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CIDQ Team
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
REBECCA MODEN
Rebecca is the Chief Executive Officer of CIDQ, where she leads the organization's strategic vision and operations. As CIDQ’s primary spokesperson, she champions its global mission to establish, maintain, and assess standards for competence in interior design through empirically validated practices.
Before joining CIDQ, Rebecca served for over two decades at the Council of Landscape Architectural Registration Boards (CLARB), most recently as Chief Operating Officer. In that role, she directed critical programs and services including strategic initiatives, financial operations, the Landscape Architect Registration Examination (LARE), and CLARB Certification. She also cultivated strategic partnerships with organizations and professionals around the world.
Outside of work, Rebecca finds joy in family life with her husband Erik and their three children—Parker, Brooks, and Taylor. Whether cheering on her young athletes at hockey games, soccer matches, or ski races, or unwinding at the lake, Rebecca thrives in staying active and connected.
CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER
KELLY NELSON
Kelly is responsible for the marketing strategy aimed at conveying the value of NCIDQ Certification, and the health, safety, and welfare impact of the NCIDQ Exam, strategic partnerships, advocacy communications, while overseeing and improving the effectiveness of organizational operations. She brings 20+ years of marketing experience to this role. Previously, Kelly led marketing and communications for Studio Theatre, the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID), and the Washington Wizards, where she won five National Capital Region Emmy Awards for marketing campaigns.
Kelly earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing from the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) in New York City.
Kelly enjoys combining her love of travel with her passion and interest in wine. She’s visited wineries and vineyards in the US and abroad, including Italy, Argentina, Italy, Spain, Greece, South Africa, and Portugal.
CERTIFICATION OPERATIONS DIRECTOR
CORNELIA SPRINGER
Cornelia is responsible for the development, administration, and advancement of the NCIDQ Exams. Cornelia has more than 25 years of experience in the credentialing industry including the design, development, implementation and management of various certification programs.
Prior to joining CIDQ, Cornelia was director, certification services for the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) where she was an integral part of the senior management team who designed, developed, and implemented a new globally recognized certification program. Cornelia also served as executive director for the HR Certification Institute where she led the development of two new certification exams, managed the transition from paper and pencil testing to computer-based testing and led the initiative to become NCCA accredited.
Cornelia holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Clemson University.
DIRECTOR, GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS AND ADVOCACY
MATT BARUSCH
Matt will support and advance CIDQ’s policy agenda at the state and provincial level. He is responsible for monitoring legislation, analyzing threats to the public from deregulatory efforts, generating advocacy resources that convey the value of the NCIDQ Exam, and developing strategies to support our stakeholders in educating policy makers on the value of meaningful interior design regulation.
Prior to CIDQ, Matt held state advocacy positions with the National Association for Music Education, and the National Court Reporters Association, where he advocated for reasonable regulation of court reporters.
Matt holds a master’s in Public Administration from Arizona State University, and a bachelor’s in Political Science from the State University of New York.
CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE MANAGER
RAY RESENDEZ
Ray has been busy ever since joining CIDQ in November 2000, maintaining more than 30,000 Certificate holders' records. As the first point of contact for many of CIDQ's callers, Ray's role as customer experience manager ensures applicants, candidates and certificate holders receive accurate information and assistance along the way.
Originally from San Antonio, Texas, Ray was raised in Indiana. For fun, Ray enjoys movies, spending time with friends and going to the gym.
GOVERNANCE, ENGAGEMENT, AND MEETINGS MANAGER
KAYLA KARPP
Kayla will lead outreach to CIDQ’s prospective exam candidates; will oversee the Council’s governance and Board administrative workflow; as well as manage the logistics of all CIDQ meetings.
Prior to joining CIDQ, Kayla was the Program Administrator for the Florida Boards of Physical Therapy and Respiratory Care. In this role, Kayla facilitated relationships with various organizations while facilitating numerous meetings for her Boards. Her responsibilities included helping the public understand the laws and rules that relate to the respective professions she served.
Kayla holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Interdisciplinary Social Sciences, and a certificate in Emergency Management and Homeland Security from Florida State University.
BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE ANALYST
MELAT DEMEKE
Melat is responsible for translating our data into meaningful insights that will drive business success. She will capture and apply insights from the credentialing database to support data-based organizational decision-making.
Before joining CIDQ, Melat was leading operations and marketing at a couple of innovative healthcare startups followed by consulting and communications roles in the healthcare and non-profit industries.
Melat holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the University of Nevada, Reno, and has a certificate in Data Analytics from General Assembly.
For fun, Melat enjoys traveling, hiking, and spending time with family.