Executive Committee

  • Christine Tucker

    Christine Tucker

    President

    With over 30 years’ experience in the Design Industry beginning her career path at Fanshawe College in Interior Design to e…

    More about Christine Tucker ›
  • Demi Melissinou

    Demi Melissinou

    Secretary

    Demi is the Principal Designer of Demi Melissinou Design, a boutique design firm in Oakville, Ontario. She is an internationa…

    More about Demi Melissinou ›
  • Tara Witt

    Tara Witt

    Vice President/Finance

    Tara joined the Toronto Chapter of NEWH shortly after graduating from Western University with a cross-disciplinary degree in …

    More about Tara Witt ›
  • Tammy Diniz

    Tammy Diniz

    Director

    Tammy has been in the flooring and paint industry for many years. First as a co-owner of a flooring store, then as an owner o…

    More about Tammy Diniz ›
  • Cynthia Guthrie

    Cynthia Guthrie

    Director

    Guthrie & Associates is a creative & collaborative playground for designers, architects, developers, procurement specialists,…

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  • Shelia Lohmiller

    Shelia Lohmiller

    Director

    Shelia Lohmiller serves as CEO of NEWH, Inc., the Network of the Hospitality Industry. A longtime hospitality design profe…

    More about Shelia Lohmiller ›
Christine Tucker

Christine Tucker

President

With over 30 years’ experience in the Design Industry beginning her career path at Fanshawe College in Interior Design to evolving to the supply side of the industry. The years of experience have evolved by working closely with Procurement, Property Owners, Designers and Architects to meet the client and project specifications in product, price and service. Tucker enjoys the relationships that have been established throughout these years by providing excellent service in a market that is constantly changing how we approach business.

Chris is committed to the continual growth of NEWH in Canada and all other international markets. NEWH, The Hospitality Network, provides excellent opportunities with insight on our industry trends and information through networking with the Industry Leaders in the USA, UK and Canada. Chris has been a part of the NEWH International Board of Directors since 2005. Currently she is the President of NEWH Canada Inc., and Vice President of International Relations on the NEWH Inc., International Board of Directors.

Demi Melissinou

Demi Melissinou

Secretary

Demi is the Principal Designer of Demi Melissinou Design, a boutique design firm in Oakville, Ontario. She is an international Interior Designer currently working out of both Canada and Athens, Greece. With a BA and an MA from London’s Middlesex University she has been designing spaces in North America, in Europe and the Middle East for over 25 years. She has served as President of the Toronto Chapter for two consecutive terms in the past and continues being an active NEWH member until today. She is a proud mama of twins, a huge movie buff and loves good food and travelling.

Tara Witt

Tara Witt

Vice President/Finance

Tara joined the Toronto Chapter of NEWH shortly after graduating from Western University with a cross-disciplinary degree in business and psychology. Her first furniture company, Vandervitt Inc., amalgamated into her family’s stainless steel business, Tarrison Products Ltd., in 2018. It continues to run as a successful division of Tarrison, and Tara serves as the Operating Partner for the overall corporation. She is also the Chief Marketing Officer of AbleDocs Inc. AbleDocs was founded in 2019 and is the worldwide leader in document accessibility products and services.

Tammy Diniz

Tammy Diniz

Director

Tammy has been in the flooring and paint industry for many years. First as a co-owner of a flooring store, then as an owner of a Benjamin Moore paint store. In 2016 Tammy moved into the specification world, and is currently the Account Executive for Tarkett Commercial and Tarkett Hospitality. Tammy enjoys hiking, kayaking, cooking and reading when not cheering for her son when he is competing in sports. She is an avid Football and Basketball fan, her son being her favorite player.

Cynthia Guthrie

Cynthia Guthrie

Director

Guthrie & Associates is a creative & collaborative playground for designers, architects, developers, procurement specialists, corporate brands, and construction professionals. We proudly represent the finest manufacturers in our industry.

We keep things simple. The best way to work together is to create enthusiasm, provide impeccable service and keep the flow rolling throughout the whole process. Driven by the thought that collaborative & collective work gets the best results we believe in partnership with our clients. Every great project needs strong ideas and clients need inspiring people who can advise them about innovative products and applications for their creative world.

The foundation for our work is a very simple idea……providing our relevant products and combining our client’s vision to achieve great projects and experiences. “If you like what you do you excel at what you create.” anonymous

Shelia Lohmiller

Shelia Lohmiller

Director

Shelia Lohmiller serves as CEO of NEWH, Inc., the Network of the Hospitality Industry.

A longtime hospitality design professional in Chicago and later southern California, Lohmiller helped start the NEWH Los Angeles Founding Chapter and has worked to grow membership, structure, and awareness for NEWH ever since—as a member and now as CEO. She is a driving force of NEWH domestically and globally, nearly 30 chapters strong, awarding more than $8.1 million in educational scholarships to rising professionals pursuing hospitality careers. Her passions are education and the advancement of women.

Educated at University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, Bellin School of Nursing, and Harrington College of Design in Chicago, Lohmiller has 40-plus years’ experience in the hospitality field. She became the first saleswoman for Falcon Products and was named West Coast Regional Manager in 1983, making her the first woman to be named manager for the company. She founded an independent furniture representation business, the Lohmiller Group, in 1984 in Los Angeles.

Lohmiller cofounded the Network of Executive Women in Hospitality in 1984 with Dorrit St. John and Susan Spalding. She served as founding president from 1984 to 1986, and then Secretary of the NEWH, Inc. Board of Directors. Shelia was honored as the first recipient of NEWH’s Recognition of Excellence in 1992 for exemplary service to the organization. Lohmiller and NEWH were awarded the first HD Vision Award in 2011. Shelia served as NEWH, Inc. executive director from 1993 until 2020 when she was promoted to CEO.

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