Caren S. Martin, PhD, NCIDQ, CID, FASID, FIDEC, is principal of Martin & Guerin Design Research, LLC, providing design practitioners with research that informs their design process to enable the creation of design solutions that enhance building occupants’ well-being, satisfaction, safety, security, comfort, privacy, and performance, primarily as pre-design and post-occupancy evaluations. An associate professor emeritus of the College of Design at the University of Minnesota, Caren’s scholarship primarily addresses evidence-based design (EBD), pre-design and post-occupancy evaluations of sustainably designed buildings, and the professionalization of interior design. Her academic career was grounded in nearly 20 years of institutional, workplace, and healthcare interior design/project management experience. Caren has co-authored three studies that define and document the interior design profession’s body of knowledge (2001, 2005, 2010) and has co-edited The State of the Interior Design Profession (Fairchild, 2010). She has received Presidential Citations from ASID (2003, 2008) and the Interior Design Educators Council (IDEC, 2008). In 2010, she received the Education Leadership Award from the Association of Registered Interior Designers of Ontario (ARIDO). In 2016, she was awarded the Nancy Vincent McClelland Merit Award by ASID for her advocacy for the interior design profession.

Caren was a two-term, governor appointee on Minnesota’s Board of Architecture, Engineering, Land Surveying, Landscape Architecture, Geoscience, and Interior Design (AELSLAGID, 2000-2008) and was the Delegate to CIDQ from Minnesota for eight years. She has been an NCIDQ-certificate holder for 41 years (#2216). Since 2015, Caren has served on the CIDQ Board of Directors, the Finance Committee, Bylaws and Policy and Procedures Task Forces; the CIDQ/IDEC Resource Review Task Force and the Educators’ Task Force; Nominations Committee; and the Blueprint Workshop and as board liaison to examination committees. In 2018, she chaired the Definition of Interior Design Task Force. CIDQ presented Caren with the Louis Tregre Award in 2012.

A Saskatoon native, Aandra nurtured her interest in design first through studies in fine arts and then interior design at the University of Manitoba. In Vancouver she has led multi-family residential and financial sector work as well as telecommuted as senior designer for a Saskatoon-based architectural firm.  Much of her experience has been with mid-to-large size multi-departmental organizations.

In 2015 Aandra realized her goal of moving away from the large architectural firm environment to pursue work that truly inspires her. A passionate advocate for the profession of interior design at many levels, Aandra has served on the provincial board of Saskatchewan (IDAS), and has held board positions with the Interior Designers of Canada since 2010. In 2016 Aandra served as President of the Interior Design Continuing Education Council. She has moderated and sat on various panels in Vancouver, Toronto, and Italy, and judged products and hosted awards at IIDEX Canada. Currently she is the Past President of IDC. She also devotes time to her local judo and track and field clubs.

Aandra is an effective strategist, leader, and decision maker. She is both humbled and energized by her work with design community leaders in North America.

James Klawiter graduated from UCLA with a degree in Design. His first position in the industry was at Knoll International in sales and, later, in major projects. In 1985 he founded Klawiter and Associates, Inc. focusing on commercial design for the Southern California business community. The nationally ranked firm has grown to encompass projects in the entertainment, finance, education, corporate and landlord tenant improvement sectors.

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James has previously held positions as VP, Government Affairs, Chapter president and Chair of the Calibre Design Awards for the IIDA Southern California Chapter. He has also served on the Nominating Committee and the Board of the IIDA Foundation for IIDA International. James has been a grader for the NCIDQ since 2012 and was Chair of the Policies and Procedures Committee in 2015.

Sandy Gordon is an award-winning designer and owner of SGI Interiors a consulting firm that specializes in creating sustainable strategies for built environments.  Her commitment to sustainable design, coupled with her progressive vision, equip her with an ability to develop accessible, innovative and healthy interiors.  Commercial, hospitality, and residential areas with a primary focus on retail and kitchen and bathroom projects make up the company portfolio.  Her education is a BS in Interior Design and an MFA is Sustainable Retail Environments both from the University of Wisconsin Madison. 

Sandy’s industry involvement includes former Chair of the National Board of the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID), ASID REGREEN facilitator, and CIDQ grader, and presenter at various industry events.  Most recent at the KBIS show in Orlando participating in a panel discussing sustainable kitchen and home environments.  Currently she is also teaching at the University of Wisconsin Madison covering a variety of topics such as Aging in Place, Sustainable Design, Hospitality Design, and Professional Practice. 

AnnMarie Jackson is in Interior Design with Beck Architecture. AnnMarie has nearly thirty years of experience in commercial and institutional design with a primary focus on healthcare for the past 20 years.  She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Interior Design from University of Wisconsin-STOUT.  AnnMarie earned her NCIDQ certificate in 1993 and currently holds an Alabama Interior Design registration.  In 2011 she obtained the American Academy of Healthcare Interior Design Certification. The credential establishes the standard for determining advanced knowledge and experience related to the challenges of the healthcare environment. 

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Through her national experience working on hospital masterplans, renovations, medical office buildings, freestanding clinics, total replacement facilities, psychiatric and senior living environments, AnnMarie has developed a unique ability to convey design concepts and inspire project teams to develop innovative and functional healthcare environments.  Her proactive approach solidifies the impact and key role of Interior designers.  She embraces evidence-based design principles participating in research, continuing education and sharing knowledge with recognized national design leaders. 

Jessie has more than sixteen years of experience working in the fields of interior design and architecture, focusing her career on holistic integration of interior design, architecture, and building systems to support and enhance the building user's experience. She is currently a Senior Interior Designer at RLPS Architects in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, working primarily in the senior living market sector. Jessie possesses a Bachelor of Science in Interior Design from the Art Institute of Pittsburgh and a Master of Science in Interior Architecture degree from Chatham University in Pittsburgh. While attending Chatham, she focused her academic research on the perceptions of the term "interior architecture" by architects and interior designers and the term's impact on the respective professions.

Jason is a proud Canadian interior design practitioner and advocate, based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, and has been in practice for the past 25 years. He has spent his career focused on the belief that you get out what you put into something - and this has driven his passion to volunteer his time to organizations that he believes in. He is currently Principal of IDEATE Design Consulting Inc., a design firm that he began in 2002. Founded on the principle that good design should be accessible to all, IDEATE has continued to honor its mandate around attracting a diverse roster of clients with individual and specialized needs. He is committed to the Education, Examination, and Experience model of professional development and has done all he can to walk it and breathe it, living up to the excellent example set by the mentors that surround him, and working to be the same kind of mentor for those who are coming up all around him.

David Minacci is a partner in the law firm of Manausa, Shaw & Minacci, P.A. and has served as the prosecuting attorney for the Florida Board of Architecture and Interior since November, 2002.  In this capacity, Mr. Minacci has prosecuted hundreds of cases involving both licensed interior designers who violate the practice act and those individuals that engage in the practice of interior design without a license.  His services have been critical in showing the importance of regulation and that such regulations protect the health, safety and welfare of the citizens of Florida.

Prior to serving as the Prosecuting attorney for the Florida Board of Architecture and Interior Design, Mr. Minacci worked for the Department of Management Services where he was the Director of State Purchasing.  He previously served as the Acting Director of the Division of Professions, Deputy General Counsel, and Executive Director of the Florida Board of Professional Engineers while employed with the Department of Business and Professional Regulation. 

Mr. Minacci was awarded the 2017 ASID Honorary Medalist Award and is a Board Certified Construction Lawyer through the Florida Bar. He has a good understanding of all the professions within the construction industry including the importance of the licensed interior designer.  Mr. Minacci has also provided numerous lectures and seminars throughout the State of Florida. The purpose of these presentations is to promote licensure and discuss the mechanics of the disciplinary process in our state.  Mr. Minacci also speaks regularly at numerous interior design colleges to provide young professionals an overview of the practice act and how it will impact them down the road once they become licensed.