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…

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  • Demi Melissinou

    Demi Melissinou

    Secretary

    Demi received both her Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree from the Interior Design Department of Middlesex University in Lond…

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  • 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 …

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  • Shelia Lohmiller

    Shelia Lohmiller

    Executive Advisor

    Educated at University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, Bellin School of Nursing, and Harrington College of Design in Chicago, Loh…

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  • Cynthia Guthrie

    Cynthia Guthrie

    Director

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

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  • Alexandra Jones

    Alexandra Jones

    Director

    Alex Jones’ career started 20 years ago in retail furniture sales for one of Canada’s largest department stores before tr…

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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 received both her Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree from the Interior Design Department of Middlesex University in London, where she was also stationed during her first working years. Since the mid-nineties she has been extensively involved in residential, commercial and hospitality projects in Europe and the UAE region and since 2015 in the GTA of Canada. In Canada she founded Demi Melissinou Design, a company that continues to provide services worldwide.

Her philosophy is that innovation and respect towards the power of ambience create amazing environments where people are excited to shop, eat, work, have fun & relax.

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.

Shelia Lohmiller

Shelia Lohmiller

Executive Advisor

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.

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

Alexandra Jones

Alexandra Jones

Director

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.

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