101 Sessions Presenters
Session 1: How to Create and Present Your Portfolio
Course Description: This discussion will include suggestions on portfolio content, understanding how to organize your work, and tips on how to present your portfolio.
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 a 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 designers 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…
Presenter: Stephanie Fallon, M.S., IIDA, CHID, LEED Green Associate Director of Interiors, Associate Partner PhiloWilke Partnership
Stephanie has specialized in healthcare and Science & Technology interiors for 15 years. She strives to create results-driven healthcare interiors through thoughtful inquiry and intuitive listening. Her early career experience in medical equipment planning created a foundation for understanding the importance of coordination and efficiency. She believes in curating the human experience by providing insightful originality while working with clients.
Stephanie has enjoyed working with students, the future of our industry, as an adjunct instructor at The Art Institute of Houston from 2018 to 2022, Houston Community College in 2023 and, this year, Stephen F. Austin State University’s graduate interior design program. She has been an active professional member of IIDA, previously serving on the Texas Oklahoma Chapter board as Vice President of Campus Centers. This position supports student membership and communication between interior design programs, educators, and professionals. For 13 years, Stephanie 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.
Fallon currently serves on the Board of Directors for the American Academy of Healthcare Interior Designers as President-Elect. Stephanie enjoys attempting to Do-It-Yourself projects, singing terribly at karaoke, and pretending to cook.
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: Andrea Reay Wahl, IIDA, RID VP of Advocacy Texas 22-'23
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 the 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.
Presenter: Katelyn Bell, RCID, NCIDQ, IIDA, WELL AP, Fitwell Ambassador
VP of Advocacy Oklahoma '22-'23
IIDA Texas Oklahoma Chapter
Katelyn is a Registered Commercial Interior Designer, is NCIDQ and WELL AP certified, as well as a Fitwel Ambassador. She received her Bachelor of Interior Design from the University of Oklahoma, where her passion for advocacy began. Along with serving as VP Of Advocacy - Oklahoma, she serves as IIDA Member at Large for the Oklahoma Interior Design Coalition. As a Norman resident, she is a member of Norman NEXT, Leadership Norman's 41st Class, and serves on the Professional Advisory Board for the Division of Interior Design at the University of Oklahoma's College of Architecture.
Session 3: The Future of Sustainable Design: A Roadmap
Course Description: Understand the importance of sustainability in the built environment and what is to come through trends and regulations. In this course, you will learn how the industry is defining sustainability through common language, product labels, and accreditations. Discover what framework is being built to align all our industries to a common goal and how all these strategies can set you up to make a difference in design.
Presenter: Antonio Holguin Sustainability Lead North America - Autex Acoustics Founder - Texas Materials Initiative
Antonio brings over a decade of experience from the commercial and healthcare design industry and through his role at Autex, plays an integral role in shaping the current workplace through acoustic solutions and sustainability. Earning his BFA in Interior Design from the Art Institute and his Master of Education at the University of North Texas he continues to pursue his passion for creating healthier work environments for clients. Antonio founded the Texas Materials initiative, a task force of architect and design firms across Texas who have come together to make a difference in creating healthy environments through education on materials and material transparency. He currently leads sustainable initiatives including circularity, healthy materials, and education for Autex North America and is also the regional sales manager for New York City.
Session 4: Networking
Course Description: Join commercial real estate business development leaders, Shelby DeMartino and Brittany Schneider to uncover successful marketing and business development strategies. Covering a range of best practices, and proven tactics, this session will empower participants to elevate their approach to developing meaningful relationships and gain new business opportunities.
Presenter: Brittany Schneider Business Development Manager Conlan Company
Brittany Schneider serves as the Business Development Manager for the Conlan Company, a $2B nationwide general contractor with offices in Dallas, Atlanta and Jacksonville, FL. She has 18 years of AEC professional marketing and business development experience. Brittany spent the first 10 years of her career in Seattle, WA, where she was born and raised, and has been enjoying the last eight years in her current home of Dallas, TX. As Business Development Manager for the Conlan Company, Brittany’s responsibilities include creating new opportunities for the company, building long-term relationships with clients, and partnering with leadership and operations on strategies to deliver successful results to customers. Conlan’s core commercial markets are industrial, cold storage, manufacturing, and data centers.
Brittany is actively engaged in several commercial real estate associations including Industrial Women in Real Estate (IWIRE), where she serves on the Philanthropy Committee; North TX NAIOP and NAIOP National Forum Trends II in Real Estate; Ladies in Commercial Real Estate (LCRE); and North TX BUILT. She was also a 2022 Urban Land Institute (ULI) Center for Leadership Graduate.
Brittany loves spending time with her pup Rainier (Ray Ray for short), planning her next travel experience, and finding new golf courses to play on.
Presenter: Shelby DeMartino Strategic Marketing and Business Development Manager KIMley-HOrn
Shelby DeMartino is a Strategic Marketing and Business Development Professional with over ten years of experience. Shelby drives results for Kimley-Horn. Shelby leads strategy sessions to develop new business opportunities and oversee marketing pursuits for Kimley-Horn's land development teams in Texas, with a focus on Dallas-Fort Worth. She partners with project managers on strategies, developing and promoting best practices, delivering results to clients, and creating new opportunities for Kimley-Horn. Kimley-Horn touches most commercial real estate markets including industrial, retail, multifamily, education, mixed-use, office, and renewable energy developments.
Shelby is involved in several local commercial real estate organizations including serving on the Women’s Leadership Initiative (WLI) Executive Committee as the Co-Chair, Fort Worth Executive Steering Committee, and the Fort Worth Placemaking Committee for ULI Dallas-Fort Worth. Additionally, Shelby is an active member of Women in Industrial Real Estate (IWIRE); Ladies in Commercial Real Estate (LCRE); Women’s Energy Network (WEN); and the Society of Marketing Professional Services (SMPS), where she serves on the Board of Directors as the Programs Chair. In addition, Shelby enjoys serving in her community with her family through church activities and missions.