Today we’d like to introduce you to Trystin Kier Francis.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Trystin. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I grew up in New York City’s South Bronx in the ’90s, one of the greatest eras in popular culture. I was born into a Panamanian Afro Latino family. My family immigrated to the United States in the 1960s after previously immigrating from Jamaica, Barbados, and Martinique to help with the building of the Panama Canal. The Panama Canal is a major part of my family’s history.
My childhood was tough growing up in the South Bronx. I wasn’t like the rest of the kids I played with and grew up with. I loved the arts at an early age and fell in love with Jazz music. NYC was my playground and Manhattan was my canvas. I never saw shining examples of excellence in the South Bronx so I continuously sought out the world outside of it. Interestingly enough, my love of design was gifted to me by my mother. I remember her giving me my first Tonka Truck and from that moment, I felt like I could build the world.
Today, I run a successful design and lifestyle brand with several emerging subsidiary brands in development and several that are thriving. I went to communications school for undergrad and fell in love with the idea of being a television broadcaster. I quickly realized broadcasting was not my passion and I was madly in love with the Architecture and Interior Design. I pursued a diploma in Interior Design and I would later go on to receive a Masters in Architecture which essentially solidified my career goals. As a result, I am currently preparing for projects in Maryland, Northern Virginia, and the British West Indies. The saying is true “membership has its rewards”. I am a member of the American Institute of Architects and a proud of the National Organization of Minority Architects.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
The road to success is never smooth unless you’re born with a Silver Spoon in your mouth and even that comes with its own set of challenges. Essentially I liken my experience to that of a Butterfly. I arrived at this level of success through a series of transformational stages. Nothing came easy and everything was a phase. I’ve experienced a wealth of racism and discrimination as a Black designer. I was once mistaken for being a security guard presumably because I was wearing an all-black suit and I am a 6′-6″ tall Black man, go figure. The list of “interesting” interactions is too much to list. Nevertheless, I prevailed and those experiences made me stronger and wiser.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into The Kier Company story. Tell us more about the business.
The Kier Company is a design and lifestyle brand specializing in luxury lifestyle services. We own and operate several subsidiary lifestyle brands that contribute to the fabric of our Company. It was always my vision to create a brand where customers can benefit from multiple service offerings and luxurious experiences. Our number one goal is to turn lifestyles into luxury. Some of our core services include residential and commercial Interior Design and Architecture and we are preparing to segway into Real Estate Development with the sole intention of building boutique hotels, resorts, and casinos in tropical destinations around the world.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I never believed in luck and luck has not contributed to the growth of this brand. The growth of this brand is a combination of blood, sweat, and tears. Every certification, license, client, and achievement was produced and realized by my myself and my team. We built this house brick by brick with our bare hands and the marathon continues.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.thekiercompany.com
- Phone: 3236390015
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @thekiercompany
- Facebook: @thekiercompany
- Twitter: @thekiercompany
- Other: www.iamtrystin.com
Image Credit:
Image Credit for all photos including my headshot come courtesy of Geoffrey Boggs
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