Alyssa's Homecoming: How she created a jaw-dropping showroom that celebrates her local roots
Even as Alyssa Armesto is in the thick of preparing for Tangram Interiors’ new Fresno showroom grand opening party, she is warm and gracious in welcoming me into the beautiful space, as if the interview is not another task within her jam-packed day, but a cherished catch-up with an old friend.
As Vice President, Central Valley at Tangram Interiors, Alyssa has had her hands in every aspect of this showroom project from day one when the company made the decision to move into their new 6,500 square-foot space at 7700 N Palm Ave, Suite 110.
Originally from Fresno, Alyssa relocated to Southern California to attend Azusa Pacific University where she met her Los Angeles-native husband, Nick, and together they decided to put down roots in Orange County. She began her journey with Tangram 12 years ago in sales at the company’s Newport Beach office, but when offered a leadership position in her hometown of Fresno in 2019, she decided to make the move with her family. Alyssa was then promoted to her current VP position, which includes overseeing both the Fresno and Bakersfield showrooms. As such, she is an integral member of Tangram’s largely female-led team, which in 2023 was declared a certified Women’s Business Enterprise (WBE) by the National Women’s Business Enterprise Council when Sonya Mitrovich Lozowski, MD, assumed her Chairman position.
As a certified woman-owned business, Tangram Interiors makes amazing spaces in the workplace, education, and healthcare markets. A flagship dealer for furniture manufacturer, Steelcase, the company is the leading commercial interior solutions provider in the Central Valley, Southern California, and Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas with six total showroom locations.
Of Tangram Fresno’s 12 employees, ten are women.
“Shout-out to the two guys on our local team. They mesh well and bring great energy to the office,” Alyssa laughs.
Alyssa is now a mother of three. As a working mom and leader of many other working parents in the office, she’s prioritized being an intentional supporter of those who are carefully balancing parenting and work.
“Whether it’s through offering empathy, autonomy, or choice and control over how my team completes their work, I try to empower the working parents in the office to feel they can be successful in both facets of their lives,” says Alyssa
Tangram has a flexible hybrid policy, but you’ll find most employees in the office on any given weekday.
“With the culture that we’ve built, it feels as if everyone wants to come in. They enjoy being together and the flexibility is there if they want to take advantage of it. There is no pressure to clock in or out, so, when our team comes in, they do so with a purpose. And I think that's incredible.”
One of the aspects that makes the Tangram Fresno team excited to come into the office is the office itself. The space is truly jaw-dropping and even better experienced in person, feeling like you’ve stepped into a living Architectural Digest feature. With its official grand opening celebrated on September 12, the functional showroom pays homage to Fresno’s rich landscape, agriculture, and culture through its design, furniture, graphics, and materiality. Almond blossom graphics on the workstations, watercolor mountains on the walls, a preserved plant wall, accessories sourced from Clovis antique shops, art curated from local artists, and a conference room inspired by Shaver Lake all connect the space to Fresno’s natural heritage.
The showroom not only showcases the scenic beauty of Fresno but also serves as a functional space for Tangram's team.
“Our space is designed to be aspirational for our clients but also functional for our team because we work here. It’s dual purpose,” says Alyssa.
The Fresno showroom is outfitted with a variety of materials and textures to demonstrate the vast array of options available to clients. It includes different areas for various modes of working and socializing, from glass-walled meeting rooms to a beautiful central kitchen, Orangebox private booths, and a Wellness room equipped with nature soundscaping technology. Tangram Technology has integrated state-of-the-art technology throughout the space to support a hybrid workforce, reflecting the evolving nature of work environments.
“Spaces are changing, and we wanted to support our clients by showing them what the office of the future can look like, Fresno style. For every environment, we were mindful of the functionality and how the technology functions in the space,” says Alyssa.
After almost two years of marking up floorplans and selecting swatches, opening the doors to Tangram Fresno’s new home is a full-circle moment for Alyssa as she welcomes the local community—her hometown and now her current home—to a space that celebrates many of the reasons why she returned in the first place.
“Even though we're a large organization, we are local through and through. Fresno is my hometown, so it is pretty incredible and rewarding to be able to service the valley and expose them to everything that Tangram has to offer,” says Alyssa.
