Monika King
Monika King is an accomplished architectural consultant and relationship-driven sales professional with more than two decades of experience in the building materials industry. Based in the Metro Washington, D.C. area, she specializes in Division 8 and 10 products, including toilet partitions, washroom accessories, lockers, doors, and openings. While public restrooms are often overlooked in commercial design, Monika has built a career around transforming those spaces into environments that prioritize privacy, safety, functionality, and aesthetics. She represents high-quality manufacturers whose products elevate both the experience and design of commercial interiors, helping clients create spaces that are not only practical but thoughtfully designed for the people who use them every day.
Currently serving as an Architectural Consultant with Arch Resources, LLC, Monika works closely with architects, designers, contractors, and commercial clients to develop tailored specification solutions for projects across the region. Her broad experience throughout the building materials industry—including decorative finishes, flooring, walk-off mat systems, and architectural products—allows her to see projects holistically rather than focusing on a single product category. Known for her honesty and integrity, Monika is respected for always recommending what is best for the project, even when that means suggesting a competitor’s solution. Her relationship-centered approach, combined with deep technical knowledge and an ability to connect people across industries, has made her a trusted advisor and valued partner throughout the commercial real estate and design communities.
Beyond her professional work, Monika is a passionate advocate for women in commercial real estate and leadership development. She currently serves as chapter president of CREW Maryland Suburban, part of the global Commercial Real Estate Women Network organization dedicated to advancing women in the industry and creating opportunities for leadership and collaboration. She is also actively involved in volunteer and community initiatives, including Girl Scouts leadership and cultural organizations. Guided by values of integrity, resilience, lifelong learning, and authenticity, Monika continues to build meaningful relationships while helping shape functional, inclusive, and beautifully designed commercial spaces.
• CREW Leadership Certificate (2025)
• Alvernia University
Bachelor of Science (B.S.), Psychology of Organizational Behavior
• Northern Virginia Community College
Business Certificate, Social Media
• Indiana University of Pennsylvania
None, Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences
• Girl Scouts Appreciation Pin (2025)
• CREW Rising Leader Award (2024)
• CREW-to-CREW Business Award with Michelle for Reagan Airport Project (2025)
• Gauverband Nordamerika Richter (15 years)
• Commercial Real Estate Women Networking (CREW) - Maryland Suburban Chapter President
• AIADC - Corporate Sponsorship
• Alt Washingtonia Schuplattler Verein - Vice President
• Gauverband North America (German Dancing Organization)
• Girl Scouts Service Unit - Cookie Booth Coordinator
• Girl Scouts Service Unit - Cookie Booth Coordinator
• Girl Scouts Leader (past and present)
• Gauverband North America (German Dancing 501c3 Organization)
• Commercial Real Estate Women Networking (CREW) - Non-profit focused on bringing women a seat at the table
What do you attribute your success to?
I think being able to be outside that box and understand different perspectives is key to my success. Building those personal relationships is a huge part of how you are successful in my industry. I had a president of the division from Sherwin-Williams who once said that friends buy from friends, so go out and make a lot of friends. And being honest about what works - if my product isn't the right fit, I am never going to suggest something that is not going to work, because that backfires and it doesn't speak well of you. That's been a huge part of what makes me successful. I'm recommended by my peers all the time because of this approach.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Don't be afraid to ask for your worth. There are so many times, even now, it seems so silly that all these years later we are still talking about how women are still underpaid versus men. In this industry, in building materials and construction, it is still very male-dominated. It is really hard to prove your worth, but knowing your worth, showing what you have done to get there, and then asking for it and not backing down - you have to advocate for yourself in that respect.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Always push yourself to grow. Education doesn't stop when you graduate college. You need to be part of networking groups that can help elevate you and help pull you forward. And do not ever take less than what you feel you are worth. These are the key things I would tell any young woman entering this industry.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Pay and salary are probably the biggest challenges. There are a lot of companies where their expectation of what they're going to pay you is like $70,000 to $90,000 a year, and I live in Metro D.C. - Northern Virginia is not a cheap area to live in. I'm on my own, and my worth, my contacts, and my book of business that I take the time to build is worth more than that, well more than that. Beyond compensation, no one knows what the economy is going to do, so right now people are afraid to pull the trigger on certain projects because they don't know if they're going to have the funding to do the project. Construction, even though it's a very lucrative industry, everybody's still sort of unsure. Sometimes when you have hopes that a project's going to go through and you've been working on it, it might get held because they don't know if funding's going to come in or if they're going to be able to spend that money.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Integrity is probably the very biggest one. Being flexible and having an open mind are also crucial. I had a boss one time who told me there are people that are in the box, and then there are people that are outside the box, and that I was so outside the box, I knew that there was one, I just had no idea where I left it. But in my job, that's helpful. In my personal life, I have had to learn to be very resilient. I've had to learn how to tuck and roll, and it's not easy. But every day, I get up and I show my daughter what it looks like to be successful. Being successful means being happy, means being able to provide for her, being able to show her the example of standing on my own two feet. Because otherwise, I would have stayed in a a situation that wasn't healthy.
Milestone Moments
Girl Scouts has always been a huge part of my life, my sister's and my mom's. I'm proud that my daughter is a 3rd generation of Girl Scouts in our family.