Lorraine Sheldon is an outstanding volunteer and community leader whose interests are as numerous as her creative talents.
As the principal of Quetzal Designs International Inc., Sheldon provides her clients with everything from interior programming and design to construction administration. Her attention to detail, creativity and professionalism account for her prestigious client list. Of course, those same remarkable qualities also have benefited those organizations in which she participates as a volunteer.
Born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, Sheldon moved to Miami 20 years ago. A beautiful woman inside and out, she possesses a generous spirit accounting for her involvement in community service early on as aGirl Scout and later as president of her sorority at the University of Oregon where she earned a bachelor’s in Interior Architecture.
After moving to South Florida and starting her own business, Sheldon resumed her involvement in philanthropy as her work enabled her to move around the community more freely and become exposed to individuals and organizations that were making a positive impact.
Becoming a Coral Gables Rotarian certainly gave her the opportunity to share her many talents and her passion for helping others. Sheldon has chaired the club’s Community Service Committee that participated in countless hands-on programs and projects including, over the years, cleaning up the coastline, planting trees in local neighborhoods, supporting veteran’s activities, offering extra hands for charity fundraisers all over Miami and raising funds to support youth activities.
Most recently, she helped run the auction portion of the club’s major fundraiser to benefit NPH USA’s Haiti Orphanage. Sheldon, whose smile lights up a room, is one of those people that takes on volunteer jobs with little fanfare and always pulls off any challenge. She is a member of The Villagers Inc., an organization that protects, advocates for, and promotes the community’s special places, structures, sites and objects which have architectural, cultural, environmental or historical significance.
When Sheldon is not volunteering her time or taking care of her many clients, she enjoys working in her garden that currently consists of banana trees, a star fruit tree, miniature citrus trees and a large herb garden. Having played soccer as a teenager, she also still enjoys running with the ball for exercise.
She loves being surrounded by likeminded people who want to share their time, resources, and ideas to help others realize their dreams. She believes that an encouraging word, a little money and a helping hand are often all that is needed.
