101 SESSIONS
Session 1: Negotiating Your Job Offer
Course Description: Congrats! You got a job - but what about the benefits, salary and other options you can negotiate for? Learn more! The goal of the negotiation is to find a mutually beneficial arrangement that aligns with your career goals and the employer's needs. We will approach the process with professionalism and a collaborative mindset.
Presenter: Monica Jo de Los Santos Ph.D., Industry IIDA – MoJo Talent Lab
IIDA Texas Oklahoma Chapter
Monica Jo (“MoJo”) is the founder of MoJo Talent Lab, a boutique career-coaching and talent-development firm helping design professionals build careers aligned with their strengths, values, and goals. With over 20 years in the architecture and design industry, she brings a unique blend of higher education, sales, business development, and industry leadership to her work. Monica spent more than a decade as Director of Career Services and Professor of Career Development at The Art Institute of Houston, where she guided students into the design profession. Through MoJo Talent Lab, she continues to coach interior designers at every career stage, from emerging talent to seasoned leaders.
Her background in education sharpened her expertise in learning styles, leadership development, and organizational culture, which she applies to career coaching, recruiting, and organizational growth. In parallel, Monica serves as Director of Sales and Design at Velocity Business Products, leading design-driven commercial interior solutions in partnership with interior designers and architects across corporate, healthcare, and education environments.
An active industry leader, Monica is a professional member of IIDA and served on the Texas Oklahoma Chapter Board as Vice President of Industry. She has also participated for 15 years in SHIFT, supporting the next generation of designers through education and networking. Monica holds a PhD from Texas A&M University in Education and Human Resource Development, with a focus on organizational development, career development, and adult learning.
Outside of work, MoJo enjoys hiking, tap dancing, banjo playing, travel, K-dramas and K-pop, and petting dogs.
Session 2: Advocacy & NCIDQ
Course Description: How do you get licensed? What do the tests include? What does it mean to be an interior designer, in the legal sense? Get answers to all of your questions!
Presenter: Mackenzie Matray, LID, NCDIQ, IIDA – GH2 Architects
VP of Advocacy Oklahoma ‘24-'26
IIDA Texas Oklahoma Chapter
Mackenzie holds a Bachelor of Interior Design and a minor in Art History from the University of Oklahoma. After graduation, she moved to Oklahoma City, where she began her career with a focus on Native American Interior Design for nearly four years. In 2024, she joined GH2 Architects, expanding her practice across a wide range of market sectors. Mackenzie is also deeply committed to interior design advocacy. She currently serves as Vice President of Advocacy for Oklahoma with the Texas/Oklahoma Chapter of IIDA and is the Immediate Past President of the Oklahoma Interior Design Coalition (OIDC). During her time as OIDC President, Mackenzie played a key role in the successful passage of HB1793—the Oklahoma Interior Design Practice Act. Outside of her professional life, Mackenzie is an avid yogi, enjoys training for half-marathons, and loves exploring Oklahoma City’s restaurant scene and her dachshund, Pretzel.
Presenter: Linda Mann
VP of Advocacy Texas ‘24-'26
IIDA Texas Oklahoma Chapter
Linda Mann is a Registered Interior Designer and the Vice President of Advocacy for IIDA Texas. She is deeply committed to advancing the interior design profession through legislative engagement, education, and community impact.
Linda currently practices with DLR Group and serves on the Texas Christian University TAID Board, bringing both professional expertise and academic perspective to her advocacy work. Raised in an artistic family in Austin, creativity has always been central to her life and career—something she finds deeply gratifying in both design and service. A passionate advocate beyond the profession, Linda supports organizations including Back on My Feet and DISD CityLab, reflecting her belief in design and advocacy as tools for meaningful change. She is also a self‑described “advocacy nerd,” known for her energy, curiosity, and commitment to making a difference.
Outside of work, Linda lives in the Village in Oklahoma City, where she is restoring a 1970s ranch home. She enjoys yoga, running, and travel—and is always happy to talk about her decade‑long marathon cycle. She’s married, a proud parent of two global‑minded kids, and rarely seen without her dachshund, Pretzel, by her side.
Session 4: Student Roundtable
Roundtable Description: Join Katie Branning, VP of Campus Centers, for a roundtable discussion covering a range of topics. Hear from fellow students and engage in a new way.
This discussion will be a round table style and open forum! This conversation will be focused on the industry of Interior Design with a student's point of view. Come ready to discuss everything from best practices, struggles, questions, and brainstorming. You will get to hear and collaborate with students from all over the country.
Presenter: Katie Branning, Assoc. IIDA - DLR Group
VP of Campus Centers ‘24-’25
IIDA Texas Oklahoma Chapter
Katie is a professional interior designer with a focus on education design and a longtime member of IIDA since her student years. She currently serves as Vice President of Campus Centers for the TX|OK Chapter, where she is passionate about supporting students, strengthening campus engagement, and giving back to the design community.
Session 3: Oh the Places You’ll Go!
Course Description: As you prepare to enter the professional world, the possibilities within the interior design industry can feel both exciting and overwhelming. This session offers a clear, energizing roadmap to help you understand the wide range of career trajectories available to emerging designers. Through real‑world examples, industry research, and insights drawn from more than a decade of experience across multiple design roles, Stephanie Fallon will guide you through traditional and nontraditional paths in architecture and interior design. This session is ideal for interior design students looking to make informed, confident decisions about their next steps and discover just how many “places you’ll go” within this dynamic profession.
Presenter: Stephanie Fallon, M.S., IIDA, CHID – PhiloWilke Partnership
IIDA Texas Oklahoma Chapter
Stephanie has specialized in healthcare and health science interiors for 16 years. She strives to create results-driven healthcare interiors through thoughtful inquiry and intuitive listening. Stephanie believes in curating the human experience by providing insightful originality while working with clients. Stephanie enjoyed working with students as an adjunct instructor from 2018 to 2023 for several undergraduate and graduate interior design programs in Texas. She has been an active professional member of IIDA, previously serving on the Texas Oklahoma Chapter board as Vice President of Campus Centers. For 15 years, Stephanie has participated in SHIFT in various capacities. Stephanie currently serves on the Board of Directors for the American Academy of Healthcare Interior Designers as President for 2026. Stephanie enjoys trying to save all of the stray animals, attempting DIY home projects, karaoke, and pretending to cook.