Title: Senior Consultant

Company: Restoration by Costikyan Ltd.

Location: Long Island City, N.Y.

June Costikyan is the granddaughter of S. Kent Costikyan, the founder of Kent-Costikyan, Inc., the prestigious oriental carpet company founded in the United States in 1886. She graduated from Kimberley School in Montclair, N.J., attended Erskine School in Boston, Mass., and graduated from Briarcliffe College in New York, where she minored in art history and non-objective art periods. Ms. Costikyan joined her family’s company in the late 1960s as an assistant to the manager of the service department. She was trained by Fred Passenant and Samuel Proodian, who were both employed by the company for more than 50 years.

Their insight and extensive expertise was invaluable to Ms. Costikyan’s professional development. She was exposed to carpet restoration from the eastern and western cultures by traveling with her father to visit clients in small museums and auction houses. After completing an education, Ms. Costikyan was promoted to the sales department to assist her father with buying and selling fine antique and modern carpets. She also headed the special order department and broadloom division. The corporate structure of the company was re-evaluated when her father passed away, though the service division remained active. In 1975, Ms. Costikyan’s third child, Phillip Costikyan Cronin, trained under the supervision of all three elders in the family in order to learn every aspect of the company, from old world methods of cleaning to important delivery standards.

After embarking on a carpet education tour throughout Europe and South Africa, and visiting workshops and galleries, he took on the role of president of the newly restored company, Restoration by Costikyan. Ms. Costikyan was appointed senior consultant to infuse her insight and wisdom to the fifth family generation. The company grew substantially from having eight employees on staff to 45. Likewise, the company’s client base grew. The Vanderbilt Museum in Centerport, N.Y., solicited the company due to their relationship with Phillip’s grandfather, Clarke Costikyan. Other clients include: the Hearst family, Vizcaya Museum and Gardens, The Preservation Society of Newport County, and Miss Doris Duke. Both Ms. Costikyan and her son have lectured on the proper care of carpets at house museums and antique shows. In five years, Ms. Costikyan hopes to continue in the business and train the fifth generation of Costikyans.