101 SESSIONS
Session 1: Negotiating Your Offer
Course Description: 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 D. Ward Ph.D. IIDA, Industry
Market Sales Manager - Kimball International
Monica has been in the design industry for over 20 years working in higher education, sales, and business development, but her passion is with her students. She was a Director of Career Services for over 10 years at The Art Institute of Houston and professor of Career Development. In her spare time still does career coaching for interior designers of all levels. She strives to find the strengths and pertinent attributes of her clients so we can find the perfect fit. Her early career experience in higher education helped her hone her skills in learning and leadership styles, which translates to work cultures and leadership growth.
Her day to day dream job is as a Market Sales Manager for Kimball International where she works with interior designer and architects specifying furniture for projects in corporate, healthcare, education and other areas.
Monica has been an active professional member of IIDA, currently serving on the Texas Oklahoma Chapter board as Vice President of Industry. This position is responsible for finding and maintaining sponsorships for IIDA with industry partners. For 13 years, Monica has participated in SHIFT, one of the largest student-focused conferences catered to teaching the importance of networking, educating and fostering the future of the design industry by providing a jump start to student’s design careers. Monica graduated from Texas A&M University from the program of Education and Human Resource Development where she studied organization development, career development, and adult education and learning.
Mojo enjoys hiking, tap dancing, banjo playing, dancing, singing, K-dramas and K-pop, dogs (all of them) traveling all over the planet and anything that is fun…
Session 2: Advocacy
Course Description: This presentation will give an overview of advocacy for Interior Design and legislative updates in Texas and Oklahoma as well as provide highlights of other states' efforts. We will explain what it means to advocate for the Interior Design profession and what steps to take to become a registered Interior Designer. We will discuss tools and resources that are available to continue the conversation of what an Interior Designer does professionally and to relay that information to others.
Presenter: Mackenzie Matray, IIDA, RID
VP of Advocacy Texas ‘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 with friends and her dachshund, Pretzel.
Presenter: Andrea Reay Wahl, IIDA, RID
VP of Advocacy Oklahoma '23-'25
IIDA Texas Oklahoma Chapter
Andrea has practiced Interior Design for over 25 years with experience in several project types and sizes throughout her career. She studied Interior Design at School of Visual Arts in New York City and worked at several firms before returning to her hometown of Dallas, Texas to be closer to friends and raise her daughter with her husband and family network. She is currently the Interior Designer Lead and Associate at Stantec working on mostly education projects for K-12 and Higher Education. She enjoys renovating, gardening, and competing in powerlifting, and overall continuing to learn new skill sets. Andrea thrives in bringing art and expression into every aspect of a project.
Roundtable 101
Roundtable Description: 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.
