The design industry is always evolving with new and changing faces in manufacturing and retail, marketing and publishing, interior design and architecture, industry organizations and museums and galleries. Editor at Large is keeping tabs on who’s coming and going in this monthly column.
Media/PR
Eleftherios Kardamakis will be the new Design Director at House Beautiful magazine beginning Monday, September 15. Kardamakis was most recently Freelance Creative Director for Redbook. Prior to that, he spent nearly two years as the Launch Design Director for HGTV Magazine.
In addition, House Beautiful has tapped interior designer Libby Langdon as a monthly columnist. In her column titled "Libby's Makeover," she will tackle one area of the home each month to offer quick ideas for easy decorating.
Dwell Media has announced the promotion of Editor-in-Chief Amanda Dameron to Editorial Vice President of Content. In addition, the company has promoted Rachel Fierberg, who joined Dwell in June as VP Finance, to CFO; and announces Jen Bruno as Eastern Brand Director. Bruno was previously with German manufacturer Hansgrohe.
Amy McCraken has been named Colorado Publisher of Luxe Interiors + Design, effectively immediately. McCraken is a native of Colorado and brings more than 20 years of leadership experience to the role. Most recently she was with Evergreen Custom Media, the publisher of Ft. Collins magazine, Breckenridge magazine and Winter Park magazine, among others.
Kirby Gladden, Account Executive at Head and Hand PR, has stepped down from her position to move back home to Houston, Texas. Her replacement, Stacy Montero, most recently worked on freelance marketing projects for Bulgari, Coach and Calvin Klein.
Manufacturing/Retail
Bobby Contini has been named the Vice President of Sales and Marketing at John Boone, Inc. He will manage and oversee the New York showroom, representative showrooms, the design studio and upstate operations. He is also charged with maintaining consistent communication with press and promotional markets nationwide, and will promote the company through social media and advertisements. Contini was previously the Vice President of Marketing for the Cohen Design Centers, where he worked for 8 years.
Ron Fiore has joined the management team at Century Furniture as VP/Creative Director where he will be directly responsible for the creative direction of all new product introductions with a particular focus on upholstery as well as the design and direction of Century's High Point showroom. Previously, Fiore was VP Creative Director responsible for strategic branding and merchandising at Bernhardt, and prior to that he was Creative Director for Hickory Chair.
Skye Westcott, who was most recently Senior VP of Creative & Marketing at Lillian August, has joined the Arhaus team as Vice President of Interior Design and New Business Development. She will head up the new designer trade program at Arhaus.
Eileen McComb, who retired after more than two decades heading up Benjamin Moore’s corporate communications (and the creator of its HUE Awards for color in design), is now an independent communications consultant to west coast-based Kelly-Moore Paints, along with other clients.
Michael Schleuse has been promoted to the position of Sales Manager for U.S. operations at Julian Chichester. Schleuse joined the company in early 2013 as the manager of the company’s New York Design Center showroom.
Janine Flamer is the new PR/Marketing Consultant for Rolf Benz U.S. and its flagship NYC Soho Showroom, Studio Anise.
Phillip Stein, who was most recently a Sales Manager at Madeline Weinrib, has started his own outside sales business, Philip Stein:design collective. His company will be representing a select group of artisanal brands including Flavor Paper, Desiron and Jan Kath.
Longtime furniture sales and marketing executive Ken Salm has joined leather upholstery brand Natuzzi Americas as Vice President of Sales for the Northern Region. Salm was most recently as Vice President of Business Operations for the contract furniture division at Heritage Home Group, formerly Furniture Brands International.
Parker Goss has resigned as President of upholstery producer Highland House Furniture. Alex Shuford III, President of sister company Century Furniture, will assume the additional role of president of Highland House.
Charlotte, North Carolina-based retailer Belk has named Jan Clevenger Executive VP and General Merchandising Manager of Home. Since 2008, Clevenger has been chair of the Belk Western Division based in Birmingham, Alabama. Her retail career began at Macy's in 1984, where she was in store management before becoming a buyer for men's and center core.
Astoria Compass has announced the appointment of Jenny Vance as President. Vance will work closely with designers, purchasing agents and the Astoria Compass team to ensure projects run efficiently and are tailored to clients’ needs, as well as oversee the expansion of Astoria Compass’ manufacturing facilities, including a new warehouse slated to open in Mexico this fall.
Interior Designers/Architects
Perkins+Will has hired Elizabeth Rack, a widely recognized, award-winning architect, to be a part of its growing Healthcare team in Chicago as Principal.
The firm also added Katie Holcomb to its marketing department in Atlanta. Previously, Holcomb was Marketing Specialist/Media Contact at Shaw Contract Group.
Kris Stanfield will be taking on additional editorial duties following Holcomb’s departure from Shaw Contract Group. Marketing Manager Julie Beth Fisher is now the Media Contact at Shaw.
Hausman, LLC has announced the promotion of Troy Vázquez-Cain to Associate. For the past two years as Director of Client Relations, Troy improved client communications. He has also expanded Hausman, LLC's services to include public speaking and media training.
IA Interior Architects has announced that Scott Delano has joined the firm as a Design Director in IA's Chicago office. Delano has more than 20 years experience and was most recently Vice President and Design Director at Chicago-based VOA.
Perkins Eastman has announced recent senior-level promotions in several offices and affiliate companies. Nine employees, including Paul Carr, Weichi Chen, Jonathan Cohn, Tina Lund, Sital Patel, John Rodenbeck, Yu Duk, Evan Weremeychik and Sarah Yackel, were promoted to Principals.
In addition, Perkins Eastman announced the expansion of its healthcare planning and design services in China and the surrounding region. In support of this strategic growth, internationally recognized Principal Richard Sprow has relocated to the firm’s office in Shanghai to continue his 40-year career.
Huntsman Architectural Group has appointed Sandra Tripp as Managing Director of its New York office. In this role, Tripp will oversee business operations, manage the design direction of key projects and support business development efforts. Throughout her 25-year career, she has worked on a wide range of projects for a variety of clients including financial services, technology, media, healthcare and retail companies.
Studio O+A has announced a restructuring of its management team to improve coordination of the company’s growing project list. Neil Bartley and Elizabeth Guerrero will lead O+A’s two interior design studios. Elizabeth Vereker will head its branding studio, and Steve Gerten will be in charge of business development. All four will support the firm’s principals, Primo Orpilla, Verda Alexander, Perry Stephney and Denise Cherry.
KTGY Group, Inc., Architecture + Planning has added Terry A. Willis as a Principal in the firm's Denver office. Willis most recently served as a Senior Architect with Short Elliott Hendrickson, Inc. (SEH) in Denver and as Associate Principal and Denver Studio Manager of 4240 Architecture, Inc.
Architecture and design firm Callison announced that Kyle Jeffery has joined the firm as a Design Director in its Dallas office. Jeffery, whose career in design spans 29 years, will oversee projects in the department store studio.
In addition, Callison unveiled the following list of promotions: Brian Fox and Summer Moon to Directors in Dallas; Derek Heeb and James Mellor to Directors in Los Angeles; David Asfour to Director in New York; Cindy Davis, Craig Dinkins, Paul Hjorten, Joseph Marek, Stefanie Means, David Peregoy and Janice Rodriguez to Directors in Seattle; Jeremy Blad, Alfredo Gonzalez, Richard Huang, Kimberly Mayrhofer and Elizabeth Trout to Associate Principals in Dallas; Leslie Anne Chiu, Zeenat Insaf, Nathan Ophardt, Christopher Parrish, Neil Paulsen, Daniel Simone and Matthew Sullivan to Associate Principals in New York; Nora Bauser, Han Nan Beh, Ricardo Cervantes, Catherine Clark, Christopher Cooper, Trevor Cottell, Jason Cox, Joanna Coz-Perez, Robert Filary, Elizabeth Garza, Jennifer Hawkins, Annette Hillesland, Glen Huntley, Bridgette Hyde, Joshua Klein, Adrian Lam, Kate Lee, Pat Ly-Au Young, Matthew Marek, Arnold Ramoso, David Reeves, Alan Russo, Vanessa Ryan, Kara Schmidt, Ken Swoyer, Tom Thang, and Wayne Yancey to Associate Principals in Seattle; Frank Scuito to Key Associate in Dallas; Colin Smith to Key Associate in New York; and Alyson Barham to Key Associate in Seattle.
Organizations/Design Centers
Interior designer Jason Oliver Nixon and Jason Phillips, Vice President and Creative Director of The Phillips Collection, are the newest members of the Bernice Bienenstock Furniture Library’s board of directors, located in High Point, North Carolina.
The American Society of Interior Designers has appointed five new members to its senior leadership team: Laura Horsley, Vice President of Communications and Marketing; Karol Kaiser, Vice President of Education and Engagement; Christopher Wojcik, Vice President of Membership and Industry Development; Fernando Arias, Director of Strategic Initiatives; and Reed Kroloff, Strategic Partnership Consultant.
The International Interior Design Association (IIDA) has announced that Milanese architect and interior designer Federico Delrosso is the Inaugural Member of the IIDA President’s Council. The President’s Council is composed of international interior design professionals and business leaders who are dedicated to advancing and supporting the mission, programs and activities of IIDA.
Scott L. Danielson, a Vice President and Technical Director of Architecture at Parsons Brinckerhoff, was elevated to the College of Fellows of the American Institute of Architects (FAIA) during the 2014 AIA national convention in Chicago.
Douglas Broward has been named Executive Vice President of Marketing in an advance affirming his continuing contributions to AmericasMart business and brand growth. In addition, Mary Sullivan Harper, who since 2011 has served as Senior Vice President of Leasing for AmericasMart Atlanta’s Building Two gift showrooms, will now head all Building Three apparel showroom leasing in a significant expansion of responsibilities.
Katie Corden is the new Marketing Manager at the Michigan Design Center. Most recently, Corden was Communications Specialist, Showroom/Store Channel for Baker Furniture, overseeing marketing for all showrooms and stores.
Museums/Galleries
The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) has appointed Thomas Randon as General Manager of MoMA's retail division. Randon will lead the MoMA retail department in strengthening and evolving the MoMA Design Store business and brand. He will also focus on establishing the MoMA Design Store as a leading authority on the values of "Good Design" in holding with the Museum's educational mission.
Comings and goings we missed? Drop us a line at ssnowden@editoratlarge.com and let us know!