C&M Design Story
Lori and Dean first met as coworkers for Creative Cabinetry. Lori began in 2011 and Dean was hired in 2017 by the then owners, Mike and Carolyn Gleason. Lori and Dean became fast friends as they both have a love of witty humor and snarky banter making the office environment fun. However, the laughter halted abruptly when they learned of Mike’s sudden passing. Despite the initial shock and great sadness, they worked together with Carolyn to keep the company functioning and make sure outstanding jobs were completed with the enthusiasm and heart of service that Mike brought to everything he did.
Mike’s business plan was to hire competent, passionate employees who he empowered to make decisions; therefore, it was a seamless transition to continue the sincere custom service and outstanding quality that had always been Creative Cabinetry. Mike’s employees, Dean Sebastian and Lori Van Lennep, are now the proud owners of Creative Cabinetry of Amelia Island and strive to carry on Mike’s legacy.
Meet Our Team
Dean H. Sebastian
After a couple years in academia, Dean began a career in the Kitchen and Bath industry in June 2000. He learned the industry’s leading Kitchen and Bath software and quickly moved up to Lead Designer. He also served as Program Developer for his local chapter of the National Kitchen and Bath Association and remains an active member.
View Full BioDean H. Sebastian
Education: The Savannah College of Art & Design
- Master of Fine Arts Degree in Interior Design
Professional Licenses: Certified Kitchen and Bath Designer through the National Kitchen and Bath Association
After a couple years in academia, Dean began a career in the Kitchen and Bath industry in June 2000. He learned the industry’s leading Kitchen and Bath software and quickly moved up to Lead Designer. He also served as Program Developer for his local chapter of the National Kitchen and Bath Association and remains an active member.
Dean’s graduate thesis was a years-long study of how and, more importantly, why styles emerge and grow. Still today, he constantly explores interior design trends analyzing style’s reflection on society and world events.
Dean has an affinity for ergonomics and creating spaces that are extremely effective in meeting the needs and wants of the residents.
Lori Van Lennep
After graduating from Florida State, Lori began her career as a Showroom Administer with Ferguson Enterprises, a leading plumbing supply house. She was responsible for purchasing high-end fixtures, faucets, and appliances for custom homes around the Northeast Florida region. Lori’s shrewd attention to detail and superb customer service skills ensure that a Creative Cabinetry customer will have a successful and enjoyable experience.
View Full BioLori Van Lennep
Education: Florida State University
- 1998 Magna Cum Laude graduate
- Bachelor of Science Degree in Marketing with a Minor in Communications
After graduating from Florida State, Lori began her career as a Showroom Administer with Ferguson Enterprises, a leading plumbing supply house. She was responsible for purchasing high-end fixtures, faucets, and appliances for custom homes around the Northeast Florida region. She was promoted to Showroom Consultant, helping customers design custom kitchens and bathrooms.
After becoming Assistant Manager of the Ferguson Enterprises location, Lori was pursued by numerous local custom home builders to coordinate their construction process.
Lori has worked with custom home builders since 2001. She has performed the construction process duties of Purchasing Manager, Design Consultant, Customer Care Consultant and Operations Associate. She has worked side by side with subcontractors developing construction budgets and scopes of work, as well as working with homeowners to select finishes, finalize designs, and help homeowner’s visions become reality.
Lori’s shrewd attention to detail and superb customer service skills ensure that a Creative Cabinetry customer will have a successful and enjoyable experience.
Nicholas Vanlennep
After starting classes at Tallahassee Community College, the pandemic soon shut down all in-person classes. Nick started working locally in the home building industry learning the fundamentals of residential construction, building codes, and working with subcontractors. After realizing his intrinsic design talents, Nick started working part-time for Creative Cabinetry, also bringing with him remarkable computer skills.
View Full BioNicholas Vanlennep
Education: Fernandina Beach High School
- 2018 honors graduate
After starting classes at Tallahassee Community College, the pandemic soon shut down all in-person classes. Nick started working locally in the home building industry learning the fundamentals of residential construction, building codes, and working with subcontractors. After realizing his intrinsic design talents, Nick started working part-time for Creative Cabinetry, also bringing with him remarkable computer skills.
Currently, Nick is working toward his Kitchen and Bath Designer certification through the National Kitchen and Bath Association.
Meet Mike & Carolyn Gleason
Mike and Carolyn Gleason started their cabinet business out of their home in Long Point in 2003. Named Kempsville Cabinets, after the cabinet line they sold, they saw their business grow. The Gleason’s understood the needs of homeowners in the community and reinvented their company, as a solution-based business, named Creative Cabinetry of Amelia Island. Creative Cabinetry offered full-service design and installation of cabinetry, countertops and closets.
Creative Cabinetry thrived and the Gleason’s developed a reputation for quality service and products that kept homeowners coming for their new construction and remodel needs. The Gleason’s also put together a team of employees who were always treated like family. When Mike passed away suddenly in November 2020 it was a heartbreaking loss for the Gleason and Creative Cabinetry family.
In July 2021 Carolyn sold the business to the employees, as she knew Mike’s management style was to empower his employees and his personal goal was always to lift others up – whether with a kind word, encouragement, and prayer. Mike is dearly missed by all who knew him, but Creative Cabinetry continues on to honor his years of hard work and service.
