Law & Order

Little about the first 35 years of Rob Dinan's life screamed successful kitchen design entrepreneur.

He boxed when he was a teenager. He played football, first at Boston University, then at Gettysburg College. He later embarked on a decade-long career in law enforcement.

Now 39, though, Dinan is in fact in the kitchen design business. The company he co-owns with his wife, Venice-based Kitchens by Kerrie, is a recession anomaly because not many small niche design firms survived the downturn. Moreover, the firm recently expanded, and plans more growth later this year.