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LAUREN ROTTET

Lauren Rottet is arguably the most accomplished interior architect and designer of our generation. She was the first woman in history to be elevated to Fellow status by both the American Institute of Architects and the International Interior Design Association and her impressive career has been celebrated by the design industry’s top honors, including 4-time

Designer of the Year Awards by Interiors, Interior Design, Boutique Design, BLLA and Architect magazine; Hospitality Design magazine’s coveted Platinum Circle designation; Interior Design Hall of Fame; and the inaugural inductee into the Women in Design Hall of Fame.

As the founding principal & president of Rottet Studio, Lauren Rottet has played a significant role in shaping the design landscape of the world’s leading luxury hotels, cruise lines, high-rise residential, homes and offices for Fortune 500 companies and Forbes 100 individuals around the world. Rottet is celebrated for tailoring her innovative and sophisticated designs, which combine a deep understanding of architecture with a keen eye for interior detail, to each client to ensure every project is unique. From Bill Gates and Lloyd Blankfein to The Beverly Hills Hotel and Belmond Cap Juluca, to The New York Stock Exchange and Central Park Tower in Manhattan to the Viking’s River, Ocean and Expedition ships in waters around the globe.

After a successful career with SOM and AECOM, Ms. Rottet founded Rottet Studio in 2008 and her famed furniture line, Rottet Collection in 2017. Rottet does not stop with architecture, interior design or product design, she is well known for her expertise in Concepting and Branding an overall development, Landscape Design and Art Curation. These efforts have been recognized.

ERIC MNAT

Eric Mnat, a visionary entrepreneur, realized his childhood dream in the early 90s by founding BT45, synonymous with unparalleled luxury kitchens crafted with German precision. Escaping war-torn Armenia, he immigrated to Germany and later the USA, leaving an indelible mark in interior design and construction with BauTeam. Under Mnat’s leadership, BT45 garnered global recognition, captivating clients with innovative luxury kitchen solutions. Embracing a unique approach, the company, headquartered in Loehne, defies norms, offering tailor-made kitchens without limits. Mnat’s success is attributed to a motivated team and a commitment to excellence, making BT45 a beacon of creativity and quality in the luxury kitchen industry.

KATHY KUO

Kathy Kuo is the founder and CEO of Kathy Kuo Home, an award-winning interior designer, a recognized TV personality, an activist for female founders, and a loving mother-of-two. With the mission that everyone should be able to love where they live and a deep expertise in design, manufacturing, and global distribution Kathy founded KKH in 2012 as an e-commerce retail destination for high-end home furnishings and decor essentials supported by a robust menu of Interior Design Services, a dedicated Trade Program, and an Interior Design Studio in Manhattan’s Tribeca neighborhood, which opened in the fall of 2024.

With 20+ years of experience and as the leader of one of the largest and fastestngrowing platforms in the home and design industry, Kathy has unparalleled insights into the current and future business of home furnishings, decor, and interior design.

MAX VALENTINE

Max Valentine is the Owner/CEO of Valentine Companies, a multi-brand stainless steel manufacturing firm, including Danver, which he recently purchased in the spring of 2023, Cardinal Metal Works and Standard Technologies. With over a decade of experience in driving financial results and leadership development, Valentine is a proven industry leader, with a results-driven leadership style, and marketing and supply chain expertise.

NAOMI SPERLING

Passion, planted years ago, drives a deep commitment to her family lighting business. Upon graduating from USC Naomi moved to the Far East deepening an understanding of manufacturing and sourcing. Two decades later, she continues to do what she loves as COO of Maxim, ET2 and Studio M Lighting. Building and executing a strategy to drive growth, profitability, and customer repeat business. Each day she sets off excited to meet the day’s challenge and work with a team just as enthusiastic about solving them.

SIOBHAN BARRY

With 20 years of experience designing high-profile retail, restaurant, and hospitality environments, Siobhan has built a reputation for dynamic, modern interiors that delight the senses and capture the imagination. A design director in Gensler’s New York office, Siobhan is an innovative and passionate designer whose work has been featured in publications around the globe and won numerous accolades. Her clients — among them the world’s leading developers, retailers, hoteliers, and restaurateurs — look to Siobhan for what they can’t find anyplace else: revolutionary interiors that prioritize the experiences of their guests and instantly raise the profile of their businesses. She leads clients to develop authentic, engaging brands through a fearless process of discovery, always focused on embracing bold solutions and thinking big.

ALLISON PALADINO

Allison Paladino is recognized as a creative force in her industry, celebrating more than three decades of inspired interior architecture and design. Her portfolio features clean transitional interiors that embrace traces of classicism. She’s also not one to be bound by the status quo, and she’ll happily tell you that. She’s a confident innovator who blends serene settings with interesting textures and colors.

As principal of her own design firm, Allison has orchestrated hundreds of exquisite design projects spanning many styles. With a robust construction background and a highly detailed sense of design, she can guide a conversation that goes from ceiling joists to fabric choice. Her projects range from comprehensive interior furnishings to a detailed set of construction plans wherein the firm creates the complete custom interior architecture and specifications for the whole project.

Organization and efficiency are at the heart of Paladino Rudd Interior Design—qualities she learned in her early career days with Thomas Pheasant, who has been a tremendous influence on her business philosophy. Her design clients stay consistently informed and involved with detailed meeting minutes, status reports, and regular accounting updates. And, each is treated with white-glove service, from the initial kick-off to final installation.

Much of the firm’s work is concentrated in Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, and Jupiter, Florida, with other projects in select destinations. While the brand is based in The Palm Beaches, Allison Paladino, the designer—and lifelong traveler and passionate adventurer—draws inspiration from all ends of the globe and every experience along the way. Once she is inspired, there’s no stopping the wildfire of creativity. If Allison cannot source the perfect element for a given project, she has a simple philosophy: If you can’t find it, design it. So, that’s exactly what she’s done throughout her tenure, producing bespoke fine-quality pieces for clients whenever the need arises.

CHRISTIANE LEMIEUX

Christiane Lemieux is a designer, entrepreneur, investor, and author. She is the founder of LEMIEUX Et CIE, a European-inspired lifestyle brand that launched ay retail at lemieuxetcie.com in April 2022. Deeply rooted in 20th-century European design and artist ateliers, LEMIEUX Et CIE is celebrated for its exceptional quality, thoughtful details, and timeless pieces that reflect design provenance.

Before founding LEMIEUX Et CIE, Christiane was the Founder and CEO of THE INSIDE, a pioneering direct-to-consumer home furnishings brand. She also Co-Founded Cloth & Company and earlier founded DwellStudio, a design-forward home brand acquired by Wayfair in 2013. Following the acquisition, Christiane served as the Executive Creative Director of Wayfair until 2016.

Christiane is the author of three highly regarded books. Her first, Undecorated (Random House/Clarkson Potter, 2011), received critical acclaim for its fresh perspective on design. Her second, The Finer Things (2016), remains a definitive resource for timeless interior decoration. Her most recent book, Frictionless: Why the Future of Everything Will Be Fast, Fluid, and Made Just for You (HarperCollins Business, 2020), explores the evolving landscape of business and consumer behavior.

A thought leader in design, Christiane is a regular contributor to leading publications, including Architectural Digest and Business of Home. Through her work with LEMIEUX Et CIE, she continues to redefine the global design conversation with an erudite focus on craftsmanship, design history, and the art of living.

JAKE SLATNICK

Jake Slatnick is the Founder and CEO of FreePower, a wireless charging company based in Phoenix, AZ. Originally from San Diego, he graduated from Arizona State University with a degree in Technology Entrepreneurship. Jake has garnered significant recognition at the helm of FreePower, including personal accolades like Forbes 30 Under 30 and Forbes Next 1000.

Not only has he executed major launches with partners like Tesla and Rivian, and raised nearly $30M in funding, but he has also been the driving vision behind FreePower. The latest innovation, FreePower for Countertop, has won Fast Company’s Next Big Things in Tech and the coveted Best in Show award from Best of KBIS. FreePower for Countertop is disrupting the industry by turning everyday surfaces into wireless chargers.

YOUNG HUH

Young Huh Interior Design is a full-service design firm specializing in residential and commercial interiors. A Detroit native, Young attended the Cranbrook School, and received a degree in English from Smith College and a law degree from Fordham University. While pursuing further education and an internship in interior design, Young discovered her true calling and founded her eponymous New York City-based design firm in 2007.

Resetting the design narrative for each project, YHID’s work is about finding harmony and dynamism through the application of classic and modern design principles. Thoughtful architectural details provide the groundwork for warm and welcoming interiors, each animated by sophisticated surface treatments, a singular play of pattern and color, and a touch of wanderlust. YHID continues to expand beyond its original repertoire to include large commercial and hospitality projects, as well as a growing line of licensed collections.

For the last five years Young has been included on Elle Decor’s prestigious A-List and is included among top talent on Architectural Digest’s AD100 2023 list. She was named one of Vogue’s five interior designers on the rise, included as a finalist in the Andrew Martin Design Review Volumes 24 and 25 and, in 2011, she won the Connecticut Cottages & Gardens Innovation in Design Award. Her work can be seen in the pages of Architectural Digest, Domino, Elle Decor, House Beautiful, Interior Design, Luxe, The New York Times, Real Simple, The Wall Street Journal, etc. Young actively bolsters the local and global design community, participating in speaking engagements and charitable events including, among others, the Kips Bay Decorator Show House and NKBA Board of Directors.

CESAR GIRALDO

César Giraldo’s design journey began in his native Colombia, where he developed an early fascination with color and form, which to date are the foundational elements of his design. As the Founder and Principal Designer of César Giraldo Design, located in West Hollywood, CA, he oversees a diverse portfolio of residential, commercial, and hospitality projects both nationally and
internationally.

His aesthetic vision is a harmonious blend of luxurious, contemporary designs infused with the timeless craftsmanship of the past. This juxtaposition inspires him to create interiors that are both innovative and enduring, reflecting a unique dialogue between old and new.

With a keen eye for detail and a poetic sensibility, César curates environments that exude elegance and elevate the human spirit. Each project is approached with a deep understanding of his clients’ individuality, resulting in spaces that authentically reflect their personalities and lifestyles.

Beyond interiors, César’s creative vision extends to furniture and product design, with notable collaborations including the Medellín outdoor furniture line with Tidelli; Straight Lines Unexpected Curves rug collection with Mehraban, a leather collection with LeBravo, and a porcelain tableware collection with Hering Berlin, all launched to critical acclaim. Furthermore, his recent venture into lighting design, highlighted by the award-winning Gusto capsule collection in collaboration with Studio M Lighting, underscores his remarkable talent for creating visually striking designs.

César’s outstanding contributions to the design industry have been recognized with prestigious awards, including the International Interior Design SMI Excellence Award 2024 (IFI professional member) and the Stars of Design Award from the Pacific Design Center in 2023. He was previously honored as one of the Top 25 designers in Los Angeles by the Los Angeles Times in 2022 and received accolades from the CA Home + Design Awards in 2023. He has been featured in Architectural Digest, California Home + Design, California Homes, Casa, Casa Vogue, Design Hunter, Dwell, Elle Decor, Flaunt, Forbes Global Properties, Interiors, Luxury Home Magazine, among others.

Driven by a desire to make a positive impact, César founded the Espiritu Santo Project Foundation in Medellín, Colombia, providing art programs and education to at-risk youth—an initiative close to his heart.

HEATHER FRENCH

Heather French is the founder and principal designer of French & French Interiors, a nationally recognized, Santa Fe-based design firm she leads with her husband, Matt. As a married duo, Heather and Matt have built a brand celebrated for its vibrant, globally inspired designs and exceptional ability to blend bold patterns and colors. Heather’s unique vision has earned her a spot in the ’24 New Trads by Traditional Home, inclusion in Andrew Martin’s 2023 Design Review, and the opportunity to design a room for the Kips Bay Dallas 2024 Showhouse.

Their work has been widely featured in House Beautiful, Architectural Digest, Country Living, Cottages and Gardens, Martha Stewart, HGTV, and Livingetc.

TANYA RYNO

Tanya Ryno is the Chief Creative Officer at Iron House Design, bringing a rich tapestry of experience to the world of home gym and wellness space design. With a foundation in the arts from the School of Visual Arts in NYC and over a decade of experience as a film-unit/animation producer at Saturday Night Live, Tanya’s creative prowess shines. She is the visionary behind the spaces, meticulously crafting floor plans that breathe life into each project. Her design philosophy, rooted in the belief that “healthy living starts at home,” is reflected in her simplicity-driven approach, which has been honed over 14 years with her continuing dedication to the study of interior design. Based in New Jersey, Tanya, along with her husband Jim, continues to expand an impressive portfolio that reaches across the U.S. and beyond.

MIKEL WELCH

Mikel Welch is an Emmy-winning host of Netflix’s Hack My Home and a weekly contributor of the “Drew Crew” on The Drew Barrymore Show. Splitting his time between New York City and Los Angeles, Mikel also shares his expertise in interior design and lifestyle on The Today Show and Good Morning America. He is the creative force behind Mikel Welch Designs, a New York-based interior design firm known for its exceptional work. Mikel’s innovative designs have been showcased in the prestigious 2024 Kips Bay Showhouse, earning accolades from publications like Architectural Digest, People Magazine, and Elle Decor. His notable projects include designs for Faith Hill, Steve Harvey, and VIP green rooms for Michelle Obama, Oprah Winfrey, and Halle Berry, cementing his impact on the design industry.

JOHN HART

John Hart has been a driving force behind the growth of several of the foremost brands serving the interior design community and joined Arteriors in 2024 as Chief Executive Officer. He most recently served as the CEO of Luminaire, a leading national design retailer headquartered in Miami, prior to which he helped lead luxury custom carpet maker Scott Group Studio as Co-CEO. John enjoyed a long and successful run at Kohler Company, where he helped build the company’s luxury home furnishings businesses in key roles including President of Ann Sacks, President of McGuire Furniture, and Chief Creative Officer of the Kohler Interiors Group, which also included Baker Furniture, Kallista and Robern. Originally from Portland, Oregon, John graduated from the Lundquist College of Business at the University of Oregon and earned an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.

ERIKA KURTZ

Erika Kurtz, New Moon’s COO and Designer, grew up in the rug industry exploring the world with her father (New Moon’s founder, John Kurtz) on his business travels. With extensive experience in the Tibetan rug industry and spending a significant amount of time every year in Nepal, Erika has first-hand knowledge in all areas of production. She takes pride in leading New Moon’s custom work — helping clients create bespoke foundations for their homes that will endure for years, even generations, to come — as she guides the next generation of New Moon in new and exciting directions.

SCOTT PASK

Scott Pask is an internationally acclaimed, three-time Tony award-winning scenic designer. Raised in Yuma, Arizona he received his Bachelor of Architecture degree from the University of Arizona, and a Master of Fine Arts from the Yale School of Drama, which would shape the multi-disciplinary nature of his work

Based in New York City, Scott is highly sought-after by his peers – the preeminent producers, directors, and actors of our time, and has received the most prestigious recognition in his field. He has won 3 Tony Awards, for his designs of the hit musical The Book of Mormon, The Coast of Utopia at Lincoln Center, and The Pillowman; and he has multiple Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, Lucille Lortel, Bessie, and Henry Hewes Awards, and received the Sir John Soane Honor Award in 2023.

Scott has created the scenic designs for the critically acclaimed Broadway revivals of Pippin, Nine, with Jane Krakowski, Antonio Banderas, Hair, and La Cage aux Folles, and the hit plays Take Me Out and The Coast of Utopia, all Tony award winning productions. He has also designed the sets for the Broadway productions that include Waitress, Gutenberg! with Josh Gad and Andrew Rannells, An Act of God, with Jim Parsons, Its Only a Play, with Matthew Broderick, Nathan Lane & Megan Mulally, I’ll Eat You Last, with Bette Midler, A Steady Rain, starring Hugh Jackman and Daniel Craig, A Behanding in Spokane with Christopher Walken, Pal Joey with Stockard Channing, and David Mamet’s November with Nathan Lane, among many others. Scott made his Metropolitan Opera debut in 2008 designing Benjamin Brittens’s Peter Grimes. He has worked extensively in The UK and was the first American Scenic designer for Cirque du Soleil, creating the environment for the production Amaluna which toured the world for over ten years. His designed the Tony award winning Best Musical- The Bands Visit & Tina Fey’s Musical Mean Girls, David Mamet’s American Buffalo featuring Laurence Fishburne, Oscar Winner Sam Rockwell, And Emmy Winner Darren Criss. and he competed against himself for the Tony Award for Best Scenic Design of a Musical in 2018 by being nominated twice in the same category for the designs of Mean Girls and The Band’s Visit. This happened again in 2023 when he was nominated for his designs for the musicals Some Like it Hot! and Shucked.

He is currently designing the Broadway revival of Mamet’s Glengarry Glen Ross with Kieran Culkin and Bob Odenkirk, and the new play, Good Night and Good Luck, starring George Clooney.

Highlights of his work in fashion includes the elaborate stage design for Bottega Veneta’s first appearance at New York Fashion Week for Autumn/ Winter ‘19 at New York City’s American Stock Exchange, multiple years of the CFDA Awards, and boutiques for jeweler Alexis Bittar. His exhibition designs include The New York Botanical Garden Shows: Frida Kahlo; Art Garden Life, Monet’s Garden, Georgia O’Keefe’s Haw’aii, and The Orchid Show

Scott’s work has been used to inform the field and the next generation of scenic designers. He has been featured in numerous national and international publications and textbooks, and exhibited at the Prague Quadrennial, Bruce Museum of Arts and Science, Leslie Lohman Museum in New York City, Gallery Met at the Metropolitan Opera and is featured in the permanent collection of the McNay Art Museum in Texas. He has been a featured speaker at the Harvard Graduate School of Design and received an honorary Doctorate from The University of Arizona in 2014. . Scott has had a home in Tucson for the past 13 years which has been featured in multiple publications, most recently in Wallpaper* Magazine in August.. His wallcovering and fabric collection with VOUTSA will launch in January of 2025.

JONATHAN LEARY

Dr. Jonathan Leary is the Founder and CEO of Remedy Place, the world’s first Social Wellness Club®. With locations in New York and Los Angeles—and plans for global expansion—Dr. Leary is at the forefront of the self-care and social wellness movement, garnering worldwide attention. Driven by a passion to help as many people feel better as possible, Dr. Leary transitioned from his successful career as a world-renowned concierge wellness doctor to launch Remedy Place’s first location in 2019.

At the intersection of design, self-care, and human connection, Dr. Leary and Remedy Place are leading a profound shift in the $10+ trillion healthcare industry. In response to the growing demand for social wellness, the brand’s offerings extend beyond its flagship locations, encompassing in-club events, off-site experiential activations, a product collection, and educational initiatives to broaden access and engagement. In 2024, Dr. Leary introduced The Framework—a complimentary educational platform, providing unique training that sets you and your health up for success in every facet of their life.

Beyond his leadership at Remedy Place, Dr. Leary is a sought-after speaker and advisor. His expertise has been featured in top media outlets such as Vogue, The New York Times, The Times UK, and the Today Show, along with corporate keynotes for Delta Airlines, JP Morgan, Goldman Sachs, The Global Wellness Summit, and YPO. He also has consulted with leading companies such as Kohler and Soho House, helping to shape wellness innovation and strategy.

With Remedy Place set to open two additional clubs per year, Dr. Leary remains committed to innovating and inspiring, all while pioneering a new path for the self-care industry and making people feel better around the world.

STELLENE VOLANDES

Stellene Volandes was named editor-in-chief of Town & Country magazine on March 8, 2016. In 2020 she was also named Editorial Director of Elle Decor.

Before her appointment at Town & Country, Volandes had been style director at the magazine since March 2012, shaping the fashion and society features each month in a role that gave her a significant hand in developing the magazine’s journalistic range and stable of contributors. Prior to being named style director, she served as jewelry & accessories director since April 2011. Previously to that, Volandes was style editor for Departures magazine, where she assigned and edited all fashion and jewelry features, having held increasingly senior roles since 2003.

Volandes is a graduate of Vassar College, with a Master’s degree in English and Comparative Literature from Columbia University. She serves on the board of Lincoln Center Theater. She is also the author of two books on jewelry history and lectures often on the topic.

JENNIFER KOLSTAD

Jennifer Kolstad is the Global Design and Brand Director at Ford Motor Company, the first design leader to establish a vision for environmental design at Ford, and one of the only female design executives leading an OEM in the world. Since joining Ford in 2019, she has created a global strategy for brand experience, unifying a portfolio exceeding 200 million SF with the global retail network of 10,000+ dealers.

Introducing the legacy brand to neuroaesthetics and research-led design, Jennifer has constructed an award-winning internal design team and agency roster, while collaborating with external luminaries, product design, UX, technology, marketing, and global brand.

Jennifer has disrupted institutionalized expectations over 30 years of practice. She has effectively integrated adjacent core competencies including human science into her team, expanding the value of design, proving impact with measurable outcomes.

She is the recipient of the 2023 ASID Luminary of Distinction award honouring the advancement of the design industry through innovative contributions and is the 2023 recipient of the “Beyond Automotive Design” Award for Car Design News.

Jennifer is a Doctoral candidate at the School of Architecture, Planning, and Landscape at the University of Calgary (’26) researching the intersection of business and design. She achieved a Master of Architecture degree from Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) and was a recipient of the SOM Graduate Fellowship. She has undergraduate degrees in Interior Design, Art and Art History. Prior to Ford, she designed at SOM, Gensler, HKS, and ALDAR in the United Arab Emirates.

Jennifer is an invited NASA Luminary teaching her “Brain to Building Framework” as a design tool for off-planet habitation. She has appeared on PBS Newshour, NBC News, Fortune’s 2022 Brainstorm, and Microsoft Envision, speaking on human-centered design. She is a member of the Health Advisory Council at the School of Design and Creative Technologies at Dell Medical School’s Design Institute for Health at UT Austin, and has presented at the ANFA/Salk Annual Conference, IDEC’s Annual Conference, and The Design Museum Everywhere Innovation Summit. Jennifer has been an invited keynote, lecturer, and juror at the Darden School of Business, University of Lincoln, Nebraska, Utah State University, UT Austin, University of Michigan, and National ASID Conferences.

Elected Chair of the American Society of Interior Designers (2020), she served on the National Board from 2015-2021.

FERNANDO WONG

Fernando Wong has been called “one of the best landscape designers in the world by the Chelsea Design Centre in London, “one of the most influential landscape designers in America” by Elle Décor, “a genius with the soul of a poet” by Garden Design Magazine, a “landscape legend” by Forbes, and “the creative mind behind Miami’s lushest landscapes” by Architectural Digest. His television show “Clipped” with Martha Stewart is on the HGTV/Discovery Plus channels and his work has been featured on The Today Show as well as in magazines and newspapers around the world. His book “The Young Man And The Tree” from Vendome comes out in October.

KERRIE KELLY

Kerrie Kelly, recent recipient of the 2024 ASID Designer of Distinction Award, is a renowned designer and lifestyle expert known for her distinctive California-inspired design philosophy. In 1995, Kerrie founded the Kerrie Kelly Studio with the goal of making great design more accessible. Over time, this philosophy has evolved into something more – a commitment to bringing thoughtful design into everyday life.

Whether diving into product development or crafting a strategy to connect with the design community, to work with Kerrie is to gain a trusted, industry-savvy partner who bridges the gap between design principles and a life well lived.

In her role as a consultant, Kerrie provides unique and evolving insight that helps brands develop and execute marketing strategies that resonate with the luxury designer – and their customers. This expert insight allows her partners to craft go-to market messaging that drives brand awareness, increases profitability, and establishes market leadership.

As CEO & Creative Director, Kerrie has received national recognition for her expertise in her field. Kerrie is a Fellow, Design Luminary Award recipient and Past-Chair to the National Board for American Society of Interior Designers (ASID); National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) Board Member; and Houzz Advisory Board Member.

FRANCISCO COSENTINO

Francisco Martinez-Cosentino Justo is the CEO and President of Cosentino Group, which he founded in 1980. He has held several leadership positions in the Spanish business community throughout his career and earned many accolades for his work including Doctor Honoris Causa from the University of Almeria and Premio Reino de España a la Trayectoria Empresarial which is awarded to him by the King of Spain. Francisco is also part of the NKBA Hall of Fame.

VICTOR MAZE

Victor Maze is an award-winning creative director and writer who has spent the past two decades leading art teams at interior design, travel, and lifestyle magazines around the U.S. He currently serves as creative director of VERANDA, overseeing all visuals for the luxury design brand, and was previously design director at COASTAL LIVING. You can read about Victor’s career—and the career paths of other top editors—in his new leadership book, “LEAD LIKE AN EDITOR: Hire Passionate Teams, Tell Stories That Inspire, and Build Brands People Love” (Fall 2024).

KATRINA RALSTON

Katrina Ralston is the President and Co-owner of Feeney Inc., where she oversees the company’s sales, finance, operations and marketing strategies. With a deep understanding of the architectural products industry, Katrina has been pivotal in driving Feeney Inc.’s growth and maintaining its reputation for excellence. Her leadership has ensured that the company not only delivers high-quality sustainable products but also continues to innovate and adapt in a competitive market. Katrina’s strategic vision and commitment to operational efficiency have positioned Feeney Inc. as a leader in the industry, known for enhancing the spaces where people live, work, and play. Her comprehensive approach to business management has solidified the company’s standing as a trusted name in architectural solutions, renowned for both quality and design.

JO SALTZ

Joanna Saltz is the award-winning Editorial Director of Delish and House Beautiful, where she oversees all content and platforms for both brands. Saltz has held editorial positions at Food Network Magazine, Seventeen, and The Knot, and has authored six books on food, entertaining, and home design. She is dedicated to innovation and believes in nurturing and showcasing talent. Saltz lives in New Jersey with her husband Scott, and her two sons, Spencer, and Teddy, and her daughter Everett.

ASAD SYRKETT

Asad Syrkett is the Editor in Chief of ELLE DECOR. Before taking the helm in September 2020, he ran business operations in New York for Hem, an independent Swedish furniture brand and design studio. Previously, he was Deputy Editor at Curbed, where he oversaw the senior staff and all special projects. A former editor at Architectural Digest and Architectural Record magazines, Asad has also guest-lectured at Harvard’s Graduate School of Design and appeared on panels for Design Miami and South by Southwest, among others.

RYAN BLOOM

Ryan Bloom has been a dedicated and passionate entrepreneur from a very young age. While attending McGill University in 1994, he grew a small marketing and promotion firm from his parents basement to having a collection of Fortune 500 clients, a team of 22 people and offices in Montreal, Toronto and New York. After selling his first business at the age of 29, Ryan spent close to a year traveling throughout Europe and the Middle East and several months spent volunteering in Tanzania, Africa. After returning to Montreal, Ryan began the next chapter of his career in international mixed-use real estate development with clients and projects across Canada, the US and Caribbean. In 2013, he leveraged his love for people, cooking and design to create Urban Bonfire which grew from a small local retailer to an international outdoor kitchenbrand and manufacturer. In 2022, Urban Bonfire and Kalamazoo Outdoor Gourmet formally merged to create Pleina Group LLC which Ryan leads as President and Chief Revenue Officer. Ryan is considered an outdoor cooking and entertaining industry expert and is a highly sought-after speaker, podcaster, strategist and mentor to entrepreneurs

GRACE HAYNES

Grace Haynes is the Senior Home & Garden Editor at VERANDA, where she leads the brand’s World’s Most Beautiful Shops and World’s Most Beautiful Gardens franchises. She covers everything from design and decorative arts to gardens and entertaining, writing and developing stories that bring the places we call home to life.

CAMILLE OKHIO

Camille Okhio is an art and design historian and writer living and working in New York City. She is the Senior Design Writer at ELLE Decor and has published pieces in T Magazine, Vogue, Architectural Digest, W Magazine and more. Her work centers on the decorative arts narrative potential.

RYAN GORDON JACKSON

Award–winning designer, Ryan Gordon Jackson, brings a refined approach to the design of space and interiors. Ryan’s designs respond to his client’s lifestyle, both in aesthetic and function. With formal education in Art History and Interior Design, Ryan’s designs of homes and furniture come from a traditional understanding but embody a strong commitment to an edited aesthetic. Jackson’s work has been featured in publications such as Galerie, Architectural Digest, Elle Decoration China, Interior Design and LUXE Magazine. In leading Studio Jackson, Ryan brings a strong point of view to the design process and values the experience
he has with each client, colleague, and project.

Richard T. Anuszkiewicz

Richard T. Anuszkiewicz (ANNA-SKEV-ICH) is a recognized kitchen and bath design authority and product designer, known for his refined interiors, unique materiality, and distinctive details. From his start in millwork and cabinetry, Richard’s creative touch has stretched to a variety of design disciplines, including architecture & interiors, luxury automobiles & yachts, and brand consulting & marketing. Currently based in Nashville TN, Richard is the Senior Designer of Design Galleria Kitchen & Bath Studio and the Creative Director of Monogram Appliances. Richard is a respected keynote speaker presenting nationally at premier industry events, and his work has been highlighted in numerous high-profile publications, including Architectural Digest, Luxe, House Beautiful, Traditional Home, and more.

JENNIFER LEVENE BRUNO

Jennifer Levene Bruno is the Senior Vice President,Head of Industry, Home & Design at Hearst. She has held numerous positions at Hearst since 2007, including Group Publishing Director of Town & Country, Elle Decor, House Beautiful and Veranda. In 2014 she launched the first-ever Town & Country Philanthropy Summit, and in 2021 she spearheaded Hearst’s first-ever Sustainability Summit. Jennifer launched her magazine publishing career at Hachette Filipacchi Media at Woman’s Day and has served in senior publishing positions at Condé Nast and Time Inc.

LAURA KOHLER

For more than thirty years, Laura E. Kohler has been a business leader at the forefront of driving purposeful change in the workplace and the world. As Chief Sustainable Living Officer, Laura brings her experience in marketing, communications, human resources and sustainability to lead Kohler’s efforts to help people live a sustainable lifestyle, adopt behaviors and make conscious choices to minimize their impact on the planet.

Prior to this role, Laura was appointed as the company’s first Chief Sustainability and DEI officer where she expanded Kohler Company’s commitment to environmental sustainability, social impact and DE&I by implementing more aggressive initatives to achieve their net zero 2035 goals, accelerating innovation to provide a broader range of products that help people reduce their impact on the environment, and increasing advocacy to address water conservation and improved access to safe water and sanitation. Laura also led the public reporting transition shift from social impact metrics to a GRI informed ESG report.

Laura spent two decades as the head of human resources where she oversaw the growth and development of 40,000+ global associates and helped formalize and strengthen the culture to allow associates to align with work that was meaningful and allows them to achieve their full potential.

Laura serves as the Chair for Kohler’s Trusts for Arts and Education, Preservation, and Clean Water. She is also on the boards of Kohler Company, Bank First Corporation, Duke University’s Trinity College of Visitors and the President’s Climate Task Force, the John Michael Kohler Arts Center, the Kohler Foundation, Inc., the African Wildlife Foundation, and the National Housing Endowment.

PILAR COSENTINO

Pilar Martínez-Cosentino is the Deputy Chairman and Executive Vice President of Cosentino Group where she spearheads the growth of the family-owned, global company that has a presence in 110 countries around the globe. She is also a member of the Board of Trustees Eduarda Justo Foundation, an organization dedicated to promoting the training and leadership of young people.

Martínez-Cosentino began her career at KPMG. She then joined Cosentino Group first within the legal department and later, after creating a dedicated department for Strategy Planning, she became the area’s Director in 2003. In 2015, she was appointed to Executive Vice President where she oversees all areas of the business operation. As a key component of the company’s growth, Martínez-Cosentino is very much involved with the Human Resources department and the company’s commitment to its employees, including fostering talent, providing ongoing training, and driving integration and equality. Today, the company has more than 6,000 employees.

In 2021, Martínez-Cosentino obtained the CaixaBank Women in Business Award, which recognizes the talent and professional excellence of female entrepreneurs. She was also included in the Top 20 women executives in business transformation in Spain by the Instituto Coordenadas de Gobernanza y Economía Aplicada (Spanish institute of governance and applied economics). In the same year, Martínez-Cosentino Alfonso was selected as one of the 100 Women Leaders in Spain in the 9th edition of the ranking organized by Mujeres&cia.

Pilar Martínez-Cosentino is actively engaged in numerous organizations including: a member of the Business Policy Advisory Board of the San Telmo Institute; a member of the Advisory Committee of the UNIA (International University of Andalusia); a member of the Territorial Advisory Board of Endesa in Andalusia and Extremadura; a member of the Board of Directors of the Instituto de la Empresa Familiar (IEF). She graduated from Pontifica Comillas Universty (ICADE) in Madrid with a degree in Law and Business Law. She also holds an MBA from the Instituto de Empresa Business School.

WAMBUI IPPOLITO

Wambui Ippolito is a Landscape Designer in New York City. She designs for both commercial and private clients and has recently begun to take on institutional clients. Wambui’s design aesthetic is influenced by her childhood spent in the Great Rift Valley as well as her travels around the world. She won the 2021 PHS Flower Show Best-In-Show and Gold awards by unanimous decision, the only time this has happened in the history of the competition. She owns a small design practice based in New York.

BILL DARCY

Bill Darcy is the Global President and Chief Executive Officer of the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) and KBIS, a forward-thinking trade organization serving the nearly $200 billion k&b industry. Within his 10+ year tenure with the NKBA, Bill has pioneered key industry initiatives: creating solutions in the face of skilled labor shortages, establishing the NKBA’s 30 under 30 program, and orchestrating the 2014 collaboration of KBIS and IBS to create Design & Construction Week – now one of the world’s largest, most comprehensive industry trade events.

MILES REDD

Miles Redd embarked on his interior design career after graduating from NYU, honing his skills with luminary antiques dealer John Rosselli and decorator Bunny Williams. In 1998, he opened his own design firm in New York City’s NoHo neighborhood.

He is known for his quirky brand of cozy glamour. His unique aesthetic vision is characterized by playful mélanges of high and low, invigorated with whimsical splashes of color and modern gestures. Drawing on inspirations ranging from Richard Avedon fashion photographs to Rene Gruau illustrations, Redd has crafted interiors for a wide array of venues. His trademark approach to design has brought to life rooms infused with boldness, fantasy, and sophistication.

Miles was the creative director of Oscar de la Renta Home from 2003 to 2013. His work has been featured in Vogue, W, House Beautiful, Elle Decor, Veranda, and Architectural Digest.

LAURA KIRAR

Laura Kirar is the founder and creative director of Laura Kirar Design (LKD). She is globally acclaimed as an interior and product designer, sculptor, and creative experience producer. Laura’s mission is to inspire artistic exploration and merge LKD’s work with new talents and authentic design. Her studio crafts timeless interiors and collectible designs that seamlessly blend history and innovation. Laura Kirar’s portfolio spans luxurious residences, award-winning commercial spaces, restaurants, showrooms, and
includes her own published Mesón Hidalgo – Guesthouse Boutique in San Miguel de Allende. Holding a degree in sculpture and interior architecture from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Laura Kirar infuses her work with originality and meticulous attention to detail. Her world travels and studio work in Mexico profoundly influence her projects. As a creator, patron, facilitator, collector, and connector, Laura Kirar has made an indelible mark in the design
industry.

VALENTIN TIJERAS

A 16-year veteran of the company, Valentin Tijeras serves as the Global Director of Product, Research and Development, and Quality at Cosentino. In this role, he is responsible for the development and management of new products, which include introducing the most innovative, sustainable, and beautiful materials to the quartz surfaces and engineered stone industry.

Known for his leadership skills and expertise garnered from years of traveling the world to gather a strong understanding of market dynamics and customer needs, Tijera’s achievements include diversifying Cosentino’s portfolio with new product lines and a refreshed color palette that represents more than 70% of the company’s revenue. These new products include Sensa, Integrity, Silestone bathroom collection, Silestone Hybriq, and Dekton. He leads a team of professionals committed to Cosentino’s circular economy business model, which has established substantial sustainable standards for product manufacturing and composition to ensure the Company continues having a positive impact on the environment today and for years to come.

BARB FULLER

Barb Fuller, Vice President of Marketing and Visual Merchandising at Arteriors, has over twenty five years of experience leading strategic, product, and marketing initiatives for home and design brands including Waterworks, Tufenkian Artisan Carpets, LG’s Signature Kitchen Suite, Lladro, and Tumi. She joined Dallas-based furniture, lighting and decor provider Arteriors in 2020 to helm global brand marketing initiatives, including the biannual launches of the Arteriors Guest Designer collections. With her global perspective and experience, she uses her knowledge in making luxury products and brand building to guide Arteriors in new and exciting ways.

JESUS VELAZCO

Jesus Velazco, the founder of JVL Architects, embarked on his architectural journey in 2011, following his graduation from the Autonomous University of Nuevo León (UANL). His inaugural project involved the remodeling of an apartment in Monterrey, but it wasn’t long before he took on a more ambitious endeavor. At just 24 years old, Velazco designed and built his first house in Los Cabos, setting the stage for a flourishing career that has since encompassed over 500,000 square feet of design, primarily in the residential and multi–housing sectors.

A Methodical Approach to Excellence
JVL Architects operates under a unique methodology encapsulated by the acronym S.M.A.R.T.—Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Result–Based, and Time–Oriented. This approach is not merely a set of guidelines but a philosophy that has been honed through overcoming various challenges over the years. It serves as the cornerstone for
each project, ensuring its success from conception to completion.

The Trust Factor
What truly sets Velazco and his team apart is the deep–seated value they place on client trust. This trust is not just appreciated; it is nurtured and evolved with each new project, serving as the driving force behind their relentless pursuit of architectural excellence.

JOHN CIALONE

John is the Vice President and a Partner at Tom Stringer Design Partners. He oversees design development and client relations for residential and commercial projects across the United States. He brings his characteristic energy and enthusiasm to all endeavors, and he currently serves as the Chair of the National Board of Directors of the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID). He is also on the Board of Directors of the Ragdale Foundation, a member of the Guild Board for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Chicago, and he is active in the Leaders of Design Council. With nearly 30 years of experience, his work has been recognized with many awards and has been widely published in magazines like Traditional Home, Luxe, California Living, Western Art & Architecture, Palm Beach, and Modern Luxury.

TOM DIXON

Tom Dixon is a British designer who is known across the world as one of the most influential creators of lighting and furniture. His works have been acquired by museums across the globe including the Victoria and Albert Museum, Museum of Modern Art New York, and Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris. With a commitment to innovation and a mission to revive the British furniture industry, Dixon is inspired by the nation’s unique heritage and produces extraordinary objects for everyday use.

Recently, he collaborated with Cosentino in Metamorphic: an installation at the Fuori Salone of Milano 2023, challenging the convention of bathroom standards.

BARCLAY BUTERA

Since 1994, Barclay Butera has been the creative force behind his iconic design firm and showroom in Newport Beach, California. His success in Newport prompted Butera to establish showrooms in Park City, Utah, and Corona del Mar, California. Butera is renowned for his approachable elegance and glamorous, coastal-chic interiors.

Barclay Butera’s inspirations are drawn from a diverse variety of grand architecture from coast to coast, European and far eastern influences include everything from the high-fashion runways to his far-flung world travels. He readily credits old Hollywood and West Palm Beach as among his greatest muses. Butera’s design signature is distinctive; classic with a fresh twist that is flawlessly integrated into traditional, transitional, and contemporary interiors alike. His artful inclusion of heritage pieces that blend seamlessly alongside distinctive furnishings, pattern-on-pattern fabrics and bold textures are all hallmarks of his iconic all-American style. Butera’s passion for interior design began over two decades ago, and has grown into an impressive lifestyle enterprise that is known and sought after around the world today.

In 2016, Butera achieved an incredible career milestone when he released his “Yacht on Wheels” edition of the Rolls-Royce Dawn at the internationally renowned Concours d’Elegance in Pebble Beach. The first interior designer in the history of the 100+-year-old iconic company to be commissioned to collaborate on a design, Barclay’s stunning crisp white and navy luxury convertible with teak and nautical accents set the automotive industry on fire. Building on his licensing empire, this fall Barclay will debut his 7^th furniture collection with industry powerhouse Lexington Home Brands. A designer for the ages; Barclay’s spectacular design projects, a myriad of licensing collections, and his recent foray into the luxury rental property market, are frequently featured in global consumer publications, décor, and lifestyle magazines.

STANLEY CHENG

Stanley K. Cheng is the founder and chief executive officer of Hestan. The iconic innovator of the Circulon and Anolon lines of cookware, which married non-stick surfaces to hard-anodized aluminum with the patented “hi-low flavor release system” used with the Circulon line, he is widely renowned as founder and CEO of Hestan’s parent company Meyer Corporation.

Born and raised in Hong Kong, Cheng attended the University of Oregon, first majoring in business but ultimately choosing mechanical engineering and graduating from Oregon State University. Returning to his homeland to take over the family aluminum manufacturing plant, he transitioned the business to cookware, releasing his first line in London, England in 1972, with distribution centers following in Liverpool, England and Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In the 1980s, Cheng converted his factory to the production of non-stick cookware and in 1984 unveiled Circulon, the first line of hard-anodized, non-stick cookware on the market.

In 1992, Cheng purchased an eighty-acre vineyard in Napa Valley and moved his family and the Meyer Corporation headquarters to Vallejo, California.

EDWARD LEAMAN

Edward is the Chief Brand and Design Officer of California Closets, Founding Chair of Fashion Design California College of the Arts (CCA), and a Stanford University Professor. Born in London, England, he holds BA and MA degrees from Cambridge University in American history. Through his training and early career experience in Europe and Japan, he developed his passion for the customer in the lifestyle businesses of fashion, interiors and entertainment, as a designer, merchandiser, and marketer. After joining California Closets as EVP in 1994, he founded his own brand consultancy Growers and Nomads before returning to California Closets full time in 2021.

PATTY DOMINGUEZ

Patty Dominguez is the Vice President of Business Development for Cosentino Americas, responsible for generating business development in all commercial channels and playing a pivotal role in Cosentino’s growth strategy for the coming years. She also spearheads the brand’s entry into new revenue streams, including residential and commercial furnishings.

Throughout her nearly 17-year tenure with the manufacturer – most recently serving as the VP of A&D Sales – Dominguez has played a pivotal role in elevating the brand by strategically cultivating deep relationships and new business opportunities with architects and designers, as well as kitchen & bath dealers that have led to the company’s exponential growth in the United States. Currently, the market represents more than 60 percent of the company’s global sales. 

Dominguez also spearheaded the development and strategy of invaluable relationships with leading industry organizations, including the American Society of Interior Designers, where she currently served on the Board of Directors, as well as the National Kitchen & Bath Association and the American Institute of Architects, among others. 

EDUARDO COSENTINO

Eduardo holds the post of CEO of Cosentino America and EVP of Global Corporate Sales at Cosentino. In these roles, he leads the Group’s sales efforts on a global scale as well as overseeing North, Central, and South America and the Caribbean, facilitating the company’s growth in one of the biggest markets for the organization. Within the industry, Eduardo serves on the NKBA’s Board of Directors and as vice president of the Andalusian Marble Association.

JEREMIAH BRENT

Jeremiah Brent is an interior designer, television personality and founder of Jeremiah Brent Design, an interior design firm with locations in Los Angeles and New York City. Named to Architectural Digest’s AD100 list as a leading design talent, the Central California native first honed his forward-thinking yet elegantly timeless artistry through furniture design. He soon emerged as a singular new voice in the interior design world, embracing a highly intuitive approach focused on elevating each client’s emotional connection to their space. Jeremiah currently lives in New York City with his husband, Nate Berkus, and their two young children, Poppy and Oskar.

CARISHA SWANSON

Carisha’s passion for design led her into the world of retail management and magazine publishing. In 2013, she joined Hearst as Market Editor for the Hearst Design Group, which included House Beautiful, Veranda and ELLE Decor, with a focus on kitchen, bath, building and technology. She was later promoted to Senior Market Editor and in 2018 became Market Director for House Beautiful’s print and digital properties. In 2022, her title changed to Director of Editorial Special Projects focusing on brand partnerships, consumer facing programming and 360° editorial content creation.

STEELE MARCOUX

Steele Marcoux is a veteran of the design publishing industry, having served in senior editorial roles at County Living, Coastal Living, and Southern Living prior to being named Veranda editor-in-chief in 2018. She graduated cum laude from Williams College with B.A. in art history and summa cum laude from the University of Alabama graduate school with an M.A. in American History. Steele serves on the board of directors for the Alabama School of Fine Arts in Birmingham, where she lives with her husband, two sons, and two dogs.

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