Meet The Team

Kara Woods

Owner and Founder: Stage To Move
Entrepreneur | Home Staging & Design Expert | Educator I Investor

Kara Woods is a dynamic entrepreneur with a wealth of experience in home staging, interior design, and real estate investment. As the owner of a successful home staging and design firm, Kara brings creative vision and precision to every project. She also runs MPJ Properties, a company focused on property investments, allowing her to blend her passion for design with strategic real estate expertise.

In addition to managing her businesses, Kara is a dedicated educator. She teaches a course at the Academy of Home Staging and Design, where she helps aspiring entrepreneurs launch their own businesses and develop their skills in staging and design. Kara is also a CE teacher for the real estate industry, sharing her knowledge to help professionals advance in their careers.

Whether working on design projects, guiding new business owners, or investing in properties, Kara is driven by a commitment to excellence and a passion for helping others succeed.

Kelly Melanophy

Senior Design Consultant

Kelly is the senior design consultant at Stage to Move with numerous years in the design business. Kelly specializes in spatial planning and interior styling and has been a part of the team for six years. Before joining Stage to Move, Kelly worked in the retail design market and brings aestethic appeal to her spaces and a sense of calm and compassion to each and every client. Kelly thrives on expanding her knowledge and creative skills, while creating beautiful spaces.

When Kelly is not working with the team, she enjoys spending time with family and friends (especially her most precious grandkids and pups!) finding time at the beach as well as some DIY and gardening. 

Kelly is a design mogul who truly encapsulates gorgeous styling, holiday décor and tablescapes, making her an asset to each project.  

Christina Foley

Head of Marketing and Client Support

With over three years at Stage to Move, Christina brings her positivity and passion for people to her role. Her dedication to enhancing client experiences and fostering happiness is at the heart of everything she does.

Before joining Stage to Move, Christina was part of the Product Development team at Timex, where she contributed to the design and marketing of children’s watches.

Residing in Connecticut with her lifelong friend and husband, Jordan, Christina enjoys exploring the world, hiking, and cherishing moments with family. A true social butterfly, she thrives on connecting with new people and building meaningful relationships.

Heather Rus

Head of Staging and Logistics

Heather is a dynamic Certified Home Stager with a passion for transforming spaces into visually captivating, aesthetically pleasing environments. With a deep-rooted passion for design and an extensive real estate background, Heather delivers creative and impactful design solutions to clients as Stage to Move’s Lead Designer and staging project manager. She brings a blend of aesthetic expertise, efficiency and care to every project. 

Heather resides in New Fairfield, Connecticut with her husband Lukasz, their two children and multiple furry friends. In her spare time, Heather enjoys spending time outdoors with her family and friends and traveling whenever able. 

With a strong eye for detail and a passion for creating spaces that inspire, Heather helps clients make thoughtful design decisions that transform their homes and businesses. From initial concept to final installation, Heather leads with a commitment to exceptional quality, seamless service, and designs that truly reflect the essence of each client.

Sueli Mendez

Design Consultant | Certified Staging Professional |Professional Organizer

With three years of experience in organizing and design consulting, Sueli brings a unique blend of creativity, strategic thinking, and attention to detail to every project. Passionate about creating functional and aesthetically pleasing environments, Sueli specializes in helping clients transform their spaces and workflows into organized, efficient, and visually harmonious areas. Sueli is Certified in Home Stager and when paired with a solid foundation of experience and a passion for helping clients feel more organized and inspired, she continues to make a meaningful impact in the design consulting industry.

Courtney Shafer

Lead Design Consultant | Certified Staging Professional

After calling New York City home for nearly two decades, Courtney moved with her husband and two children to beautiful Fairfield County. With a passion for design and interiors, Courtney has renovated several of her own properties, including one in a historic jute factory, a century year old craftsman style home in Brooklyn, and most recently, a modern contemporary in Weston, CT. With the straightforward principle that every home tells a story, Courtney helps create cohesive looks that transform any space into an inspired home.

When Courtney’s not staging or driving across state lines for vintage finds, she enjoys raising her kids Eve and Lincoln with her husband, Jesse.

Ana Marie Galofre

Interior Design Consultant | Interior Architect

Ana has been an architect and design dynamo since the day she first picked up a drafting pencil. From leading high-profile projects like libraries and senior housing to mastering CGI and 3D modeling, Ana is as comfortable with stakeholders as she is with SketchUp. Known for her relentless pursuit of innovative materials (and a few too many coffee-fueled design sprints), she thrives on turning big ideas into even bigger realities. With a knack for complex problem-solving and a killer dance move or two, Ana brings a vibrant mix of creativity, strategy, and just enough flair to keep everyone on their toes.