Janice Trotter

Designing Woman

Janice Trotter
Florida Community College, Class of 2002

Growing up, Janice Trotter loved rearranging and decorating her room in Colorado Springs, but it would take a couple of decades and a move halfway across the country before she would match that love with a career. In 1986, Janice landed in Jacksonville as a Navy petty officer. Settling down and making friends, she started thinking that there might be something else in her future besides a military retirement. After 13 years of service, she left the Navy and began her search for a new direction.

Janice had worked on computers in the military, but it had never been her ambition to work in that field. She took on several jobs, but nothing caught her interest. It was only upon learning about the associate degree program in interior design at Florida Community College that her career path took shape. She would finally have the chance to pursue a long-forgotten ambition. That the program was affordable and close by only made the idea more inviting. So at age 40, Janice went back to school.

She found the instructors to be attentive and engaging. One of her favorite professors was Betsy Davis, now dean of workforce development at Kent Campus. “She was a great instructor,” Janice remembers. “She kept our attention during class, had hands-on assignments and was very knowledgeable about her topic.” Before graduating, Janice interned with Schulte Design Associates. She feels that she benefited greatly from the experience. “I did receive valuable training while there because I learned about and helped maintain the library of samples that they used, went on client consultations and was involved in a few installations of model apartments. All of those activities would be useful in a career.”

In December 2002, after attending full time for two years, Janice received her associate degree in interior design. She now owns her own business, “Refashioned Rooms.” As an interior design consultant, she takes a truly hands-on approach. “This morning I was staining naked furniture for a client, and I loved it,” she says. Janice enjoys not just seeing the finished product, but literally having a hand in it and seeing her client’s idea become reality. Some of her recent projects include designing and decorating a client’s bedroom around a Mardi Gras theme and redesigning a built-in breakfast nook in an Ortega home.

With no intentions of slowing down, working for herself suits Janice well. A Jazzercise instructor on the side for 16 years, she can work clients in on afternoon or evening appointments and have time to shop for fabrics, paint, tile and accessories as well. When asked about her ultimate career goal, she has a ready answer — she’s already there. “This is a realization of a dream.”

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