Suzanne Frasier, ASID
Associate Professor at the School of Architecture and Planning, Morgan State Uni
Alejandra Delgado, Associate ASID
Alejandra Delgado is a designer + technical lead in the health studio at Gensler’s DC office.
Alejandra has 18 years of experience across multiple firms, multiple states, and multiple practice areas; and has been specializing in healthcare environments design for the last 6 years for clients such as Children’s National Hospital, Mary's Center, Shady Grove Fertility, amongst others.
She is a skilled project leader with knowledge in planning, design and technical leadership. That is passionate about creating and realizing beautiful and functional environments that facilitate healing and well-being.
Alejandra has a diverse skill set, with extensive experience in both the corporate, hospitality and healthcare sectors. Her unique cultural understanding and experiences influence her design aesthetic, and her leadership style.
Aliza Goldsmith, Allied ASID, LEED GA
Aliza Goldsmith is an Interior Design Professional at HOK in Los Angeles. With a background in community organizing and government affairs, Aliza brings a unique perspective, skillset, and track record of leadership to the profession. While caring for a sick parent, she witnessed the impact of the built environment firsthand, which inspired her to switch careers and pursue design. Aliza now works on healthcare projects, always mindful of the end user’s experience. As an inaugural E. Todd Wheeler Healthcare Fellow at Perkins and Will, Aliza conducted research on the burnout crisis facing healthcare workers, which gave her insight into the value of incorporating academic research into the design process. Aliza believes that thoughtful design can promote dignity, reduce burnout, and support patients and caregivers during a vulnerable time. She considers herself a design advocate and feels privileged to make a meaningful impact on people through her work.Patricia Hernandez, Associate ASID, IIDA
Patricia Hernandez, a Mexican-born DREAMER, moved to California with her parents when she was just seven years old. She experienced the challenges and dangers of being an undocumented immigrant at an early age. With the unwavering support of her parents, she pursued her dream of becoming an architect despite being an undocumented student. She graduated with a Bachelor of Architecture from the NewSchool of Architecture and Design in San Diego, and later became a Dreamer under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. Today, she is a Senior Designer at Gensler San Jose, one of the world’s largest interiors and architecture firms. She is passionate about using her design skills to promote equity and social justice for all.
Hojung Kim, NCARB
Hojung Kim is an Assistant Professor in the School of Interior Architecture at the University of Tennessee. His research involves exploring the intersection of vernacular and local construction techniques with contemporary design technologies to address the architectural issues faced by marginalized communities. He uses an interdisciplinary approach to investigate cultural, socio-economic, and environmental issues, ranging from urban planning to interior design. Previously, Hojung gained experience in various design and project management roles at internationally acclaimed firms in Los Angeles, New York City, and Seoul. Hojung holds a Bachelor of Architecture from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and a Master of Architecture from Yale University.
Janeallison Ng, ASID, NCIDQ
Janeallison Ng is a Chicago-based interior designer, artist, and humanitarian. Jane joined SCB in 2016 and has engaged in the first Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Opportunity committee, first Data Analytics and Visualization group, internal design competition juror, and co-chaired the Campus Environments Research and Development group. She is an active member in the A&D industry as a NeoCon Judge, CAC Newhouse Architecture + Design Competition Judge, and participates in industry competitions and events.
Jane’s practice is dedicated to creating spaces that support student success and promote wellness. She has worked on campuses nationwide designing the interiors of academic buildings, office spaces, dining halls, and residence halls.
After her Peace Corps service, she has an inherent drive to continue to volunteer. Jane is passionate about taking what she knows and using it for good with charitable organizations including Designs for Dignity, The Humanity Share, Habitat for Humanity and (re)group.
Annie Portner, ASID
Annie Portner lives and breathes Philadelphia. She is a licensed interior designer, focusing on workplace design, as well as an evolving client relations/business development leader at Gensler Philadelphia. She dives into every aspect of the Philadelphia community, from being a community gardener, to an avid recreational sports teammate, to a repeat cake baker/donater to foster homes (yes that’s a thing!). On the weekend you can find Annie running whatever race Philly is hosting on the Parkway that weekend, and then later that evening at a new trending restaurant. Annie brings her “let’s do this” energy to her job every day, and is deeply involved in Gensler’s own culture and committees such as Social Media and Community Impact, but also the industry as a whole. As a member of IIDA, CCBA, and CoreNet (Vice Chair of Young Leaders), Annie has a well-rounded pulse on all aspects of the industry.Kaitlyn Wahl
Kaitlyn Wahl is a Project Manager with IA, Interior Architects. She has a Bachelor of Science in Interior Design from Colorado State University. Kaitlyn interned at OfficeScapes in Denver, Colorado where she developed a passion for furniture design and research. She moved to Indianapolis and worked for CSO Architects as an Interior Designer and had the opportunity to work on a variety of projects and begin her workplace strategy career. Then she moved to Philadelphia and worked for L2P as a Project Designer where her role evolved into a Project Manager. Kaitlyn accepted an offer as a Project Manager for IA, Interior Architects. She continues to work in a strategy role where she has found successful synergy between the two. Kaitlyn values the management skills and business acumen she continues to develop thanks to her teams and mentors along the way.
Abby Zaccaglini, ASID, NCIDQ
Abby Zaccaglini is an interior designer and associate at the HGA Los Angeles Office with experience designing for clients in a wide array of market sectors. She has worked on projects in workplace, tenant improvement, higher education, government, aviation, and civic work. This wide variety of work and interdisciplinary approach to interior architecture has allowed her to bring a unique perspective to each project. Her passion is mentorship and creating space for people to learn and grow, as seen through her community outreach with the ACE Mentor Program, AWA+D, and her involvement in HGA’s local and national mentorship roles. This passion translates into her work and advocacy on the importance of interior design and human interactions with our built environment.
Jennifer Cappella, IIDA, LEED AP
Jennifer is a project interior designer and associate at Ballinger in Philadelphia, PA. With a variety of experiences in her formative years from a 12-person architecture firm to product sales, and finally a 200+ multidisciplinary architecture firm, Jennifer has found a place where she can immerse herself in not only project work, but the wider office and design community.
In her 15 years of professional experience, she has employed her thoughtful approach to design and interior space planning across a variety of project types including healthcare, science / research, and commercial workplace. She is passionate about well-being and uses her empathic spirit to create human-centered spaces that support the physical and mental health of all occupants.
Jennifer is an advocate for interior design legislation and enjoys mentoring students and young designers. Outside of work, she enjoys a good novel and exploring outdoors with her 4-year-old son.
Jodie Crohn
Design has been a part of me before I was even born. My mother started going into labor with me when touring an open house event. We joke that I wanted to get out and see it for myself! I grew up in Saint Louis, Missouri, and attended Marquette High School. From there, I went to the University of Kansas and received my Master of Architecture degree in 2010. In 2013, I married my high school sweetheart, and we live in an historic neighborhood in St. Louis with our 4-year-old daughter, Iva, and our goldendoodle dog, Winston. During the past 13 years at HOK I have had the opportunity to be on several different committees: HOK IMPACT, Design Exchange program, and the internship committee. In my free time I enjoy being with extended family, helping friends out with design in their homes, and traveling any chance I can get.
L.A. DeRiggi, ASID, LEED Green Associate
As a Florida licensed interior designer, L.A. is known for his contemporary design style and working in collaboration with Italian manufacturers. He studied at Chatham University Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where he received his Master of Interior Architecture. He also holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA) with a dual focus in Management and Marketing.
His studies in London, Paris and Italy have influenced his passion for architecture and interior design as well as sustainable design. With a strong foundation, L.A. welcomes the opportunities and challenges that are inherent in transforming the spaces in which clients live and work.
Joanne Duka-Ragadio, Associate IIDA
Joanne earned her BFA in Interior Architecture and Design at Academy of Art University in San Francisco, California. With over 14 years of experience, she has led the design of transformative interiors for some of California’s largest and most influential clients across multiple sectors, including workplace, hospitality, and education.
As the California Interior Design Lead at PBK, Joanne supports all California offices, where she is a people-first leader, leveraging her thought leadership, industry connections, and best practices to elevate the firm’s design portfolio. She is also responsible for recruiting and mentoring the next generation of talent, with the aim of building a strong network of Interior Designers across PBK’s California offices.
As an advocate for creating impact in the industry, Joanne serves as the IIDA Fresno City Center Director and volunteers as a mentor for design students.
Laura Guerrero Flores
Laura Guerrero Flores is a Dominican-Venezuelan interior designer born in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Twelve years ago, she moved to Tampa, FL where she received her BFA in Interior Design. On her 8-years of experience, she has been able to transform client’s idea into functional design solution in a variety of sectors such as hospitality, education, corporate and healthcare. Her diverse cultural background is a big influence, and inspiration on her career. It has become part of the philosophy behind her designs as she aims to bring storytelling and emotions to the space, so that users embark on their unique memorable journey. Laura appreciates the opportunity of collaborating with her team to create a space that will foster growth for the community. Creative-thinking, inquisitive, synergetic and conscientious are a few of Laura’s characteristics that describes her work ethic and design ideology.
Cathleen Gruver, Allied ASID
Cathleen Gruver is an award-winning Interior Designer, recognized for her exceptional work in the field. Cathleen was honored as a recipient of NKBA's "30 Under 30" award in 2016. Having earned her Master of Arts in Interior Design from Marymount University, her graduate thesis, "Space for Living," won the Best in Show prize for her innovative research and evidence-based design on enhancing family interactions at home. Her expertise in assisting high-end clients with custom building and remodeling is demonstrated through her roles at Gruver Cooley, her family's contracting company with a legacy spanning 115 years. Cathleen is also an active member of ASID, NKBA, National Society of Leadership and Success, Delta Epsilon Sigma Honor Society, and Delta Gamma Fraternity. With experience as an adjunct professor at Marymount University and in retail design, Cathleen brings a wealth of knowledge and skill to each project she undertakes.
Kelly Knowles, LEED AP ID+C, NEWH
With 11 years of experience and leadership in hospitality and multifamily, Kelly has the ability to curate a unique space through modeling and with exceptional organizational and technical skills. She cultivates a cohesive design narrative by being a forward-thinking, detail-oriented designer. Kelly has practiced design nationwide from east to west. She brings her passion for managing projects from concept through documentation with attention to detail and coordination.
Kelly is currently assisting in leading the business development of the Destinations Studio of the B+H Seattle offices while simultaneously working on a 282-key hotel. She values community and giving back to our future leaders of hospitality. She has volunteered for her local chapter of NEWH nearly 10 years, a premier hospitality networking connection, leading in various positions such as Director of Marketing to President, currently serving as Past President as well as a Green Voice Design Competition scholarship judge three times.
Kelly Nelson, IIDA, WELL AP
Kelly is a well-rounded designer at CBRE’s Design practice, based in Atlanta. She has over 9 years of experience in workplace, healthcare, higher education, sports, and aviation, with a BFA in Interior Design from Iowa State University, NCIDQ certification and the WELL AP credential. As a professional member of IIDA she has served the organization through local chapters in a number of roles and committees including Elevate, Interior Design Excellence Awards, VP of Members, and VP of City Centers among others.
After spending the first five years of her career in Iowa City, she decided to make a cross country move to continue her growth professionally. Kelly has worked on a variety of projects ranging from a 12-floor hospital to small office renovations. Her natural problem-solving skills and passion for improving the lives of others shine through her work and volunteering experience.
Kimberly Morrison Race, ASID, IIDA, NCIDQ, CID, CMKBD
Kimberly Morrison Race has dedicated her professional interior design career to design excellence. A licensed professional for four decades, she has created award winning projects for a diverse clientele. Her dedication to the profession of Interior Design extends to her students. As a professional in the competitive Washington, DC metro region and central Pennsylvania, Kimberly excels in creating functional interiors that impact occupants in a positive and healing way in addition to being aesthetically pleasing. A master educator, Kimberly utilizes her professional portfolio of successfully executed interior projects to demonstrate to students design excellence that impacts the greater good for individuals and communities. Kimberly earned her graduate interior design degree at Marywood University and is a certified interior designer in Maryland. An advocate for certification and licensure, she is actively involved in the Mid-Atlantic region’s professional interior design organizations, including IIDA, NKBA, MDCID and ASID Washington Metro Chapter.
Lamar Johnson Collaborative
Rachel Rosenberg, ASID, NCIDQ, CID, WELL AP, LEED Green Associate
Rachel is a global, award-winning designer with multi-discipline design experience. She views every client and project with a unique lens, focusing on problem-solving and the creation of bespoke solutions. Rachel takes a holistic approach to design, viewing it as a collaborative, iterative process. She values timeless, human conscious design infusing purpose with beauty. She believes a successful design not only functions effectively but elicits an intentional and impactful user experience.
East-coast born and raised; Rachel now resides in Los Angeles.
Rachel received her Art History undergraduate degree from Boston University and took her studies abroad to London, where she studied 19th and 20th Century Decorative Arts and Design at Sotheby’s Institute of Art. She spent a summer in Scandinavia, studying Furniture Design at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts in Copenhagen. Rachel earned her Master of Science in Interior Design from Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, NY.
Nureed Saeed, Associate ASID
Award winning designer, Nureed Saeed is the owner and creative director of Nu Interiors, a bi-coastal, full service interior design and remodeling project management resource specializing in kitchen and bathroom renovations. Nu Interiors is centered around the belief that a well-thought, well-designed space should be available to everyone.
Nureed’s work has been featured in Better Homes & Gardens, Millburn-Short Hills magazine, Design NJ, and Lux Pad’s Top 15 Interior Designers in New Jersey, as well as other design publications.
Recently named a 2022 Innovator by Kitchen & Bath Design News for her work in inclusion and equity, Nureed holds a Certificate in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion from Cornell University’s ILR School and is a leader and passionate advocate for diversity and inclusion in the design industry. Nureed currently serves at the President of the National Kitchen and Bath Association, Northern California Chapter.
Laura Wall
Wall is a senior designer with over nine years of experience in workplace interiors, master planning, design strategy, implementation, and delivery. She is a conceptual designer who has an encyclopedic knowledge of furniture and materials and a strong ethos of collaboration. Wall earned a master’s degree in interior architecture at the Academy of Art University. She believes in the joy of design and its ability to permeate from the process to the physical environment. Through strong relationship building with clients and teammates, Wall works to create the best,most cohesive delivery teams possible.
Brandon Bibby, ASID, AIA, NOMA, WELL AP
Brandon Bibby ASID, AIA, NOMA, NCARB, WELL AP is a 2021-22 Space and Society Fellow and architect with MASS Design Group. Bibby is an artist and architect motivated by movement, culture, and familiarity in contemporary southern space and questioning representation and access to equitable and quality design in the built environment. He is a graduate of the Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design and the ninth African American architect to hold an active license to practice architecture in Arkansas. An award-winning professional for his leadership and community engagement, Bibby is a recipient of the Alpha Rho Chi Bronze Medal, 2021 AIA Arkansas Diversity Award, and named to the Arkansas Business' 20 in their 20s New Influential 2019 Class. He has lectured, and moderated panels with the American Institute of Architects, Architecture and Design Network, AARP, and currently serves as a Health Equity Advisor with the International Well Building Institute.
Kristina Kamenar, ARIDO, NCIDQ, LEED GA
Kristina Kamenar is an award-winning interior designer with a specialization in Workplace Design. Kristina joined HOK in 2015 as a junior designer and has risen to the role of Senior Project Interior Designer as well as becoming Senior Associate. She is passionate about all things design but has a keen focus on mentoring and working with the next generation of professionals. She leads the internship program at HOK and works closely with designers who are new in their career to challenge them to use their voices and represent what’s next in design leadership.
She has a focus on the intersection of thought leadership and the development of design solutions for clients ranging from tech to professional services. Her approach considers the human experience and how design has the impact to affect the livelihood and health of the users of the spaces she designs.
Khoi Hoang, Associate ASID
A senior designer working at the intersection of workplace and hospitality, known to be endlessly curious and intentional at every scale, each project and element in Khoi’s portfolio of work is carefully curated and edited to express a powerful story. Focused on the North Star of a design brief, infusing every project with dynamic energy while guiding the design team through the process of capturing the client’s vision.
Exceptionally skilled at rapidly distilling complex information into abstract, artful concepts, he is a strong proponent of curating a collaborative design culture in which clients and designers alike feel inspired to engage in a design vision that expands far beyond the ordinary.
He translates this philosophy through a wide variety of market sectors, including product design, furniture, and consultation on concept development and materiality.
Sara Ables, ASID, RID, IIDA, LEED GA
Sara Ables, RID, IIDA, LEED GA is a Senior Furniture Specialist in the Interiors Studio at Corgan in Dallas, Texas. Sara received a BFA in Interior Design from the University of North Texas. As a student, she was involved in ASID, IIDA, and NEWH where she served as Treasurer and President of UNT’s Interior Design Student Alliance. Sara has focused on student and educator initiatives since 2015 through various volunteer roles with IIDA. She has served as Student Liaison for the IIDA Dallas City Center, Co-Chair for the IIDA SHIFT Conference, VP of Campus Centers for the IIDA TX OK Chapter Board, and currently as Director-Elect for the IIDA Dallas City Center. She serves on the IIDA Equity Council, which is composed of leaders who are committed to increasing inclusion, access, opportunity, and diversity throughout all facets and activities of the association and the profession of interior design.
Sashi Murthy, ASID, AIA, NCARB
Sashikala Murthy is a first-generation Indian-American designer and architect in San Francisco. She moved to California from Washington, DC where she received her Master’s in Architecture. After 10 years residing in DC, 4 of those years practicing residential design, she made the choice to start fresh on the other side of the country where she could expand her skill set. She now works at Revel Architecture & Design based in San Francisco as Project Architect. Sashi is heavily involved with landlord services and tenant improvement projects in corporate workplace design and serves as co-founding member of Revel’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion team. Sashi prides herself in constantly learning new and different skills that push her to challenge herself and her peers.
Sashi is an avid golfer, tennis player, hiker, and yogi. As a newly licensed Architect, she has also rediscovered reading novels for pleasure (that don’t necessarily relate to architecture).
Brittany McNairy, ASID, IIDA, LEED AP, WELL AP, RELi AP
Brittany is a Senior Technical Coordinator and Associate in Perkins&Will's Washington, DC office. She has experience with a variety of corporate, government, and education projects ranging from small interior renovations to campus workplace planning. Brittany has worked on numerous projects with a particular focus on interior environments and their interaction with occupant health, wellness, and sustainability.
Most recently leading the sustainability efforts for Perkins&Will's new office pursuing certifications in LEED, WELL, Living Building Challenge, and Fitwel, Brittany's strength is in blending the client's aspirational health and wellness goals with the building environment, and project budget. In addition, Brittany co-leads the Washington DC office's Net Zero Embodied Carbon and Social Purpose initiatives, and promotes social responsibility in her work.
Julia Calabrese, ASID
Julia Calabrese is currently the Global Interior Design Manager within Ford Motor Company's built environment studio. Her role couples crafting immersive brand experiences with the physical and psychological experiences of humans to deliver well crafted, highly functioning interior design and architecture. With a focus on employee and customer experience, her mission is to enable and inspire employees to drive Ford into the future of mobility.
Julia started her career designing highly immersive branded experiences for brands such as; Cadillac, Buick, GMC, Land Rover, Mazda and Walt Disney World. Through her experience she has come to understand the deep nuances of what makes us human. This learning has inspired Julia to approach design utilizing and empathy led, science backed philosophy with hopes of improving the lives of others.
Emily Hall, ASID, NCIDQ, CID
Emily Hall is a designer from Northern California with 11 years experience. She is a creative problem solver with a balance between conceptual and technical skill. Her strength lies in her ability to flex through all phases of the design process to provide seamless support to her clients from programming to completion. She believes in the power of listening, prioritizing the end user’s needs while pushing design boundaries to create unique spaces that reflect the company’s brand. Emily's focus on customer service has created strong client relationships, often resulting in multiple repeat projects.
Virginia Tech University
Taneshia Albert
Professor Taneshia West Albert is an enthusiastic educator and design practitioner. Her research and creative scholarship explores: cultural identity, meaning and trauma; diversity and inclusion; and digital literacy. Her design career is focused on design for healthcare environments, corporate interiors, and higher education spaces with a unique background in Medical Equipment Planning and Facilities Design and Construction. Her community service, both within and outside of the university in which she is employed, focuses on issues of inclusion, diversity, and equity within education, design education, and the interior design profession of historically underrepresented group- specifically those: from marginalized ethnic groups, who are uniquely physical and cognitively abled, and who are lower socioeconomic groups.
Mari Ansera, CID
Mari Ansera, CID, is a Senior Interior Designer at HGA, where she leads interior projects for workplace, education, cultural, and healthcare markets. With more than 12 years professional experience, she approaches the design process with empathy, listening first then driving deeper to understand each client’s strengths. She provides space for the most marginalized to voice their perspectives. She believes interior design is about designing beautiful and functional spaces—and bringing human dignity and equity to our built environments. By creating spaces that holistically address the needs of the individual, she creates rich and inviting designs that support the unique mission and strategic goals of each client.
Raul Baeza, ASID
Raul Baeza, RA, RID is a Senior Designer and Associate for IA Interior Architects in Austin, TX. With over 13 years in the industry, Raul brings his experience with interior, environmental graphics, and furniture design to provide clients with a complete vision. Raul works with his clients to develop a design that communicates and nurtures the cultural fabric of their company and community. As Senior Designer, Raul is responsible to be a steward for the client’s functional, aesthetic, and budgetary goals throughout the design process. He has designed spaces for clients including, Google, Dropbox, LegalZoom, HomeAway, SailPoint, and Galvanize.
Raul has been published in Interior Design Magazine, Interiors + Sources, On Office, and The Business of Furniture magazines. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Architecture and Master of Architects from the University of Texas San Antonio. He is a licensed architect and interior designer in the state of Texas.
Fabiola Catalan, ASID
Through the years, my design approach has always been simple. Create experiences that bring people together.
I am an includer at heart. I thrive in positive environments, yet enjoy the journeys of hard challenges.
Born and raised in a small farm town in Northern California, I respect the natural characteristics of materials and approach all design with a sustainable eye. I value design thinking, curiosity, and creating forward-thinking designs with a unique experience.
In my spare time, I enjoy giving back to the next generation and bringing sparks of color and beauty to our communities.
Rebecca Hernandez, Associate ASID
Rebecca Hernandez is a Guatemalan-American designer born in Albany, New York. She moved to New York City thirteen years ago, receiving a degree in studio art. Rebecca’s early career involved a position in distribution for Printed Matter, a non-profit artists’ bookstore in Chelsea. She also worked in a variety of artists’ studios, as well as for a handful of contemporary galleries and independent retailers. Inspired by her work in visual merchandising, she pursued a degree in interiors. Rebecca worked full time while in school and was eventually hired by Will Meyer and Gray Davis as a receptionist. She has since worked her way up to become Director of Special Projects for Meyer Davis, overseeing select interior projects for high profile clients, acting as director of marketing, and spearheading the studio's product company, William Gray. She now lives in Hudson, NY with her husband and young daughter.
Jeanette Kim, ASID
Jeanette has a passion for workplace environments, with experience in corporate headquarters, ground-up and renovations, small-scale offices, luxury showrooms and experience centers. Her holistic approach to design includes a commitment to learning and experimenting – channeling curiosity into continuous improvement for her and her clients. With an emphasis on celebrating brand identities and prioritizing human experience, she considers the end user during all phases of a project. By combining responsible design with a motivation to amplify diverse stories, she seeks to challenge possibilities and find opportunities for lasting positive change and cultural influence. Jeanette is committed to defining solutions that inspire, connect, and empower people, with honesty and joy.
Jaclyn Moser, Associate ASID
Jaclyn is a partner and owner at Harken Interiors, a Chicago-based interior design studio with a focus on senior living, multifamily residential, workplace, and hospitality design projects. Harken Interiors derives its name from hearken, meaning to listen, and places a premium on uncovering, developing, and delivering compelling client narratives, beautifully functional spaces, and outstanding user experiences. Founded in 2015, Harken Interiors has imagined from the ground up, completed complex renovations, and connected existing designs with new development. Jaclyn holds degrees in Marketing, International Business, and Italian from Penn State and began her career in advertising with Disney. Jaclyn also has a BFA in Interior Design from Harrington College, and certificates in Hotel Design from Milan’s Domus Academy and Retail Design from London’s Central Saint Martins. With deep roots in hospitality and the human narrative, Jaclyn has translated that sensitivity, aesthetic, and vigor for details into each project throughout multiple sectors.
Camilla Watson, ASID
Camilla Watson is a leading interior designer at ZGF with a breadth of experience in corporate workplace design. She is dedicated to the integration of architecture and interior design and creating healthy environments that respond to the human experience. Camilla has worked extensively with companies such as Microsoft and, most recently the California Department of General Services, to design spaces that are flexible, innovative, and beautiful. Camilla enjoys collaborating with clients and engaging users to create designs that respond to their unique culture and goals—from big-picture conceptual visioning with stakeholders to detailing and FF&E.
Camilla earned an MFA from the Savannah College of Art and Design and BFA from the Harrington College of Design. She has volunteered and spoken at various events including the SCAD EMBRACE Diversity & Inclusion Conference, Metropolis’s Workplace Wellness: From Office to Home, and The Hip Hop Architecture Camp.
Elyse Ayoung
Elyse Ayoung is an Associate Designer at Gensler Boston. First generation American, she earned her BFA in Architecture from Massachusetts College of Art + Design. With ten years of experience, her current work focuses on workplace design in the consumer products, tech and private/financial service sectors centering around the future of workplace and shaping of environments that are inclusive, whole and purposeful. She is passionate not only about the spaces she helps to create, but the impact her lived experiences can and should have on design and the built environment; strongly believing that through design, we can tell stories that move one another.
As co-founder of the MiD Collective and a board member of BosNOMA, Elyse is committed to the success of the next generation of designers, working to build and enhance opportunities that expose them to interior design and architecture and ways in which they can impact their communities.
Leonardo Caion-Demaestri
Born and raised in São Paulo - Brazil, Leonardo moved to the US to further his education. Upon graduating from the University of Michigan, Leonardo worked in highly-acclaimed design firms and gathered a wide project experience base. Leonardo also has an MBA.
As a licensed award winning Interior Designer, Leonardo's practice focus has been in technology companies, professional services, creative media, education, retail and hospitality projects, creating a well-rounded approach to all types of spaces and client demands. He has demonstrated high design innovation and sensibility, great client relationships and dedication to his career. Leonardo is an Associate at Gensler where he has been for the past 11 years and has served as Regional Technology Workplace Practice Area Leader. Outside of the office, Leonardo is a Co-Chair for IIDA NY and a member of CIDQ Writing Committee. He has WELL AP certification and is member of IIDA, AIA, and NOMA.
Candace Chan
Candace’s ability to quickly visualize creative designs and her strong technical skills has made her an asset to her team at Revel.
She has proven her versatility leading designs on multiple large-scale and complex projects. Her strength lies in her ability to work cross-functionally and bring various design practices together under a cohesive design vision.
With 12 years in the design industry, she has become a reliable leader in office culture and a true representation of her company’s core values. Always mentoring, leading by example, owning initiatives above and beyond her job description, she is a true force to be reckoned with.
Natasha Edwards
Natasha Edwards is a practicing licensed architect at Little Diversified Architectural Consulting, an international design firm in Charlotte. She is in the Workplace Interiors studio specializing in corporate office environments. Previously, Natasha worked on retail projects and headed remodels for Sun City Hilton Head.
Edwards resides in Matthews with her husband and 2 children. She Vice Chairs the Matthews Planning Board (member 2018). Edwards recently co-authored a report on affordable housing in Matthews. Edwards served on the Matthews Silver Line Task Force for the CATS Light Rail.
Education: BA in Psychology, University of North Carolina at Asheville (year); Master of Architecture, University of North Carolina at Charlotte (2010). She later organized an international design competition, Manifestation of Memory, at UNC Charlotte about the legacy of slavery in the U.S. www.asmcompetition.com
Honors: AIA Charlotte Citizen Architect award (2019). “40 under 40,” Charlotte Business Journal (2020).
Quintel Gwinn
Quintel spent her formative years at an architecture firm designing large-scale commercial and community-centered spaces. It was through this experience that she sharpened her technical skills, developed a knack for project management, and learned the bolts of the built-environment business. In 2014, she launched Quin Gwinn Studio and surged into her creative future. Aside from her practice work, Quintel is passionate about the impact design has on our society at large. She embraces non-traditional roles as a spatial activist, community advocate and placemaker, addressing opportunities through transformation of space. She believes responsively created spaces are integral and poetic elements of a culturally significant built environment. She spearheads design projects focused on: adaptive reuse, identity, healing, inclusive public engagement, and cultural sustainability. In all aspects of her work, Quintel positions community and culture as an answer to how we might innovatively embed responsive design elements into the soul of a space.
Sherri King Parente
Sherri brings over fifteen years of experience to the HOK interior design team. As project manager, Sherri is a highly collaborative team member, seeing projects through from the proposal stage to final photography.
She has extensive experience in the design of higher education and workplace projects. Her interest in workplace benchmarking carefully integrates project programs and space-metric analyses into the design of a project. Paired with her personal passion of environmental responsibility, Sherri has successfully led multiple projects through LEED and other sustainable building rating systems.
As co-creator of HOK Futures and the Philadelphia office internship program, she spends much of her time mentoring. She is actively involved with student events at her alma mater, Drexel University.
Outside of the office, Sherri spends her time outdoors with her husband and son running, hiking and exploring. She is also an avid hobby baker, which makes all that outdoor time necessary!
Ariana Lovato, Allied ASID
Ariana is a first generation born Persian that paved her own way by starting her Award-Winning Design Firm, Honeycomb Home Design.
Through perseverance, determination, networking, marketing, and old fashioned hard work, Ariana has built her in-house team of 5 and juggles over 30 projects at one time.
By constantly taking continuing education courses, Ariana stays up on all of the latest code changes and strives to create safe, functional and stylish environments for her clients, who range from families on the go, to Doctors, Lawyers, Fortune 500 business owners and everything in between.
Ariana is the President of the Central Coast Interior Design Group, and the President of Girls Going Greater, which is a Non-Profit that helps support women in need.
Volunteering and being a guest speaker at local schools is something Ariana loves to do. Empowering and educating the youth is a great passion of hers!
Kaylen Parker, ASID
Kaylen Parker is a designer at Studio O+A where she specializes in workplace for large and small technology companies. She volunteers within her firm for charity work and sustainability efforts as well as working with the local professional organizations for student outreach. Furniture design has slowly been a focus for her in and out of the office. She recently mastered her NCIDQ exams and is excited to be among a group of highly talented designers of the same distinction. Her work has been recognized by ASID, IIDA and the University of Texas at Austin School of Architecture where she graduated in 2018 with a Bachelor of Science in Interior Design. She is an avid reader finishing 50 books a year.
Sarah Schwuchow, ASID, NCIDQ, RID
Sarah Schwuchow, ASID, NCIDQ, RID is the Owner and Principal Interior Designer of Sarah Jacquelyn Interiors, a full-service residential design firm in Chicago, IL. Sarah received a BFA in Interior Design with Honors from the Illinois Institute of Art - Chicago. She joined ASID as a Student Member in 2010 and served as Student Chapter President. Upon earning her NCIDQ Certification in 2018, Sarah became a Registered Interior Designer and CIDQ Ambassador. In 2019, She created the ASID Illinois NCIDQ Committee and Study Group to help fellow designers pass the NCIDQ exam. In 2019, Sarah was honored with the ASID Illinois Rising Star Award. She is currently serving as the Communications Director (2019-2021) of the ASID Illinois Chapter and is working towards her WELL AP Certification. Sarah truly believes that design impacts lives, cares deeply about helping others, and is dedicated to educating people on the value of Interior Design.
Marianne Starke
Marianne Starke is an Associate Designer at Gensler. Born in Mexico and the eldest of three children, she is driven by the mantra “dream big, achieve big.” Marianne is a risk-taker, curious, and fearless. She always looks to challenge herself and defy the norm which has allowed her to open doors and tailor her journey. Marianne has lived in three countries and four cities, and she speaks three languages. She holds dual Mexican and German citizenship, and she is always on the lookout for new horizons. A hybrid background in architecture and interior design helps her develop a different array of skills that pushes her to cross over on projects and design phases. Marianne is a travel enthusiast, a photographer, a music lover, a golfer, and a runner, and is always pushing herself so she can know enough to create her own story.
Sarah Urquhart
Sarah Urquhart is an Assistant Professor of Interior Design in the College of Applied Arts and Co-Director of the Design Thinking & Education Research Group, a collaborative research lab. Through her research, she seeks to understand how designers learn and how learning interventions can be used to make design education more accessible, effective, and equitable particularly for the LatinX and Black communities who remain under served by design. Current research examines threshold concept trajectories in design and cognitive design skill factors that mediate first-year success in design programs.
Nicole Zack
Nicole Zack is a skilled interior designer and licensed Architect with experience in design, architecture, and urban planning. Based out of NELSON’s Chicago office, Nicole has worked on a wide range of projects across the workplace practice ranging from thought leadership to headquarters projects over 100,000 SF. Working collaboratively at Nelson to advance the workplace design in Chicago and across the country. She has a passion for Human Centered Design and keeping her clients at the center of her work. She strongly believes design has the ability to impact lives with research and empathy at the forefront of every project.
University of Nebraska
Associate
Gensler
Studio 11 Design
HOK
Perkins&Will
SALT, LLC
ICRAVE
Gensler
HKS
Marymount University
StudioBlitz
HDR
OPX Global
Ponton Interiors
Selman Arquitectos
Senior Interior Designer
Polk Stanley Wilcox
Home Studios
Sherwin-Williams
The H. Chambers Company
ForrestPerkins
Associate Professor at the School of Architecture and Planning, Morgan State Uni
Founder, Design Appy
Interior Healthcare Designer, Perkins + Will (NYC)
Designer, Advocate, Educator, Thought Leader
Designer and Senior Associate, Gensler (NYC)
Chief Solution Officer, Mindful Making & Design
Project Interior Designer, Senior Associate, Perkins + Will (Seattle)
Principal and Senior Interior Designer, Ashley McGraw Architects
Senior Designer & Strategist
Interior Designer
Senior Associate, Gensler (NYC)
The Design Manager for Arkansas Children’s Planning, Design and Construction
Principal, Laura Burton Interiors
Assistant Professor of Interior Design at the University of the Incarnate Word
Architectural Designer
Senior Interior Designer, Perkins + Will (NYC)
Associate, Stantec
Senior Project Designer, Perkins + Will (NYC)
Associate Designer, Gensler (NYC)
Interior Designer, HOK
Head Designer, Fortuna Enterprises, LLC
Design Director, Gensler
Interior Project Designer, Perkins + Will
Senior Associate / Senior Interior Project Designer, Perkins + Will
Interior Designer, McCool Carlson Green Architects
Regional Health & Wellness Practice Area Leader, Gensler
Owner/Principal, EOLO Design Architecture & Interior Design
Interior Designer, A.Clore Interiors
Associate Principal, Director of Interior Design, McCool Carlson Green Architect
Design Excellence
Volunteer Leadership
Education Leadership
Volunteer Leadership
Design Excellence
Education Leadership
Design Excellence
Volunteer Leadership
Design Excellence
Design Excellence
Design Excellence
Volunteer Leadership
Design Excellence
Volunteer Leadership
Education Leadership
Education Leadership
Manufacturing Leadership