisser," a book about what it's
like trying to find a good guy in suburbia, was published
earlier this month. |
| Since the company's inception about four years ago the sisters
say they have learned a lot from each other not only as sisters
but also as friends. Loehr said she admires her little sister's
business mind and has come to respect her steadfastness and
determination. Rose said she has never met someone as talented
as her older sister and said it is mind-boggling to watch
her create. |
| And although the sisters say their work is ultimately about
the client, they rely on each other for more than just a business
partnership. "We plan on getting old together," Loehr said.
"We plan on being 80 years old and living it up in Las Vegas." |
| For more information call 703-796-9077 or visit www.twosisterscreative.com. |
