At Best & Company, nothing gives us more satisfaction than knowing we have helped to bring our clients' design vision to life. This Spring, we had the privilege of making that happen for a very special New Yorker—with a very selfless dream.

For many years, Kenneth Wampler—Founder and Executive Director of The Alpha Workshops—dreamed of creating a showroom/gallery space where the artisans who are trained in Alpha's acclaimed Chelsea studio school can share their fine work with the public. Those of you who know Ken—and of his 20 years of tireless dedication to The Alpha Workshops' mission to provide creative HIV-positive individuals with industry-specific training and employment in the decorative arts—know that when this man dreams, he dreams big. And “beautiful.” And he dreams not only for himself, but for the benefit of others, as well.  

Last summer, when Ken told of us of his long-held goal of creating a storefront gallery, and of the budget constraints that had prevented the dream from being fulfilled, Best & Company founders Chip Brian and Mike Daddio stepped up and said: “Let's make it real.” 

Over the next several months leading up to Alpha's 20th Anniversary year, our general contracting and construction teams created a welcoming gallery and upgraded studio spaces with improved lighting, electrical power, custom display cases, a few other little luxuries (including hot running water) that it had never had before. The new storefront space opened on March 30th. We think it's beautiful—and we know it will be useful to the Alpha artisans as well as the design community they serve. 

For this, on Tuesday, May 12th, The Alpha Workshops will be honoring Best & Company founders Chip Brian and Mike Daddio with the organization's prestigious Alpha Award, presented by Wendy Goodman, Design Editor of New York magazine.

We hope our friends will join us at this special event celebrating our founders' commitment to this one-of-a-kind organization and its continuing mission of  “Creating Beauty. Changing Lives.”  

In your good company, there is nothing we can't accomplish.