Author Archives: Amanda Hansen

Sponsor Spotlight: Mohawk Group

Company Name: Mohawk Group
Your Name: Beth Gish & Mia Allen
Local Rep’s Position/Years? Beth 12 years/Mia 6 months
IIDA member since: Beth 2012/ Mia 2013
Involved on the IIDA Oregon Chapter Board? If so, list position:
Beth: VP of Advocacy, VP of Membership and Chapter Advisor
Mia: VP of Student Affairs, President Elect, President, Past President and Chapter Advisor

Mohawk Group is the commercial division of Mohawk Industries, the world’s largest flooring company. With manufacturing on four continents, Mohawk Industries employs over 43,000 globally and offers a comprehensive array of fashionable, high performance and sustainable flooring options for residential and commercial spaces as well as a growing selection of products for surfaces beyond the floor.

What is your favorite IIDA event and why?
Beth: The Design Crawl is my favorite event- it’s a great opportunity to see the amazing work from our design community as well as connect in person.
Mia: The NEXT Breakfast is one of my favorite events, as the topics are truly unique and the keynote speakers are engaging on so many levels. I walk away each year feeling inspired and eager to do more, both personally and professionally.

What is your favorite product/service offered by your company and why?
Beth: At the moment, I’m loving our collection Above and Below- it checks all of the performance sustainability requirements for rigorous environments while being beautiful in a multitude of spaces.
Mia: I am loving our Chromatic Cadence collection, as this product line brings forward a wide array of vibrant color options for designers to choose from for their unique project types. I can see this collection bringing new life and joy to spaces and look forward to seeing all the creative designs that come forward!

What aspect of your company are you most proud of and why?
Beth: I’m most proud of Mohawk’s sustainability efforts – Mohawk Industries has earned a place among America’s Climate Leaders presented by USA Today. The company is continually identifying innovative ways to lower greenhouse gas emissions while creating sustainable products that improve the built environment. All Mohawk Group commercial flooring products are carbon neutral plus a five percent offset!
Mia: Mohawk is pushing the industry on the sustainability front – we signed the Climate Pledge to demonstrate our commitment to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2040!

What value do you see in being an IIDA Oregon Chapter Annual Sponsor?
Beth: Mohawk Group values collaboration and believes that we are “better together.” By being an annual sponsor we are able to contribute to the health of the chapter and support valuable programming.
Mia: The Annual Sponsorship allows us to be part of all of the amazing programming the chapter puts on throughout the year. We really want to be a resource for our design community and IIDA Oregon Chapter’s active involvement and continued growth makes this possible, while building lifelong relationships along the way!

What impact do you see the IIDA Oregon Chapter having on the A&D community in Oregon?
Beth: The chapter has a different impact depending on where one is in their career. It serves new designers right out of school as a network for career growth and mentorship as well providing valuable programming such as “state of the industry” data and roundtable discussions for mid-level and senior associate’s
Mia: Involvement in the IIDA Oregon Chapter has been so valuable to me throughout my career, as it has provided me the opportunity to serve and grow as a designer and now as a Sales Executive. I can’t imagine where my career would be right now without the support of this organization. I have seen designers grow and bloom by their volunteer work and be stronger leaders because of it!

What is your personal mantra?
Beth: Start with yes; there is always a solution.

What gets you excited about design?
Beth: I’m excited about any type of design solutions that improve lives. Good design ultimately is also good business.

Favorite design magazine/blog?
Mia: I love the Interior Design Magazine, I can’t seem to let any go because of the beauty that lives within the pages!

On a typical Saturday where can we find you?
Mia: I love getting out of town with my camper van and doing short weekend getaways to the coast or mountain with my husband and my sweet Portuguese Water Dog Olly!

Featured Blog Post: Embracing Change and Growth

As we step into 2024, the IIDA Oregon Chapter is gearing up for an exciting year filled with new initiatives and a renewed commitment to our members. Drawing upon our recent winter board retreat, the Western Region Chapter Leadership Conference, and Winter Chapter Leadership Conference we’ve had a busy end of year collaborating, reflecting, and setting our sights on the future. We’re thrilled to share some significant changes and upcoming efforts that will shape the year ahead!


Winter Chapter Leadership Conference | Past President, President, President-Elect

Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion:
IIDA Oregon Chapter’s commitment to social justice formally began in 2020 but has been an internal value long before that. In 2024, we are proud to officially launch our Social Justice Committee, marking a significant step in our commitment to promoting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. This committee will spearhead initiatives aimed at creating a more inclusive environment within our chapter. We believe that embracing diverse perspectives and voices is not just a goal but a necessity for a thriving and innovative community. We are committed to this work and ask the community to hold us accountable in our efforts!

Board Operations and Organizational Culture:
A healthy organizational culture is crucial for the success of any group. Our board is dedicated to fostering this culture through regular retreats and participation in chapter leadership conferences. We believe in the power of continuous feedback loops to refine our operations and ensure that our chapter remains a dynamic and supportive community for all members. In this vein, you’ll notice our website has gone through a refresh and overall – we’re specifically incorporating a platform for members to give feedback and a community calendar to foster more connections and elevate industry events.

Advocacy in Action:
Advocacy is at the forefront of our agenda for 2024. We are expanding our Advocacy Committee to amplify our impact and strategically plan legislative pursuits in 2025. By advocating for our industry, we aim to create positive change and contribute to the growth and sustainability of our profession.

Promoting Belonging:
Belonging is a cornerstone of our community, and we are taking steps to extend that sense of belonging beyond our immediate surroundings. Outreach events are in the pipeline for Eugene and Bend, connecting with members in different regions and strengthening the bonds that make our chapter so unique. We are steadfast in our commitment to grow our design community beyond Portland to encompass the truly statewide chapter that we are.

We are enthusiastic about the opportunities this year holds and can’t wait to see you at our upcoming events. Here’s to a year of growth, connection, and positive change!

Sincerely,
The IIDA Oregon Chapter Executive Leadership
Emily Wright | President
Peter Harrison | President-Elect
Candice Day | Director of Internal Communications

Membership Spotlight: Dawn Viar

Name: Dawn Viar
Company/Position: Nora by Interface/Account Executive/2 months
IIDA member since: 2006
Why are you a member of IIDA?
To network with my favorite people, support our profession and stay in touch with our interior design community.
Favorite IIDA event: Annual Celebration

What are you currently working on? Having fun learning the ropes of my role at nora.

Why do you support interior design licensing?
I believe it is essential that we make our buildings safe and that the built environment is not only aesthetically pleasing but also addresses all human needs whether it be accessibility, overall human health, sustainability, etc. A Licensed Interior Designer is able to do this and more.

Favorite space designed in Portland?
There are so many! I’ll go old school and say it has to be one of my fave spots that is unfortunately closing, Doug Fir Lounge by Skylab.

What project have you worked on that you are most proud of? Why?
My last project as a designer, Antioch University in Seattle (Gensler). I managed the project from schematic design through construction and I love how much I learned, as well as how it turned out.

On a typical Saturday where can we find you?
On a hiking a trail, riding my bike to a patio drink or making dinner for friends.

Interesting fact?
I was featured in an article in Runners World.

IMI: Tile, Marble, & Terrazzo Event

Portland-area design community: Are you interested in learning more about designing with tile, marble, and terrazzo? Would you like 3.0 HSW LUs and valuable networking with your fellow professionals at a convenient Pearl District location?

If so, join your colleagues in the northwest design community and other industry organizations and material suppliers on November 14, 2023 for this valuable educational session. Registration, breakfast, and lunch are free for qualified design and construction professionals.

After successful events in NY, Chicago, and San Francisco, IMI’s Tile Marble Terrazzo Day is coming to Portland.  With three expert industry speakers, space is limited, so register soon and we look forward to seeing you on November 14th.  Click here for more info and to get your name on the list!

2023 Design Excellence Awards | Meet the Jurors

Julio Braga, FIIDA, LEED AP
New York, New York

Julio Braga is a Principal at FCA in New York where he leads the Interiors Practice. He holds a Diploma in Architecture from the University of Buenos Aires and has been living and practicing in NYC for over 25 years. Previously, he was Managing Director of the NY office of IA Interior Architects and founder of Braga Oris Associates.  Julio has worked on a wide range of domestic and international projects for clients that include tech companies and financial and professional service firms. He is a Fellow of IIDA, where he served as a Board Member for seven years and as President for one year.

Ronnie Belizaire, FIIDA
Atlanta, Georgia

Ronnie Belizaire is an experienced project manager/ designer with over 5 million square feet and 500+ acres of architectural, interior and industrial projects delivered during her 17-year career. Professionally, Ronnie has completed projects for numerous clients including some Fortune 500 companies – helping them transform their organizations through the built environment.  Ronnie uses her unique skill set that blends business acumen, strategic real estate knowledge and design expertise to advise and guide clients’ development projects to meet their organizational goals. In addition to volunteering with various local, national and global non/ not-for-profits, Ronnie is a dedicated IIDA volunteer whose previous IIDA service includes Georgia Chapter President from 2013-2014 and IIDA Foundation Chair from 2017-2019. She is now serving as IIDA’s International Board President.

Sarah McGarry, IIDA, LEED AP
Denver, Colorado

Sarah McGarry is co-founder and principal of Clic Design Studio, a commercial interior architecture and design studio based in Denver, Colorado.  As an NCIDQ certified and award-winning designer with nearly 20 years of experience, Sarah provides expertise in all aspects of design, strategy, and project management. Passionate about giving back to the design community, Sarah served on the IIDA RMC Board for 9 years including a term as president. Hoping to shape the next generation of designers, Sarah is also Director of the Interior Design program at the University of Colorado Denver. Prior to founding Clic Design Studio, Sarah was the Workplace Sector Lead and Principal with Stantec leading design for a wide range of commercial projects.