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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, 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 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 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 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.
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 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 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
She has been recognized as an authority in the field of interior design by the World Wide Alliance of Interior Design, named “Designer of the Year” in 2018. She published her book “The Art of Beautiful Living” with the renowned publisher Assouline, presented at the National Palace of Fine Arts in 2019. She holds a degree from Universidad Iberoamericana, the Sotheby’s Art Institute of NY, and a Master’s Degree from The Future London Academy.
She has been selected for inclusion in the top 100 World Interiors Design Review by Andrew Martin for three consecutive years, and featured in BBeyond Design Icons 2022. Her most recent furniture collection was showcased at the Venice Art Biennale in 2022. Her projects have received international awards such as the International Property Awards and Luxury Lifestyle Awards 2022.
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 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.
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 (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 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.
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 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 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 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 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 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.
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, 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.
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.
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 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 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.
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 7th 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 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 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 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 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 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’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 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.