Anichini
Susan Dollenmaier - CEO and Founder

CEO and Founder Susan Dollenmaier is not your typical company CEO and there is nothing typical about her business: Anichini luxury linens and textiles. To begin, she purposely chose to put roots down in rural Vermont, and to grow the global enterprise of Anichini there. She prefers to bike to work, treats every day as casual Friday, and practices what some might call "democratic management style." She believes that family comes first, which is often imperative with twin 18-year old daughters.

Her laid-back, earthy style can be in sharp contrast to the high-paced world of luxury linens and textiles she has created. Susan is an expert on the topic, and the art, of dressing a bed and setting a table. She is indisputably the genre's connoisseur, with superior taste for the most opulent textures, weaves, patterns, and colors that artisans can create.

Susan's interest in textiles, which began when she was a teenager, was nurtured by her grandmother, who was a dress-maker. She earned her B.A. in Design under Buckminster Fuller-arguably the most creative designer of this century. However, all that she learned about textiles, including their ancient origins, actual weaving techniques, history, and their huge role in culture, is self-taught. It was her expertise, learned in part from her years in the flea-market circuit, and her ambition that led to her outstanding entrepreneurial achievements with Anichini.

Susan says that Anichini's products are tomorrow's antiques. She views her personal collection of antique linens, which she started collecting in college, as an archive from which she draws inspiration for new concepts.

Anichini's collection of antiques, one of the most extensive and valuable in the country, is an example of her innate ability to pick up on what is the absolute best-the "genuine article." She is in the process of producing a reference book for which, she says, the industry has a dire need. Susan is constantly creating, coming up with new ideas, all fueled by her passion for the genuine article, and a zest for life that is unstoppable.

Susan is a woman of vision and the embodiment of the word "entrepreneur". She manages to balance a world-class luxury goods company with clients the likes of royalty and A-list celebrities, plus the duties of a compassionate employer, and also her family life. She believes that there is a new awareness among American consumers, and that they are rejecting the concept of disposability and embrace the pursuit of excellence-excellent quality and a consciousness of the quality of the company behind the products.

Taking into account all the time and dedication she pours into the Anichini business, it is a wonder Susan ever has time for herself. However, she makes the time to participate on the local Waldorf school board, to support charities, to take care of two dogs, and to tend to her stunning garden, nestled next to her home in the lush hills of Vermont. She also considers her friends-many who are counted among the Anichini staff-a top priority.

If you asked Susan what her dream job would be, she would say that she is living the dream today. If you love what you do, the rest falls into place, and that is a luxury that money can't buy!