2019 Speakers
Principal and Interior Designer, Jeff Andrews/Design
Internationally celebrated interior designer Jeff Andrews creates sophisticated yet livable interiors for families and celebrities alike. His work has been featured in top shelter magazines around the globe, including Architectural Digest, Elle Decor, Veranda, and House Beautiful. Jeff has a furniture line with A. Rudin, a wallpaper line with Astek Wallcoverings, a wood surfaces collaboration with Jamie Beckwith, and a rug collection with Mansour Modern. He has received numerous awards from California Home + Design for his work, as well as the Hue Award from Benjamin Moore. Jeff is the author of ͞The New Glamour: Interiors with Star Quality which will be available in March 2019 from Rizzoli.
@jeffandrewsdsgn
American interior designer and Bravo TV celebrity
Michel Smith Boyd is an American interior designer and star of the hit Bravo show, Buying it Blind. His Atlanta based firm, Michel Smith Boyd Interiors, is known for Michel’s signature, sumptuous style. Renowned for its distinctive, cultivated, and soulful vibe Michel’s work has received countless accolades including being recognized as one of the Top 20 African American Designers in the country. Additionally, Michel’s work has graced the pages of Elle Décor, Traditional Home, Vogue, Veranda, Ebony, and Washington Post just to name a few. Boyd prides himself on creating spaces that his clients not only adore but also delight in calling home. Michel’s breadth of influence includes residential and commercial interior design as well as curated collections of luxe rugs, fabrics and trims, wall coverings, decorative home accessories, and objets d'art. His signature style masterfully juxtaposes masculine and feminine sophistication and he seamlessly blends it all under one roof to set the perfect mood.
INTERIOR DESIGNER, SHAYLA COPAS INTERIORS
Shayla Copas is one of the South's most highly acclaimed award-winning luxury designers and tastemakers! Her "Southern Glam" aesthetic has graced the pages of regional and national publications. Her soon to be released show, appropriately named " Southern Glam" will be released later this year by the Design Network which displays the glitz, glam and southern hospitality she is known for.
Shayla is currently authoring a tabletop design book for Schiffer Publishing, "Four Seasons of Entertaining" which is due out in 2019.
She is currently appointed by Governor Asa Hutchinson as a commissioner to The Arkansas Governor's Mansion Commission where she has spent countless hours working with the First Family to renovate the state treasure. Shayla was bestowed the coveted 2017 Philanthropist of the year award by the Women's Foundation of Arkansas for her years of inspiring and empowering women throughout her state.
Preeminent Interior Designer and Author
Inspired by acres of lush Virginia countryside, Barry Dixon is known for a distinct aesthetic that blends Western styles with global influences from a childhood spent abroad in India, Pakistan, Korea, New Caledonia and South Africa. With projects spanning the world, Dixon imagines interiors that infuse artifacts and antiques with present-day motifs – all preserving the history and personality of the home’s owners and their treasures.
Author and Design Editor
Sophie Donelson is an author and design editor. She was most recently Editor in Chief of House Beautiful where she inspired a new generation of design lovers to embrace color and happiness at home.
Sophie has held editor positions at Hampton Cottages & Gardens, Elle Decor and Martha Stewart’s Blueprint magazines. As an independent journalist she wrote for the New York Times, New York magazine, The Wall Street Journal, and The Globe & Mail.
During a five-year detour from publishing, Sophie advised digital and retail startups including C. Wonder, Curbed and Business of Home, where she was also the original on-air host of Editor TV.
Donelson’ s national TV appearances include the TODAY Show, Good Morning America, and Open House.
A contributor to several volumes on home design, Sophie’s 2017 book Style Secrets: What Every Room Needs quickly became a bestseller. Her next, House Beautiful Dream Homes: Intimate House Tours & Dazzling Spaces, publishes in April.
Sophie lives in New York City with her husband, journalist and urbanist Greg Lindsay, and their two young sons.
Digital Marketing Professional
Stephanie Duerden has been a passionate marketing professional for 10 years. She worked her way up the ladder at Oceanside Glass & Tile from Event Coordinator to Marketing Director contributing to significant growth of the companies social channels, brand recognition and overall revenue. In 2017, her social media efforts gained the attention of Insider Design + Insider Art, exposing the brand to 4.8 million new viewers, growing their social following by 20% and website views by 5%. In 2018, she was offered a new position for San Diego based e-commerce company SportRx where she now heads lead gen and customer relationship management.
Director of Growth and Development, Analytics Pros
Charles Farina is Director of Growth and Development at Analytics Pros. With 10+ years of experience in Digital Analytics, almost all of his experience has been with world-leading Google Analytics 360 providers. Deeply experienced in attribution, cross-device and cross-platform analytics, and marketing data integrations, Charles has performed hundreds of Google Analytics training and workshops across the world ranging from small businesses to Fortune 100 global enterprises.
Founder of Slince, Inc.
Will spent 15 years moving up the ranks in client-side marketing at brands like E*trade and OppenheimerFunds, before becoming Vice President of Online Marketing at 1-800 Flowers where he ran Social Media, SEM, Display Advertising and Affiliates. He eventually moved on to the start-up world, where in his last role he was Chief Marketing Officer, responsible for all acquisition marketing, analytics, website conversion and P&L. He was named to 40 under 40 for being one of the most innovative brand marketing executives and is a sought-after speaker at industry conferences such as Internet Week, ad:tech, Brand Innovators and eTail. His front-running approach to social commerce and Facebook advertising has been covered by the New York Times, Ad Age and ClickZ. Will decided to start Slince because he saw a need in the marketplace for a senior-level, digital executive to work on behalf of clients where their agencies were falling short.
Co-founder, Principal, and Lead Designer, French & French Interiors
Heather French is the co-founder, principal, and lead designer of French & French Interiors. She enjoys customizing designs for her clients based on their current spaces and needs, and specializes in being able to distill their desires into a beautiful, comfortable, and functional aesthetic.
She has always been interested in the layout and flow of people’s homes, and ways that design translates into living styles (especially among different cultures).
Heather loves creating fun, integrated spaces for her clients that bring life and purpose to a family’s home. For her, interior design is about more than just “pretty things” - well-thought-out spaces should solve a problem and allow for shared human experiences on a deeper level. She strives to understand her client’s desired purpose for space, and then create beautiful, meaningful areas that provide families a soulful, fun, nurturing place to live.
Founder and Principal Designer of House of Funk
Sandra Funk is the founder and principal designer of House of Funk, an award-winning full-service and luxury online interior design firm with offices in NY and NJ. House of Funk draws on over a decade in business to create thoughtful homes with an emphasis on clean lines and soulful touches, all rooted in tradition. In 2017, the firm won second place in The American Society of Interior Designers’ NY Metro Chapter’s Design Excellence Awards for living space design. Sandra’s design work has been featured in numerous publications, including Elle Decor, The Huffington Post, Apartment Therapy, Luxe Interiors + Design, Dering Hall, and Design NJ.
Style Director, Joss & Main
An author, editor, and visual content creator, Donna Garlough has been style director at Joss & Main since 2013. Her first book, Your Home, Your Style: How to Find Your Look and Create Rooms You Love (Rizzoli), was named one of spring 2018’s top design books by the New York Times. Her writing, advice, and interior design projects have been featured in Real Simple, People, Family Circle, Country Living, InStyle, ElleDecor.com, ArchitecturalDigest.com, PopSugar, the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post, and the Huffington Post, among other publications. She lives in Boston.
Director of Marketing and Communications, High Point Market Authority
As the Director of Marketing and Communications for the High Point Market Authority, Ashley Grigg manages a wide variety of projects, including media relations, educational programming, social media and digital promotions for the largest home furnishings trade show in the world, High Point Market. With over 12 years of experience in marketing and event management, she has previously worked in event management, association
management, corporate fundraising and business development.
President, ART SMART Strategies, LLC
Suzanna Cullen Hamilton is the President of ART SMART Strategies, LLC. Hamilton is a brand, marketing, and public relations strategist for creative entities ranging from interior designers to national museums to events. She has been a byline features writer for shelter and lifestyle publications for over 18 years, and is a regular contributor to publications on both the East and West coasts. Previously, Hamilton owned galleries in New York, Atlanta, Jackson Hole, Aspen, and Los Angeles, and was a dealer on the preeminent site, www.1stdibs.com. Her clients have included AD100 designers, high profile and high net-worth collectors and celebrities, and national museums. Hamilton has lectured on numerous subjects and has interviewed prominent designers, business owners, and influencers across the country. http://artsmartstrategies.com
Blogger, Stylist, and Digital Influencer, Jojotastic
Joanna Hawley is a blogger, stylist, and digital influencer with an incredible 4 million Pinterest followers. Along with regular styling gigs, Joanna runs jojotastic.com to show off her appreciation for all things DIY, entertaining, interior design, style, and food. Prior to starting her own blog, she worked as a product designer and trend scout for companies like Anthropologie and Nordstrom. She lives in a tiny, charming bungalow in Seattle.
Owner and Art Director, House Of Hipsters
Kyla Herbes is the owner and art director behind House Of Hipsters, a lifestyle and design blog that inspires its readers to think outside the box and create layered, comfortable, unique spaces. Her interiors have been featured on The Huffington Post, Buzzfeed, Refinery29, Chairish, and Rue Magazine to name a few, and she has made appearances on Chicago’s WGN TV's Weekend Workbench. When she's not researching the latest and greatest in home decor, you can find her standing in line at an estate sale or meandering around a local flea market. With an eye for the unusual, Kyla describes her style as relaxed, curated, recycled glam.
Founder of Curio Electro
Nicole Heymer is the founder of Curio Electro, a boutique creative agency specializing in intuitive branding, compelling design, and actionable plans. Since 2011, the team at Curio Electro has worked within a multitude of industries and with a wide variety of clients at every stage in their development, from nationally known interior design firms to local craft breweries. Nicole's clear, practical take on branding and web design has been featured in print, on podcasts, and as the framework for branding workshops. She is an active ASID Industry Partner and is currently serving as the Editor of NJ ASID's Blueprint Magazine.
Interior Designer and Photographer, Linda Holt Creative
Linda Holt, of Linda Holt Creative, launched her interior design business in 2011 after a twenty five year career as one of Boston’s top commercial head shot photographers. Her past photography clients sought her out not only for her ability to make them look their very best but for her skill in having their personality shine through the lens. Today she applies those very same principles to designing rooms that not only look beautiful but reflect the unique personality of the homeowner and their family. Linda’s blog, “Focus on Creativity” is where she shares her two passions of photography and interior design. Over the past few years she has put aside her heavy DSLR cameras and now shoots exclusively with her iphone. She is currently working on an on-line photography class geared toward interior designers and creatives to help them get the best photos possible using their iphone. Linda is also a contributing writer on trends and design for Merrimack Valley Magazine.
Follow Linda on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lindaholtcreative/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LindaHoltcreative/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/LindaHoltCreative/pins/
twitter: https://twitter.com/LHoltCreative/
Marketing, Oceanside Glass & Tile
Taylor Hori joined the team at Oceanside Glass & Tile in 2013 after receiving her BA in English with Honors from the University of California, Riverside. In 2015, she transitioned into the role of Marketing Coordinator and brought with her a passion to create videos. During her tenure, she has built a library of detailed product installation tutorials, intimate case studies, and fiery behind-the-scenes company culture pieces. Focusing on the details, she enjoys every phase of video production, from SEO research and audience identification to editing and reporting on the analytics.
Founder and CEO, Esteem Media and Design Influencers Conference
Adam Japko is CEO of Esteem Media and founder of the Design Influencers Conference. Esteem Media is home to leading national and local media brands in the luxury home design, gardening, and fine wine communities; focused on connecting professionals and consumers around their passions and businesses. Design Influencers Conference, Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles, Maine magazine, Maine Home+Design, Old Port, New England Home, and WineZag leverage events, print media, social media, blogs, and digital marketing… but overall, community connection as the catalyst for their constituents’ commercial success.
Interior Design Photographer
Emily Jenkins Followill is one of the most renowned interior design photographers in the Southeast. Her work has been featured in major publications including Veranda, Better Homes & Gardens, Traditional Homes, Garden & Gun, Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles, and Southern Living. Additionally, she is the author of The Southern Rustic Cabin. Throughout her twenty-year career, Emily has worked with some of the most prestigious interior designers in the nation, and she is highly regarded for her crisp, clean photos that tell the stories of the homes and their inhabitants. http://emilyfollowill.com
Principal, Suzanne Kasler Interiors
Suzanne is inspired. As the principal of Atlanta-based Suzanne Kasler Interiors, she often asserts that “a room should be collected, not decorated.” Incorporating the personal collections of her clients with fine art and antiques, contemporary pieces and custom-designed furniture, Suzanne’s meaningful interiors straddle that rare middle ground between sophisticate and ingénue. As a graduate of the University of Cincinnati’s College of Design, Art, Architecture and Planning, Suzanne brings a comprehensive knowledge of interior architecture and decorative arts to her design work.
Suzanne’s classic interiors have been featured in Architectural Digest, Elle Décor, House Beautiful, House & Garden, Southern Accents, Traditional Home and Veranda. Her widely published work has won numerous awards, placing Suzanne among the elite of America’s top designers. In the fall of 2009, Rizzoli published Suzanne’s first book, Inspired Interiors, featuring her “deft use of couture-like detailing, a keen sense of sublime color selections, and an aesthetic that seamlessly bridges American and European sensibilities.”
In 2008, Suzanne launched a line of furniture for Hickory Chair, along with a collection of lighting for Visual Comfort. Her signature style of casual elegance has since been interpreted into a line of rugs with Safavieh, fine art with Soicher-Marin, accessories with Ballard Designs and debuting spring 2011, a fabric line with Lee Jofa.
Although her brand has expanded exponentially over the last few years, Suzanne remains true to her passion for designing interiors: “Being able to work as a designer is a gift, an amazing opportunity to connect to people and design spaces that inspire them.”
Emmy-Award Winning TV personality, Style Expert, Fashion Designer and Best-Selling Author
Emmy-Award winning TV personality, style expert, fashion designer and New York Times best-selling author are some of the credits of the multi-talented and unforgettable Carson Kressley.
Carson started his career as an independent stylist and became invaluable to major designers such as Ralph Lauren. A few years later, he took a leap into television when, in 2003, he became a breakout star as the fashion savant on Bravo’s Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, which won a primetime Emmy and gained a worldwide following for Carson.
With his close relationship and collaborations with Oprah Winfrey over the course of the years, Carson revolutionized America’s personal fashion sense of style as he filmed OWN Network’s Carson-Nation. During this celebrated and entertaining show, Carson travelled to small towns throughout the U.S. transforming lives -one person at a time- with his signature style, humor and heart. He also hosted multiple TV shows including Lifetime’s How to Look Good Naked, ABC’s True Beauty and competed on several reality competitions shows such as the 13th season of Dancing With The Stars where he was a fan favorite.
Currently, Carson’s latest project is a new, much-anticipated show with his Queer Eye alum Thom Filicia focusing on interior design for Bravo Networks which premiered in October 2018. Carson is a New York Times best-selling author with three books to his credit, including You’re Different and That’s Super and Off The Cuff: The Essential Style Guide for Men and The Women Who Love Them. His latest book, a women’s style guide Does This Book Make My Butt Look Big? A Cheeky Guide to Feeling Sexier in Your Own Skin & Unleashing Your Personal Style was released on October 11, 2016 [St. Martin’s Press] to rave reviews.
A strong supporter of many philanthropic causes, Kressley uses his celebrity to advance different concerns such as The Trevor Project, The Human Rights Campaign, AIDS WALK, and the Al D. Rodriguez Liver Foundation. Kressley is also a trustee on the board of The True Colors Fund, The American Saddle Bred Museum and Philadelphia University. When Kressley is not starring on stage or screen, he can be found astride one of his American Saddlebred show horses, with which he has achieved World Champion status.
Stylist/Editor/Writer/and Producer
Before Stacy Kunstel became an interiors stylist with nearly 100 magazine and book covers to her credit, she began as a writer covering luxury travel destinations, architecture and design. She combines both skills in her work as Homes Editor for New England Home Magazine and as a Regional Editor for Traditional Home, Better Homes & Gardens, Country Living and others. Her work has appeared in Coastal Living, Country Living, Luxe, Rizzoli Books, the London Observer, Harper’s Bazzar UK and a dozen other publications. In 2010, between photoshoots and writing assignments, she and her partner Michael Partenio launched the lighting and furniture brand Dunes and Duchess, which is sold in luxury boutiques and to the trade.
Founder and PR Professional, Howell Communications
Mary Leigh Howell is a public relations professional with 21 years of experience in agency, corporate and nonprofit environments. Her practice focuses on commercial and residential interiors, and lifestyle accounts in b-to-b and b-to-c industries. She guides promotional strategy, media relations and content for clients including Universal Furniture, Level 4 Designs and Summerfield Farms.
Prior to starting her own practice, she was a founding executive and vice president of RLF Communications, a Greensboro-based public relations, advertising and social media firm. During her tenure, she led the team that introduced a $50,000 bed at the Consumer Electronics Show, an effort that garnered more than 57 million media impressions within six weeks.
Mary Leigh has extensive experience in all aspects of the home furnishings industry from non-profit to supplier to manufacturing and retail. She has worked for brands such as Bassett, Quick-Step, Valdese Weavers, Wrangler, Leggett & Platt and Bob Timberlake. She’s also provided counsel for clients across a range of industries including animal health, hospitality, home building, commercial real estate investment, accounting, highway safety and telecommunication.
Since 1998, she has been involved in Women in the Home Industries Today (WithIt), a international leadership association for women in the home and furnishings industries, where she served as president in 2011. She is a charter member of the WithIt Ambassadors Club and was a 2008 finalist for the WithIt Future Leader award.
Mary Leigh holds a bachelor’s degree in communication studies from UNC Chapel Hill, and a master's in communication studies from UNC Greensboro, where she taught public speaking. Currently, she is adjunct faculty at Elon University where she teaches public relations writing.
Director of Marketing, Universal Furniture International Inc.
Neil MacKenzie, Director of Marketing for Universal Furniture. Neil has over 15 years of marketing and branding experience working on both B2B and B2C clients ranging from golf and recreation brands to retail banking and home furnishings. Neil has been with Universal Furniture for over three years and oversees each of Universal’s home brands (Universal Furniture, Smartstuff and To The Trade) and licensing relationships. During his time with Universal, Neil has led a re-branding effort of Universal as a whole home provider and Trade resource. Most recently, he was involved in the launch of the Coastal Living Home Collection license which debuted at Fall Market.
Vice President of Social Media and Convergence, Discovery Inc's Home and Travel
As the Vice President of Social Media and Convergence for the Discovery Inc's Home and Travel categories, Abbi creates a bridge between the on-air programming team, the marketing team, and the digital team. As the convergence lead for the brands, she manages a team of ten that creates a digital and social presence for all HGTV, DIY Network, Travel Channel, and Great American Country shows and talent. Abbi works closely with the interactive ad sales and marketing teams to monetize the digital on-air content as well as to establish social sponsorship guidelines and campaigns.
As the head of social media for home and travel, she oversees a team promoting daily content to an audience of over 40 million, managing partnerships, producing live events, coordinating with influencers, and creating original short-form and mid-form content for Facebook Watch, YouTube, Snapchat, Instagram Stories and HGTV and Travel Channel GO apps.
Owner, FZK Franziska
Franziska Neumann is the owner of FZK Franziska, a creative agency that helps design-oriented clients grow their online presence. Her experience spans 20 years in the design industry across the fields of architecture, interior design, and furniture design. She has styled for decor magazines such as Martha Stewart Living and World of Interiors. Her award winning designs have been featured in several magazines, on HGTV, and on The Oprah Winfrey Show.
Franziska transitioned to web design in 2008 when she needed a website to showcase her products featured on The Oprah Show. FZK Franziska is now a team of 8 creatives delivering a full spectrum of agency services.
Co-founder and CEO, Fohr
James Nord is the co-founder and CEO of Fohr , an influencer marketing platform that connects brands and influencers.
CEO + Creative Director, Martha O’Hara Interiors
Kate O’Hara is the CEO + Creative Director for Martha O’Hara Interiors where she pioneered the interior design firm’s expansion to national markets and international clientele.
Today, MOI is followed by more than 200,000 people on Facebook, the company is the top rated interior design expert worldwide on Houzz.com, and their award-winning work has been featured in local and national media, including the Today Show, HGTV, and Better Homes and Gardens. After being named Minnesota’s Top 32 Under 32 Marketing Professionals, Kate has been asked to speak on topics ranging from social media to women in business, and online branding.
Vice President of Licensing for Meredith Corporation
Kristen Payne, Vice President of Licensing for Meredith Corporation, launched her 22+ year career with the Coastal Living and Southern Living lifestyle brands. Payne has created a variety of brand extensions and licensing programs starting with the multi-million dollar, direct-to-consumer business with Southern Living and Coastal Living home plan designs. Today the licensing portfolio encompasses more than 60 partnerships across brands such as Real Simple, Coastal Living, Sports Illustrated, Food & Wine, Eating Well, Better Homes & Gardens, SHAPE, Travel & Leisure, Cooking Light, and InStyle. Meredith Corporation is ranked 2nd out of the top 150 global brand licensors.
CEO, Executive Creative Director, Furniture Branding and MVC Agency
Jason Pires is CEO, Executive Creative Director at Furniture Branding and MVC Agency. With a passion for culture and an untamable creative spirit, CEO and Creative Director Jason Pires has over 20 years experience developing and growing some of today's most innovative and influential lifestyle and luxury brands, including Netflix, Lexus, LA Times, Diesel and Universal.
Since starting Furniture Branding (A division of MVC Agency) in 2008, Jason has worked with major furniture brands such as Abbyson Living, Seldens, Matter Brothers, Wesley Allen, and many others. Fluent in three languages and having worked with clients throughout the United States, South America, and Asia, his work has garnered numerous national and global awards.
Founder, Designer, and Influencer, Trim Queen
Jana Platina Phipps, the Trim Queen, is a trimmings expert known for her refined vision in the use of embellishment in home decor, fashion, and DIY. She believes “Embellishment is a creative form of self-expression” and a powerful design tool.
Jana customizes private label trim programs for interior design distributors, home furnishings manufacturers, and retail stores nationally. She has coined “Trim Alchemy” as the concept of turning something ordinary into extraordinary using trimmings.
As the Trim Queen, she blogs and uses social media to chronicle how she and the design community use embellishments creatively. As an influencer, Jana partners with brands as a content creator, speaker, and customizes workshops and maker-focused tours. She is planning her first international tour -- Trim Queen Maker Tour of Venice Italy, Fall 2019.
Jana writes for various publications including WF Vision Magazine, Designers Today, Westchester Home and Furniture Today. She serves on the International Textile Alliance Board of Directors and is a guest lecturer at the NY School of Interior Design and University of Georgia, Athens. She was selected for High Point Market Design Bloggers Tour Spring & Fall 2017 and currently leads a sold-out High Point Market Insider’s Tour. Jana was the co-chair of WithIt’s New York Design Tour 2008 - 2018, was awarded the Future Leader Award and was the WithIt Northeast VP.
Jana is an avid tennis player, married to writer/musician Lang Phipps, living with their two children in the beautiful Hudson River Valley.
You can follow Jana on her social media channels @TrimQueen.
CEO and owner of White Good
Over the past 20 years Qualls has advised a number of national and international clients looking to further their position with the design community and make a mark with the media who influence design. Representing brands like the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA), Rutt Handcrafted Cabinetry, ROHL faucets & Fixtures, Kalamazoo Outdoor Grills, Miele Appliances, Natuzzi Leather Upholstery, the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS), Thompson Traders Decorative Copper, Tile of Spain, the HD Expo and CEDIA Expo has given Qualls and WG a wealth of challenges and opportunities to drive brand awareness and preference with important influencers.
Qualls and her husband Scott, split their time between Chicago and Lancaster, PA. When not traveling, she can be found sailing, skiing or chasing her Westie, Kingston
Editor-in-Chief, Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles
Elizabeth Ralls is the Editor-in-Chief of Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles, the preeminent publication of design in the Southeast, and oversees the magazine as the sponsors of both The Southeastern Designer Showhouse and Gardens and The Atlanta Holiday Home. Elizabeth is a seasoned veteran of the publishing world with twenty years of editorial and writing experience and having served as the Editor-in-Chief of Atlanta Weddings Magazine. Elizabeth has worked with designers and photographers throughout the Southeast while overseeing the vast communications in both print and social media that Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles utilizes to reach tens of thousands of readers and viewers each month. http://atlantahomesmag.com
Founder/Chief of Social Connections, ultraviolet agency
Smiga has been an entrepreneur since 2010 when she founded her first boutique pr and marketing agency. Prior to running her first business, she worked for Bette Midler at the NY Restoration Project helping to shape campaigns that raised millions and brought a million trees to NYC. Today, she is co-owner of ultraviolet agency, empowering the design and architecture industries with powerful partnerships, content and connections. It’s marketing at a higher frequency. The agency is located at Bell Works, the reinvention of the former Bell Labs building in Holmdel, NJ - two million square feet of stunning mid-century modern architecture designed by Eero Saarinen. It’s where ultraviolet works inspired.
Award-Winning Journalist
Clinton Smith is an award-winning journalist who has been reporting on the world of design and an array of luxury lifestyle topics for two decades. A noted authority on matters of taste and style, Smith previously served as the editor in chief of Veranda for five years, and wrote four books under the magazine's imprint: The Romance of Flowers,Inspired by Color, Entertaining and Escapes. A native Texan, he resides in New York.
Connecticut interior designer, brand ambassador, and author of dvdInteriorDesign.com
Deborah von Donop is a Connecticut interior designer, brand ambassador for select high-end home manufacturers, and the author of popular design and lifestyle blog, dvdInteriorDesign.com. An interior design, construction, and project management professional with 25+ years of experience and career evolution with premiere design firms, von Donop has been tapped as a High Point Market Design Blogger, Modenus design promoter for KBIS, NYNOW, Dwell, LA Design Trail with Design Milk, one of five judges for the 2019 NKBA national design competition, and is a speaker on Interior Design visibility through online media. She writes weekly on design resources, highlights from industry events, and interior design topics aimed to educate and inspire her readers
Director of Strategic Services, Emisare, Inc.
Marketing is about engaging people. It's about finding that right mix of words, images, vehicles, channels, and approaches to lead someone one step farther down the path to purchase than they are right now. That's what everyone at Emisare does, in one way or another. David's way is to focus on figuring out what our clients need to say (the approaches), and how to say it (the words).
Interior Designer and Founder, Savvy Giving by Design
“One of my favorite quotes throughout the years, ‘You have never really lived until you have done something for someone who can never repay you’ has inspired me to LIVE my life.” Susan, a mother of five daughters, founded Savvy Interiors in 2002 out of a passion for design and desire to find a creative outlet for her energies. As the business expanded over the years, she recently opened a local showroom, inSIDE by Savvy. Her love of children coupled with her talents has allowed her to give back in a way that is a meaningful contribution to children’s healing. Her children continue to inspire her daily. Susan started Savvy Giving by Design in December of 2014. Since that time, she has designed over 30 spaces for children and siblings facing a medical crisis. Susan’s non profit, Savvy Giving by Design is an official 501c3 status and plans on expanding nationwide in early 2018.