2027 Agenda

Attendees pick up badges, swag bag, and event guide.

Welcome and pre-event briefing with Kate O’Hara and Nicole Heymer. Enjoy a glass of bubbly before the conference kicks off!

The Influence Stack: How to Compound and Leverage Opportunity

Light Hors d’oeuvres & Drinks

VIP ticketholders will attend one of the two scheduled VIP dinners—an evening out with speakers, colleagues, and media pros.

Attendees register for one workshop. This morning’s topics are:

Shoot to Publish: Styling and Photography for Editorial Placement
From shot lists and styling decisions to what kills an otherwise publishable project. Learn how to brief a photographer and evaluate your own existing photography against styling and editorial standards. Taught by Mali Azima—interior photographer with work seen in Architectural Digest, Veranda, House Beautiful, Milieu, Luxe, and more.

The Expert Quote: How to Become a Go-To Source for Media
Proactively position yourself as a media source: building journalist and editor relationships, and getting quoted in trend roundups, opinion pieces, or expert features. Leave with an outreach template and strategy. Taught by Monique Valeris, Home Design Director for Good Housekeeping.

What does it take to land a home feature? Carisha Swanson, Director of Editorial Special Projects at House Beautiful, knows exactly what’s required. She’ll share behind-the-scenes advice on your pitch, your photography, and the kind of work that gets placement.

Attendees register for one workshop. This morning’s topics are:

Shoot to Publish: Styling and Photography for Editorial Placement
From shot lists and styling decisions to what kills an otherwise publishable project. Learn how to brief a photographer and evaluate your own existing photography against styling and editorial standards. Taught by Mali Azima—interior photographer with work seen in Architectural Digest, Veranda, House Beautiful, Milieu, Luxe, and more.

The Expert Quote: How to Become a Go-To Source for Media
Proactively position yourself as a media source: building journalist and editor relationships, and getting quoted in trend roundups, opinion pieces, or expert features. Leave with an outreach template and strategy. Taught by Monique Valeris, Home Design Director for Good Housekeeping.

Speaking is one of the fastest ways to build authority—yet many designers and architects treat it as a one-off instead of a repeatable practice. This session covers how to land stage time, from panels to podcasts to keynotes, and how to turn it into real business results: referrals, media attention, and client pipeline.

Anne Gillyard, co-owner of grOH! Playrooms, built a waitlist business by niching down and using video and social content to reach ideal clients. Alongside Monika McCommon, Founder and CEO of The Home Influencers, she’ll unpack how to turn content into real opportunity—attracting the right clients, building brand recognition, and compounding influence across platforms. Rachel Fasciani moderates the conversation.

Your name and your work are intellectual property—and most pros are leaving revenue on the table by not treating them that way. Seth Kaplowitz, Managing Partner at Kaplowitz Strachan and advisor to a roster of AD100 and Elle Décor A-list designers, takes the stage with one of his own clients to unpack how licensing actually works: what’s protectable, how deals get structured, and what it looks like to turn your name and point of view into a lasting revenue stream. Expect a candid, experience-driven conversation from two people who’ve been on both sides of the table.

Curate a “cocktail” of crystals to take home with you while learning about their properties. There are simple ways to layer in nature to inspire positive energy around you. Aviva invites you to see how you can celebrate and honor our precious Earth by bringing in natural elements in your life and upcycle materials in unique ways.

Join Kate Rumson and Ryan Saghian for our keynote session moderated by Jaime Rummerfield

Improving your company’s financial picture doesn’t have to be a scary and daunting prospect. This session offers practical tips and tricks for interior designers seeking to put their business on solid financial footing . Learn simple solutions that every business owner can understand and implement, especially the specific challenges and demands facing entrepreneurs in the interior design industry – Greg offers practical tips and tricks for design professionals seeking to put their business on solid financial footing. Learn simple solutions that every business owner can understand and implement, especially the specific challenges and demands facing entrepreneurs in the interior design industry.

Greg is a managing partner at Blackburn Capital. He has led companies through turnarounds, mergers, acquisitions, and other significant financial events. As a former business owner, he knows what it’s like navigating through good and tough times – and how both situations bring unique questions about the right financial decisions.

Discover how AI continues to revolutionize the home design space, not only enhancing processes but also freeing up valuable time. This session will explore how artificial intelligence can transform your projects from initial planning and budgeting to final touches and ongoing relationships management. Learn about AI’s role in creating photorealistic renderings, accurate quoting, reimagined layouts, and automated documentation. This session is perfect for designers and leaders eager to integrate cutting-edge technology to streamline their workflows and reclaim time for life beyond work. Join us to gain actionable insights that will elevate your designs and buy back valuable time.

Shuttle bus driver will have sign for Artesa Winery.

artesawinery.com