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.

Cuban-born interior designer Fernando Diaz specializes in residential, commercial and retail projects.

Mr. Diaz graduated from Ottawa University in 1973 and, later in 1982 from UCLA Extension. In 1993 Mr. Diaz became a Certified Interior Designer in the State of California.

Fernando Diaz was facilities manager and corporate designer for one of the nation’s largest furniture leasing companies for 19 years, his responsibilities included overseeing the design of 50+ showrooms and offices, creating a corporate image among others.

In 1996 Mr. Diaz opened the successful Furniture Gallery at Pacific Design Center (PDC)
selling designer furniture floor samples from PDC showrooms at huge savings. After a year long hiatus from the furniture showroom, Fernando re-opened Furniture Gallery in February 2004 at the exciting and energetic LA Mart Design Center.

Fernando Diaz and Associates strives for the best possible expression and solution to clients’ lifestyles and needs; projects range from small homes and offices to grand scale residences and office suites. Completed projects are located throughout the United States, Mexico and Spain.

Mr. Diaz has received numerous awards from his peers and served on the board of directors of the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID), the Homeless Youth
Foundation and is a past member of the board of trustees for the Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS (DIFFA/LA). In 1998 – 1999 Mr. Diaz was the President of the American Society of Interior Designers/Los Angeles Chapter. In 2006 Mr. Diaz received the Medalist Award, the highest award given in ASID on the Chapter level, in 2007 he also received the “Recognition for Excellence” award from NEWH, The Hospitality Network. His worked has graced the pages of Metropolitan Home Magazine, The Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Home & Décor several times as well as other publications. Television appearances include several HGTV programs.

From humble beginnings on a farm in Nebraska, Sandy Banks has catapulted herself into a wildly successful career in hospitality. Raised with a DIY spirit and strong work ethic, she learned to sew and make her own clothes at the age of six, embarking on a lifelong love affair with fabric and its transformative power. Unable to find clothes she liked in stores, Sandy designed and made her own wardrobe, strongly influenced by favorite designers Pucci, Paco Rabanne, Mary Quant and Rudi Gernreich. She discovered an early outlet for her passion as the art director for her high school theater troupe, making costumes, building sets, and collaborating on designs that brought stories to life. Sandy majored in Art and studied architectural drawing in college but always followed her curiosity to seek out a creative education beyond the classroom. As a fabric store manager in Los Angeles, she expanded her love and knowledge of textiles, working with film studio costumers and museum textile restoration experts in addition to apparel and interior designers. It was this job that gave Sandy the creative, business and people skills that would prepare her for the next chapter in her career.

Sandy joined P/Kaufmann, Inc. in 1983, playing a key role in the formation of the company’s Contract division, both as one of the first sales representatives and as an invaluable consultant on initial product and color lines. There she found a kindred spirit in Curtis Breedlove, an early mentor and current President of P/Kaufmann Contract, with whom she shared a background in art and design that influenced PKC’s aesthetic and sales strategy. Sandy has been awarded PKC’s Salesperson of the Year numerous times during the past 30 years. In 2010, she was promoted to Western Sales Manager, where she has consistently grown her business in key West Coast, Las Vegas and Hawaiian markets. Sandy has maintained and expanded a loyal base of clients and brands by championing her customers’ design vision and bottom line; by asking the right questions and giving honest answers; by conducting business with integrity, passion and style.

Sandy’s reputation as a champion for her clients is well deserved, but her legacy as a champion for women in the hospitality industry may be even more enduring. Starting her career as a working mother in the early 1980’s, she pushed back against prevailing corporate expectations, finding inspiration in a growing network of women who, like herself, sought to forge their own path and redefine success in the world of business. Sandy joined NEWH in 1984 as one of its early members and currently serves on its National Board of Directors. Along with mentoring new P/Kaufmann Contract sales representatives, Sandy has been instrumental in developing NEWH‘s mentoring and scholarship programs; nurturing the best and brightest of hospitality’s next generation as a way to pay forward all of the support and guidance she has received.

Family, creative pursuits and causes close to her heart fill Sandy’s personal life. She counts daughter Amber—an educator and mentor to women in her own right— as her greatest achievement. Sandy still sews her own clothes and collects art and textiles during her extensive travels. The inspiration she derives from other cultures enhances her personal and professional design aesthetic and informs her worldview. Through her support of organizations including Wildlife Waystation, Earth Justice and the ACLU, Sandy expresses her passion for animal welfare, the environment and social justice.

Jennifer Wellman started in the hospitality industry in 2000. With a Bachelor of Fine Art in Sculpture from Georgia State University she naturally wanted to pursue a career in art and accepted a job with Deljou Art Group. Since her first job in art, Jennifer has gone on to work with Soho Myriad starting as an art consultant and leaving as the Director of Sales. She then accepted a position at Lexmark Carpet Mills and remained there as VP of Architecture and Design Sales until the acquisition by Tarkett. Jennifer Stayed with Tarkett as the Director of Global Accounts until she accepted a position with Remington Lighting as the Director of National Sales.
Jennifer has worked on several large hospitality projects including the Fort Worth Omni, Trinidad Grand Hyatt, and the Arizona Biltmore.

More than 25 years as a design professional with residential, kitchen & bath, senior living, and (finally) hospitality areas of focus. Growing up with parents both in hospitality management, I was destined to land in this incredible industry made up of amazing people. New generations of hospitality professionals are an inspiration and I aspire to share knowledge as well as learn from them along our journey of fellowship and fun!

Monica Meade is a certified interior designer who brings over 15 years of experience in hospitality design to Architectural Ceramics. Monica worked at Marriott International on the International Design team and as a Sr. Project Mgr. with Leo A. Daly. Architectural Ceramics is committed to working with our client’s to maintain the integrity of their design vision. Monica now is the National Accounts Manager – Hospitality for Architectural Ceramics where she has worked to build the commercial design team over the last 3 years. Monica now works exclusively with designers, contractors and owners on Hospitality projects across the country.

Helen Reed is an award-winning Interior Designer, Consultant and Artist living in Richmond and Old Town Alexandria, Virginia. Her experience has ranged from a Project Interior Designer for a Top 100 Architectural and Interior Design Firm to working as a manufacturer’s representative where she took time to learn about the manufacturing process of interior materials and furniture.

Her firm, Helen Reed Design, provides full service Interior Design, branding, procurement and consulting for Restaurants, Hotels, Spas, Healthcare and Retail projects throughout the United States. Her team brings a creative approach to each project, developing into a unique final product for every Client.

Helen is an Artist and Photographer providing commissioned art for clients as well as creating art pieces for several of her own projects. She is in the process of converting several of her designs into wall-coverings and custom carpets.

In addition to Interior Design and Art, in 2020 Helen launched Cr8you.com, a spiritual and life coaching consulting firm that helps people define their soul’s calling encouraging them to live their life with greater purpose and passion not only personally but also in their career, whether it is in their current job, a side hustle or launching a new business. She is also in the process of launching Be-cr8tive.com a platform providing workshops, retreats, and virtual gatherings to inspire people who want to express their creative calling through art, design, photography, speaking, writing or any other creative process.

In 2013, Helen Co-Founded Uplined.com, a technology company that provides cloud storage for both residential and commercial properties. The platform establishes maintenance reminders so that the building’s owner can take better care of their building while keeping connected to that building’s service teams.

Helen served on the Executive Committee of NEWH, Inc. from 2006-2017. She served as President from 2010-2011. Currently she has joined the Executive Committee of NEWH again as VP of Communications.

In 2021, Helen became Chair of Modern Richmond. Modern Richmond’s mission is to promote, educate and celebrate modernism in Richmond, Virginia with the Vision that Richmond becomes recognized as a center of modernism. The organization provides tours, lectures, and virtual events featuring mid-century modern to current modern properties throughout the city. In 2019, Helen led the Modern Richmond Book Committee with the design and publication of their first Book celebrating their 10-year anniversary and featuring over 50 properties that had been toured during that time.

Lanée has been a very active member of the hospitality industry since 1998 when she became a project manager for one of the leading purchasing organizations in the country. Lanée became a sales representative in 2003.
As an independent sales consultant, Lanée’s firsthand purchasing experience gives her a unique sensitivity to timeline and budget demands. “Sales success in a service industry like hospitality means having the highest standards. Whether it’s a 700-room hotel or a 30-room hotel, customer service is paramount to creating satisfied customers.”

As a graduate from Sonoma State University with a BA in African-American Studies. She is passionate about being a mentor and a role model within the hospitality industry and her community.

Family is very important to Lanée. She loves spending time with her adult daugther and having Sunday, dinner with her mom and grandmother. She is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, where she continues to work to make a difference in her community. Lanée is a Breast Cancer survivor. Her favorite poem is Our Deepest Fear by Marianne Williamson

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.

Jonathan is a professional sales leader with over 35 years of experience in the hospitality FF&E industry. He has been involved in sales, sales and marketing management, and senior director level positions at manufacturers providing product for the hotel and leisure sectors. His experience has been primarily with floorcovering and carpet, most recently as Managing Director of Axminster Carpets. He has now launched his own company, Jonathan Young Associates, providing consultancy and product sourcing to the hospitality interior furnishings sector. Jonathan’s leadership and management skills will help establish a clearly defined strategy for business and understand how it needs to be implemented for success. His contacts across the US and Europe can help navigate the sales and marketing process for companies looking to expand into new markets.

As Chairman of the BCFA from 2011 until 2014, leading the Board of the trade association that supports the British Contract Furnishings Association, and currently as Vice President of International Relations of NEWH Inc and Past President of the UK chapter of the NEWH, he has a good understanding of business within the hospitality and commercial markets.

His experiences have taken him across continents, working and living in the US and UK, and developing and executing growth strategies for businesses across international markets.

He is a creative thinker and believes in the importance of communication particularly when working with people from diverse cultures, and across all levels of a business. Jonathan is passionate about the hospitality market and a big believer in connecting education and business through networking.

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

Trisha Poole has over twenty-two years of experience in design and management in the hospitality field. Her personal passion for design and her dedicated loyalty to the client mission has consistently delivered creative results to her clientele over the years. As the leader and president of Design Poole, Trisha has trained all of her design professionals to approach every project with an entrepreneurial spirit as it relates to project success.
Trisha gained most of her experience with large design companies in Orlando, Florida, and Chicago, Illinois, and has had the great fortune to work with leaders such as Disney, Wyndham Vacation Ownership, Sun International, Marriott, Hilton, and Starwood. Her previous experience was working with and/or managing architects on most of the projects, which gave her a greater understanding of projects that require extensive technical detail and architectural coordination.
Trisha’s role on every project is to assure client satisfaction. Her strength is interpreting the client’s vision and delivering it with a goal of exceeding expectations. With strong business ethics and a drive for design excellence, Trisha makes Design Poole a viable and integral component of any project team. Trisha earned her Bachelor of Design from The University of Florida, Gainesville, FL

Gwendoline Theodet is director of business development for Campbell House. Theodet is responsible for establishing new client relationships while securing project opportunities for the studio. Theodet has over 15 years of sales and marketing experience in the fashion and interior design industries. Most recently, she was the regional director of business development for Wilson Associates.

Passionate with creating new connections and bringing people together, Theodet is a founding board member of NEWH Paris Chapter and currently serves as President of the Chapter.

Theodet has a Master’s in Business Marketing from EDC Paris Business School.

Enrico G. Cleva is an Italian architect, interior designer and international business development consultant in the design and exhibition businesses. A graduate of Politecnico di Milano University, Enrico founded his practice in 2005 with his wife architect Sara Viarengo Cleva, focused mainly on interiors for corporate offices and high end residential projects. Enrico is official representative of Fiera Milano in Canada, working on the business development of global shows like Host Milano, Tuttofood and HOMI. He is a strategic consultant for the Interior Designers of Canada association, a regular speaker on interior design trends and writes for design magazines such as Canadian Interiors.

Educated at University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, Bellin School of Nursing, and Harrington College of Design in Chicago, Lohmiller has 30+ years experience in the hospitality field. She became the first sales-woman for Falcon Products and was named West Coast Regional Manager in 1983, making her the first woman to be named manager for the company. Shelia 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 in Los Angeles. Having served as Founding President from 1984-1986, and 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. Shelia has served as the NEWH, Inc. Executive Director since 1993.

TWC Consulting LLC provides customized and interactive learning and development experiences in leadership areas of focus such as Strategic Planning, Goal Setting, Evaluating Performance, Career Discussions, Development of Associates, Performance Management, Presentation Skills, Communication Skills, Leadership and Management Skills, etc. TWC Consulting is owned and operated by Trudy Craven, recently retired from a 40-year career with Milliken and Company, a large privately-owned manufacturing company headquartered in Spartanburg SC, where she served in a variety of roles, with the last 10+ years as their Senior Learning and Development Manager.

The Strategic Planning Workshop follows a strategic thinking framework, beginning with an assessment of “Where We Are” and “Where We are Going”, looking at internal and external factors, including a SWOT and an understanding of customers, competitors, products and services, and the operating environment. Prioritizing key areas follows, and if time permits, it moves into drafting goals to address the final point of “How are We Going to Get There”. The strength of the workshop lies in the interaction of the participants working together in breakout groups with key lessons from the facilitator interspersed throughout.

Brittany is a recent transplant to Denver, CO after living in San Francisco, CA for the last fourteen years. She’s been in the design industry for almost 15 years, and has been working remotely off and on for almost two years here in Denver. She is a self-proclaimed nerd whose recent passions include playing board games, starting a history club in her neighborhood, and becoming a transit and walkability advocate.

Professionally, Brittany’s unique approach to design is filled with passion, diligence, curiosity and the continuous love of learning. This love of learning guides her in teaching younger staff based on her experience in a large variety of projects, clients, and locations. Her personal motto is that every day is a new challenge and a new opportunity to grow. In a team setting, Brittany is a hands-on team player that feels that leadership also means to stand side by side with each other to help with project workload and deadlines.

Dallas Bentley has worked in either hospitality and higher education since 2003.

For six years, he held positions in career development and marketing at Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College, the Students’ Society of McGill University, and Kennesaw State University. He is passionate about communications, management, marketing, product development, and education. Since 2013, he has been a mentor to an underprivileged child as Big Brother in the Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Metro Atlanta program.

For this organization, he has participated in events, videos, marketing campaigns, and interviews for local television spots to encourage mentor sign ups and donations.

He is part-owner and Director of Hospitality Sales for Marietta Drapery & Window CoveringsCompany, a 4th generation family business that directly manufactures and installs window and bed coverings for the hospitality, multi-family, and commercial markets.

Vanessa Vaughan received her Art History degree from the University of British Columbia, where her research on contemporary indigenous artistic practice received the Russ Patrick undergraduate research award.

Vanessa has over a decade of experience curating art programs and overseeing the execution of manufactured and commissioned artworks for boutique hotels, multi-family developments, office and healthcare projects.

Vanessa has lived and worked in Vancouver, Seattle, Boston, New York, and London and is an avid traveler, seeking global inspiration for her art advisory practice. Her professional experience includes leading new project acquisition for a top architecture office in New York City. She led the art consulting division at a major art publishing company for 8 years before founding her own firm in 2018.

Vanessa serves as Director of Membership for the International Board of Directors of NEWH. She previously served as Chapter President for the Pacific Northwest Chapter and as Executive Advisor for the New England Chapter. Vanessa received the 2016 Directors Award from NEWH NW, recognizing outstanding service and leadership to the organization.

Alex Jones’ career started 20 years ago in retail furniture sales for one of Canada’s largest department stores before transitioning into the commercial furniture market.

Upon completion in 2002 of BCIT’s Marketing Management Diploma in Professional Sales, Alex started working at Heritage Office Furnishings specializing in healthcare and the hospitality division. Her expertise has now grown to include education and corporate in her account portfolio with special detail for ancillary spaces.

Founded in 1979, Heritage saw a full service dealership that includes furniture, warehouse, installation and architectural walls. With more than 50,000 square feet of warehouse and showroom space, they are located in Vancouver, Kelowna, and Kamloops, B.C. Heritage represents more than 200 manufacturers and is the only authorized Steelcase dealer in B.C. Lower Mainland and Interior. Working with various budgets to provide appropriate furniture to the design intent of the client and interior designer is Alex’s expertise.

In 2011, Alex joined NEWH as a commercial member before becoming an addition to the board. Currently she is the Director of Leadership Conferences, having moved from volunteering at all positions at the Vancouver Region Level.

Kelly is an Interior designer based in Cincinnati, Ohio and the San Francisco Bay Area who specializes in hotel and restaurant design. Her experience spans all major brands including Hyatt, Marriott, Hilton and IHG. She enjoys all aspects of the project from composing design narratives, custom furniture designs, millwork details, and material specifications. After building a successful career in design leadership with Cincinnati based firms, she founded Designshop in November of 2019 and has been enjoying the challenges and rewards of owning her own business ever since. As the Creative Director she is responsible for guiding the design process and applying nearly 20 years of experience to overseeing the production and execution of each project. Her hands-on approach allows her to ensure quality control while implementing artful custom designs for her clients.

Deaderia Morris-Bowman is Director of Design & Marketing for Distinction Hospitality, Inc. Distinction Hospitality is headquartered in High Point, North Carolina and focuses on providing custom furniture to the hospitality industry.

After graduating from Spelman College, Deaderia began her career working at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC. and later completed a certificate in business at Georgetown University.

Deaderia joined Marriott International in 1987 and spent 20 years as part of the Marriott Team. During her time at Marriott, as Senior Designer and Interior Design Manager, Deaderia worked on design renovations covering a broad range of hotel brands including Ritz-Carlton, JW Marriott, Marriott Marquis, Renaissance and Marriott Hotel & Resorts. Deaderia worked with various customers including Host Hotels. Her projects and renovations were in the United States as well as Europe and South America.

She left Marriott to join Kimball Hospitality as Director of Design, where she spent 13 years engaged in a broad range of projects and helped enhance the brand image and overall marketing for the company.

Deaderia is passionate about the Hospitality Industry and is NCIDQ-certified, a member of ASID, and an active member of NEWH. In addition, she loves puppies, flowers, and recently the joy of cooking. Deaderia resides in Atlanta Georgia with her husband Elmer Bowman.

Tory Knoph is an Senior Interior Designer who brings a unique, new perspective to Stonehill Taylor. Her experience includes hospitality work for both large brands and boutique hotels alike. Over the past few years, Tory has been a part of numerous major design projects, including the Saint Kate an art and performing arts hotel in Milwaukee, WI, The Press Hotel in Portland, ME, The Hilton Brooklyn in downtown Brooklyn, and her first hotel NYLO New York, NY. She has close working relationships with many FF&E vendors, ensuring that each project is developed with the latest and most innovative products currently available. On the weekends Tory loves to hanging out with her dog and exploring anything outdoors.

Stacy Shoemaker Rauen is the senior vice president of the Design Group at Emerald, a leading events and media company. There she oversees multiple brands in the healthcare, hospitality, commercial, and residential design spheres, including Hospitality Design magazine and HD Expo; ICFF; and Boutique Design magazine and BDNY.

Shoemaker Rauen is a well-respected and talented editor and writer, and also is the editor in chief of Hospitality Design magazine, the leading publication for the industry.

Shoemaker Rauen—who has been with the company for almost 20 years—is a noted speaker at industry events, and as an avid tracker of trends, places, projects, and people, and has been quoted in various respected media outlets including CNBC and the Washington Post. She holds two degrees from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism, including a master’s in magazine journalism.

Tara Chung is the Director of Interior Design for Marriott International, Global Designs Americas. In the past couple of years, her focus has been on supporting the growth of the Delta Hotels Brand in the US and Canadian markets. Previous to her work on Delta Hotels, she spent 10 years influencing and guiding the implementation of multiple new design initiatives for the Marriott Hotels and JW Marriott Hotels brands. Tara is passionate about the hospitality design industry and believes that good design and beautiful spaces keep us inspired.

Kavitha Iyer joined IHG Hotels & Resorts in 2021 as Head of Design for the Americas. An Architect and Designer with over 20 years of experience in Hospitality, Kavitha is responsible for leading architecture and design strategy for IHG’s 13 global brands.

Kavitha and her team of talented architect and designers at IHG Design collaborate closely with Brand, Development and Operations to imagine and bring to life distinctive design experiences which align closely to each Brand personality. Placing an emphasis on guest centric emotional engagement, Kavitha and her team lead various design strategies across the portfolio which range from bringing to life new brands like Atwell Suites, voco and Vignette Collection as well as creating new visions for lifestyle, upscale and luxury brands like Hotel Indigo, Crowne Plaza and Intercontinental Hotels.

Prior to joining IHG ® Hotels & Resorts, Kavitha was the Director of Design at Marriott International where she led several high-profile initiatives which focused on transformative next generation design experiences for upscale brands.

Kavitha’s love of art and travel fuels her continued passion to spend her free time creating a new canvas, exploring, discovering new places, people and being inspired by the everyday.

Seattle-based designer My Nguyen holds degrees in Interior Design and Fine Arts and currently works as Director of Interior Design & Operations for Holland America Line (HAL) and Seabourn (SBN). Throughout her career, My has earned accolades for award-winning and nationally recognized projects in marine, high-end residential, and hospitality design. She joined Holland America Group in a newly created leadership role to form an in-house design team that oversees the interior refurbishments and maintenance of the HAL and SBN fleet. My is also the head designer of staterooms on Holland America Line newbuild vessels. My is passionate about influencing the industry to be the leaders in sustainability, forward thinking, and collaboration.

When not working, I love spending time at home with my husband Dave and our fur kids or traveling to new places. I enjoy reading and yard work and home DIY projects.

Stephanie Deshaies is an established professional who has dedicated her career to elevating the profession of Interior Design. She is an NCIDQ certified interior designer who practiced commercial interior design for 10 years before transitioning to Sales and Marketing for Architex in 2005.

Stephanie works hard to become an expert in the subject in which she is working. For Architex, Stephanie has studied textile performance and application and educates interior designers on a daily basis on the durability, cleanability, resistance to cleaners and appropriate application of textiles in contract spaces for all vertical markets.

She is a past Board Member of IIDA both in the Northern Pacific Chapter based in Seattle and New England Chapter based in Boston. She was a site visitor for CIDA; The Council for Interior Design Accreditation for over 10 years. She was president of the Interior Design Coalition of Washington and most recently was the President of the Northwest Chapter of NEWH; The Network of Executive Women in Hospitality. Stephanie Deshaies is a courageous advocate for the profession of interior design.

As an interior designer, Natalie Sheedy has seen the power of design to profoundly impact our daily lives firsthand. A beautiful space can enhance the ways we think and act. This insight drives Natalie’s passion for great design and it’s her goal for every project she takes on.

Whether designing large-scale hotel interiors or residential projects, the essence of Natalie’s design process remains the same. She engages clients and contractors in hands-on collaboration, seeking insights, expertise and perspective at every phase from kickoff to conclusion. This ensures that decisions are strategic and deliberate and that every aspect of the finished design aligns with realistic business goals. It’s a process that’s proven to delight her clients time and again, creating one-of-a-kind spaces with sophisticated palettes, refined style and design functionality that can stand the test of time.

Before owning her own studio, Natalie spent 10 very rewarding years managing and designing multi-million-dollar hospitality projects as Studio Director at world-renown interior design firm The Gettys Group. Prior to her professional experience, she earned her B.A. with a minor in business at Harrington Institute of Interior Design in Chicago, where she had participated in a prestigious exchange program with the Academie van Kunst in Rotterdam, Holland. The sum of these experiences has given Natalie best-in-class training on how to make sure her clients experience the best possible return on their investment in design.

When she’s not in the thick of a project you can find Natalie sharing her passion for design as a member of NEWH, The Hospitality Industry Network, for which she sits on both the International Board and the Chicago Chapter board. She’s also proud a proud winner of a Gold Key award and was recognized as one the hospitality industry’s up- and-coming interior design leaders in Boutique Design’s “Boutique 18 for 2018”.

Dallas Bentley has worked in either hospitality and higher education since 2003.

For six years, he held positions in career development and marketing at Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College, the Students’ Society of McGill University, and Kennesaw State University. He is passionate about communications, management, marketing, product development, and education. Since 2013, he has been a mentor to an underprivileged child as Big Brother in the Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Metro Atlanta program.

For this organization, he has participated in events, videos, marketing campaigns, and interviews for local television spots to encourage mentor sign ups and donations.

He is part-owner and Director of Hospitality Sales for Marietta Drapery & Window CoveringsCompany, a 4th generation family business that directly manufactures and installs window and bed coverings for the hospitality, multi-family, and commercial markets.

Nicole is a graduate of the Art Institute of Colorado and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree with a focus on Interior Design. She began her career designing model homes as a Design Assistant, while working part time in a drapery showroom and performing various freelance works. Nicole has since gained invaluable experience working as a sub-representative for several manufacturers. In 2018, Nicole opened her own sales firm as an Independent manufacturer’s representative.

Nicole is also an accomplished mixed media artist, and loves doing anything creative from baking to creating Mala for meditation. To see some of her artwork visit nicolebrindle.com

Laura Carter (she/her) is a Sales Representative for Gmansales representing Ashley Lighting, Charter Furniture, Electric Mirror, Fermob, Magitex, Shaw Contract, and The Living Company. Laura has a Bachelor of Science with a focus in Marketing and Entrepreneurial Management from the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota. Laura started her career in New York with her first role in marketing at a commercial interior design firm. Since transitioning into sales, she enjoys collaborating with designers to help make their concepts come to life. On the weekends you can find Laura exploring Brooklyn, playing beach volleyball, and training for half marathons. Her favorite part of NEWH is reading the student scholarship applications and spending our fundraising proceeds on the future of hospitality!

Kathryn ‘Katy’ Clark is an Interior Designer for B+H Advance Strategy.
I have always been passionate that good design is THE driver for great experiences. Thoughtful and detail oriented design guides our interaction with and use of a space, and imparts to us a lasting memory. Hospitality Design excites me as it is the most direct way to engage with a user and create these positive impressions. Considerate, user-driven design can upgrade a date night spot to a special occasion destination or trick my brain into stepping a walk in the park up to a run. I have learned that the most successful end results are achieved through the collaboration of the teams that conceive of and build them. From ownership to general contractors to manufacturers along the way, it is important for designers to establish positive working relationships with everyone involved. Budget may be King, but attitude and perspective provide the counsel that keeps a project true to its vision.

Enrico G. Cleva is an Italian architect, interior designer and international business development consultant in the design and exhibition businesses. A graduate of Politecnico di Milano University, Enrico founded his practice in 2005 with his wife architect Sara Viarengo Cleva, focused mainly on interiors for corporate offices and high end residential projects. Enrico is official representative of Fiera Milano in Canada, working on the business development of global shows like Host Milano, Tuttofood and HOMI. He is a strategic consultant for the Interior Designers of Canada association, a regular speaker on interior design trends and writes for design magazines such as Canadian Interiors.

Caroline has recently set up her own company House Of Caro to champion responsible and eco-ethical design initiatives in hospitality. Up until recently she was working as a design director for IHG overseeing luxury design projects for InterContinental hotels in Europe. Prior to this she worked for 15 years at GA Design as an Associate and head of the FF&E Design Department running a team of FF&E designers along with her own projects; working on hotel interior designs from concept to completion while sourcing new products, manufacturers and artisans along the way.

Beginning her career as a fashion designer in her home country of New Zealand, Caroline specialised in tailoring with her own menswear company. She moved to London in 1992 and with the prospect of a new city came the opportunity for a new career move into interior design. Caroline worked initially in residential interior design for John Stefanidis before moving into hospitality design, all the time learning and advancing her self-taught interiors knowledge.

Passionate about the Hospitality world; Caroline joined the United Kingdom chapter of NEWH and stepped into the role of president at the end of 2019.

Caroline lives in London and is currently adding to her workload with a home renovation project, a massive demanding garden and recent adoption of two stray ginger cats.

The last fifteen years have taken Jennifer on a winding path of discovery that led to opening BANDURAdesign in the summer of 2016. The vision to bring a healthy and balanced life to designers through freedom and flexibility in their process translates to unparalleled enthusiasm for the work being produced by the Bandura team. Risky, yes. Worth it, completely. Jennifer works hard and brings together technical expertise with focused attention to budgets and schedules to make successful projects on the practical side, but also the spirit she brings leaves clients feeling less like they are glad it is over and more like they are ready to do it all over again.

Atlanta Chapter, Vice President of Development on the 2020 Executive Board

My career travels have taken me from California to New York; but I’ve stayed connected to my “home base”, Arizona. To understand my personality is to understand that I come from a tight knit family with two brothers and that I’ve remained down to earth and dedicated to success. Athletics throughout my life led to the development of a competitive spirit that fuels me to compete and succeed. I enjoy baseball, cooking, exercise & nutrition.

In management roles for over a decade I pride myself in being a strong and loyal team leader that leads by example and sets clear expectations.

– A well-built team, given a clearly communicated strategy, along with the essential support and encouragement will be not only successful, but they will be eager to succeed and achieve above and beyond.
– As goals serve to establish objectives; incentives should inspire achievement beyond those objectives. Neither should be easy nor impossible.

Levar Jackson is Founder and CEO of Visual Renaissance, a full-service art strategy firm that sources and curates unique wall art, paintings, sculpture and other installations for sophisticated hospitality, residential and commercial properties. He specializes in helping world-class hotel brands drive customer loyalty and engagement with art that inspires. Levar co-developed Meural, a digital canvas that enables hospitality properties to offer guests a dynamic, personalized aesthetic experience. When he’s not organizing distinctive networking and educational programs for NEWH New York Chapter members, Levar can be found honing his craft as a photographer, chef and graphic designer–or taking in a movie near his home in Downtown Brooklyn.

How did you become involved in NEWH? – A colleague told me about Wine By Design, I attended and now 8 years later here we are.

Tell us about your personal/professional background? – I started as a residential interior designer for 6 years and then was recruited by one of my tile reps. I have been rep’ing for 11 years now.

What is the last book you read? – I am too embarrassed to answer this questions honestly.

If you could stay at any hotel in the world, what would it be? And why? – Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora bc I want a hut over the water or Oberoi Amarvilas, Agra, India bc I have always wanted to go to India in general.

Name one of your favorite Bay Area pastimes? – Japanese Tea Garden or Dim Sum in Chinatown.

What do you enjoy doing when you are not at work? – Traveling or just trying new things in general.

What is one thing nobody would know about you? – Most people don’t know that I was suspended the last 2 weeks of high school and was not aloud to walk for graduation or go to prom. Long story… that requires several drinks!

Favorite caffeinated beverage? – Always Mountain Dew

Having grown up in a family-run construction company, Kathryn was destined for a career in design and the built environment and studied Interior Architecture & Design at Leeds College of Art & Design. Her career began at Soon Interiors, an Architectural Interiors firm in Belfast, where she was involved in a variety of commercial design projects including bar, restaurant, retail and office spaces across the globe.

Later stepping into the niche world of carpet design at Ulster Carpets, Kathryn moved to London, where she first became involved in NEWH as Hospitality Chair. This (along with her ability to talk to anyone!) enabled her to build a large contact base of inspiring people across every aspect of the industry and she feels she owes NEWH for giving her the contacts and confidence to dive back into interior design. As a designer for AD Associates; a hospitality and travel design consultancy, Kathryn’s experience spans FF&E and architectural interiors and she has recently worked on SAGA Spirit of Adventure from concept through to construction phase.

Outside of work and NEWH, Kathryn is always planning her next adventure and is as happy underwater as she is hiking in the hills. An avid music theatre fan, she performs in an annual a 48 hour pantomime, and lives by the motto “Never stop wondering, Never stop wandering”.

Gabe Rodriguez, NCIDQ Interior Designer, is multi-disciplined with experience in workplace, hospitality, health & wellness, and senior living. He bridges the design and technical roles of projects to deliver high quality, high design spaces for his clients. He has a Masters in Interior Architecture from Florida International University. Passionate about giving back and making a difference in our design community he is currently serving as President.

Brittany is a recent transplant to Denver, CO after living in San Francisco, CA for the last fourteen years. She’s been in the design industry for almost 15 years, and has been working remotely off and on for almost two years here in Denver. She is a self-proclaimed nerd whose recent passions include playing board games, starting a history club in her neighborhood, and becoming a transit and walkability advocate.

Professionally, Brittany’s unique approach to design is filled with passion, diligence, curiosity and the continuous love of learning. This love of learning guides her in teaching younger staff based on her experience in a large variety of projects, clients, and locations. Her personal motto is that every day is a new challenge and a new opportunity to grow. In a team setting, Brittany is a hands-on team player that feels that leadership also means to stand side by side with each other to help with project workload and deadlines.

Gwendoline Theodet is director of business development for Campbell House. Theodet is responsible for establishing new client relationships while securing project opportunities for the studio. Theodet has over 15 years of sales and marketing experience in the fashion and interior design industries. Most recently, she was the regional director of business development for Wilson Associates.

Passionate with creating new connections and bringing people together, Theodet is a founding board member of NEWH Paris Chapter and currently serves as President of the Chapter.

Theodet has a Master’s in Business Marketing from EDC Paris Business School.

Valerie is an interior designer working for Marriott International. Though design is her professional focus, she brings a varied background to include a prior career in human resources, and event planning. Mentoring up-and-coming professionals in our industry is a passion for her, as is taking advantage of teaching opportunities, for which she’s taught introduction to interior design, design principles, and commercial interiors courses as an adjunct professor. Outside of work, Valerie is active in her sorority providing service to her local community, active in her church, and continues serving NEWH, for whom she was a scholarship recipient in 2005. Hobbies include anything music and dance (she wanted to be a professional dancer!), travel to places with blue waters and white sands, and being a dog mom to her newly adopted fur baby, Blackjack.

Michelle serves as the Equity, Inclusion, and Diversity Director for the Board of Directors of the NEWH, Inc. Las Vegas Chapter.

Linda Hinojosa graduated from California State University Fullerton with a BS in Human Services. She also completed coursework in Film, Television and Special Effects through the Multimedia Program at UCLA.

Her experience includes A&D specification work with shelving & furniture for public and university libraries, textiles for hospitality, resilient flooring for corporate, healthcare and higher education and is currently the A&D Specialist for Formica; covering healthcare, commercial, retail and hospitality projects.

Linda helps to grow our regions active members by reaching out to previous and new A&D, end users and vendors.

Linda resides in Orange County, CA with her husband Todd. They both share a passion for travel abroad, and have visited 23 countries.

Levar Jackson is Founder and CEO of Visual Renaissance, a full-service art strategy firm that sources and curates unique wall art, paintings, sculpture and other installations for sophisticated hospitality, residential and commercial properties. He specializes in helping world-class hotel brands drive customer loyalty and engagement with art that inspires. Levar co-developed Meural, a digital canvas that enables hospitality properties to offer guests a dynamic, personalized aesthetic experience. When he’s not organizing distinctive networking and educational programs for NEWH New York Chapter members, Levar can be found honing his craft as a photographer, chef and graphic designer–or taking in a movie near his home in Downtown Brooklyn.

Kenya Jones – Lowell was born and raised in the blizzards of Massachusetts. She is an Alumni of Converse College for Women in South Carolina and The Savannah College of Art and Design in Savannah, GA. After completing her thesis on Resilient and Sustainable Communities she began her professional career by returning to her hometown and joining BNIM’s plan to “Rebuild Springfield ” by revitalizing and preserving the community after the June 2011 tornado. After completing numerous projects on the east coast, Kenya transferred her talents to Honolulu, Hawaii. She currently designs environments for aging, aircraft travel, tribal hospitality, and affordable housing. Kenya is a strategic planner who believes that the hospitality industry and its professional education can play a critical role in building community, ending homelessness, and alleviating food insecurity.

Kenya currently serves on the NEWH Inc. EID committee, as the NEWH Northwest’s Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, and is a member of Hospitality Design Magazine’s Diversity Action Committee (HDAC). Kenya has gained international acclaim for her design work which can be found in over 350 publications and has received high honors as a design innovator, a Forbes 30 under 30 finalist, a Gold Key nominee and recipient, and an NEWH TopID winner.

Kenya spends her weekends gardening, Junior Leaguing, and working with unaccompanied youth. She resides in the Seattle- Tacoma area with her husband, SSG. Gregory David Lowell, and her puppy Winterrose.

Patricia Lopez’s life, and career, are centered on her core belief: bring love and laughter to everything you do. It’s a philosophy rooted in her Latin upbringing – where joy infused everything from food to style – and a central tenet of her design ethos today. Raised in Medellin, Colombia at the height of the Escobar era, Patricia came to the US at 17 on a student visa determined to learn English and build a better life for herself and her future children (today, she’s a mom of 3!). Patricia began her career with Baskervill as an intern and steadily built a reputation as a dynamic, driving force for forward-thinking design, creative leadership, and client-centric decision making. Over her 15-year tenure with the firm, she worked her way from intern to designer to studio lead, and now serves as a Principal in the firm’s award-winning hospitality division. She’s a graduate of VCU and resides in the Richmond suburbs with her family.

Raquel is the founder & CEO of Bunchful, Inc. a technology company with its flagship product, Ensom City TalentQuest, a new platform for friendly talent competitions that celebrate individual talents, whilst creating real community within organizations. TalentQuest offers a unique creative outlet to foster a more inclusive culture, especially in current times when employees are remote and increasingly isolated from each other. The service is augmented by optional gifting services to reward winners, which include Bunchful’s personalized gifts from a network of worldwide vendors of gift products, where every gift is connected to a story, and accompanied by in-house gift concierges who curate highly customized gift experiences, including fun and personal growth experiences for both individuals and large teams.

Bunchful has also launched a philanthropic initiative, called The BE Bunchful Awards, an annual event, which aims to shine the spotlight on giving. Each year, the spotlight will shine on a specific area of philanthropic cause, with its inaugural year honoring the very generous contributions made by so many to help those most affected by the coronavirus pandemic. Raquel has said she hopes to inspire the growth of philanthropy as a global way of living, and that highlighting successes large and small will seek to demonstrate the potential of giving to transform the lives of individuals and communities toward a better world. The BE Bunchful Awards will be held on November 16 & 17, 2021.

In 2011, Michelle joined the Disney College Program in Orlando, FL and this emersion into the hospitality industry was an invaluable experience into diversity. She is an Interior Designer within the Hospitality Studio at the Tempe office of RSP Architects and joined the team in 2018. Currently Michelle is on the NEWH Arizona Chapter Board as Vice President and also serves on the NEWH Equity, Inclusion, Diversity Committee.

Helen Reed is an award-winning Interior Designer, Consultant and Artist living in Richmond and Old Town Alexandria, Virginia. Her experience has ranged from a Project Interior Designer for a Top 100 Architectural and Interior Design Firm to working as a manufacturer’s representative where she took time to learn about the manufacturing process of interior materials and furniture.

Her firm, Helen Reed Design, provides full service Interior Design, branding, procurement and consulting for Restaurants, Hotels, Spas, Healthcare and Retail projects throughout the United States. Her team brings a creative approach to each project, developing into a unique final product for every Client.

Helen is an Artist and Photographer providing commissioned art for clients as well as creating art pieces for several of her own projects. She is in the process of converting several of her designs into wall-coverings and custom carpets.

In addition to Interior Design and Art, in 2020 Helen launched Cr8you.com, a spiritual and life coaching consulting firm that helps people define their soul’s calling encouraging them to live their life with greater purpose and passion not only personally but also in their career, whether it is in their current job, a side hustle or launching a new business. She is also in the process of launching Be-cr8tive.com a platform providing workshops, retreats, and virtual gatherings to inspire people who want to express their creative calling through art, design, photography, speaking, writing or any other creative process.

In 2013, Helen Co-Founded Uplined.com, a technology company that provides cloud storage for both residential and commercial properties. The platform establishes maintenance reminders so that the building’s owner can take better care of their building while keeping connected to that building’s service teams.

Helen served on the Executive Committee of NEWH, Inc. from 2006-2017. She served as President from 2010-2011. Currently she has joined the Executive Committee of NEWH again as VP of Communications.

In 2021, Helen became Chair of Modern Richmond. Modern Richmond’s mission is to promote, educate and celebrate modernism in Richmond, Virginia with the Vision that Richmond becomes recognized as a center of modernism. The organization provides tours, lectures, and virtual events featuring mid-century modern to current modern properties throughout the city. In 2019, Helen led the Modern Richmond Book Committee with the design and publication of their first Book celebrating their 10-year anniversary and featuring over 50 properties that had been toured during that time.

Michael Sautner has been with Atlas Concorde USA, a leading Italian and USA porcelain tile manufacturer since 2016 and is currently the National Director of Hospitality.

As we know, in hospitality projects there are a number of things important in the materials we use from healthy materials, green materials, and high-quality esthetics. He proud to represent products that are committed to achieving high standards in those areas.

Works with all stakeholders vital in the industry from the brands, owners/developers, procurement companies, Designers/Architects, and fabricators/contractors.

He is excited to contributing to the growth of the Mid-South region and seeing it thrive over the next few years by promoting an inclusive environment.

With his spare time, he enjoys to travel and experience different cultures through food, architecture, and sports.

Alicia Sheber joined the NEWK UK board in 2019 and was previously a board member of NEWH’s Rocky Mountain chapter in 2003 and 2004. Through her company, Read Thread, Alicia is a ghostwriter helping creative, non-linear thinkers tell their stories and venture capitalists develop business proposals and white papers. A contributing editor for HOTELS magazine, and previously the international editor of Boutique Design magazine, she draws on “insider knowledge” gained through her interior design degree and creation of global destinations whilst employed by studios in Denver, Colorado, and London, UK.

After completing an MBA in International Marketing and Luxury Branding at ESLSCA in Paris, she worked with a London-based communications agency partnering with top interior designers, architects, and trade shows. Her subsequent ghostwriting certification from California State University, Long Beach, led to Alicia becoming a ghostwriter for the University of Cambridge’s Masters in Entrepreneurship programme, working with business leaders to transform their professional knowledge into teaching materials. She also sold wine for several years and developed a love of gastronomy: a solid foundation for writing the “Going Out” chapter in Explorer Publishing’s Complete Residents’ Guide to Paris.

Alicia’s degree in world religions ignited her lifelong passion to learn about the infinite paths for making sense of the world.

Principal + Owner of Laso Design LLC, Laura Naily Sosa is a Brownsville, Texas native who graduated from The Art Institute of Houston with a Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Arts with a major in Interior Design. She is also in the process of completing her Master’s Degree in Business Administration with a focus in Construction Management, from Dallas Baptist University. As a Houston based Interior Designer and active member IIDA, TAID, ASID, and NEWH, Laura has over a decade of experience designing spaces on a local, national, and international level. She has had the opportunity to travel and incorporate her design skills on projects primarily in the Middle East. Her passion for Design and Architecture, have driven Laura to challenge herself by taking on multi-million-dollar projects ranging in Healthcare, Commercial, Multi-Family, Senior Living, Residential, and Research Based Design.

Laso Design was established in 2021, as a design firm with a mission to create spaces that welcomes cultural diversity, embraces regional and religious design elements, while allowing the client’s style to be reflected, but also promote their well-being. Outside of design, she enjoys traveling, spending time with family and friends, trying new restaurants, and spending time with her dog.

Anna Dis is the Manager of Interior Design and Procurement at Pond, Pond is a technology-driven full-service, interior design, architecture, engineering firm providing design solutions to hospitality, government, corporate and private sector clients worldwide. Anna has over 17 years of experience as an interior designer specializing in designing facilities for the hospitality industry, commercial interiors and higher education. Major local projects include University of South Carolina, Baseball Stadium, Hotel Trundle as well as several projects with all the major brands, Hilton, Marriott and IHG. Through her experience, she has learned what members of the Interiors industry community need and how important it is to recruit and train competent leaders into the industry. Anna is a graduate from Pond University and Pond Project Management programs for future leaders at Pond. Anna recently finished up her first term as the founding president of The Hospitality Industry Network (NEWH) in South Carolina. One of the most rewarding things she did as president was to be part of selecting students for a scholarship program in the hospitality industry. Anna Dis is currently on the board for NEWH and Columbia Design League. Anna Dis grew up in Grindavik, Iceland and came to the United States for Higher Education, she graduated from Converse College in 2002. Married Tony Palmore, they have 2 children, Noah (15) and Zoe (10).

Aura is an Industrial Designer who started her Journey in the Hospitality Industry working for the Hotels Chain Sandals & Beaches Resorts. Right before COVID-19 Joined The Royal Caribbean Group. Unfortunately, it lasted very little as it was the most affected industry. Today she is co-founder of a movement called “Live By Design”.

Diane is the Membership/Events Director for NEWH, Inc.