Valerie Jardon, Strategy Director at IA Interior Architects with 18 years of design strategy experience and an Executive MBA, is a respected design industry leader pushing workplace innovation for global corporate clients. With a passion for understanding people to create purposeful spaces, her holistic research extracts emerging needs and propels companies into the future of belonging through an empathetic yet results-driven lens—fusing her design degree and business savvy to unlock the potential of places and people in the workscape.

Florencia Kratsman is the Director of Interior Architecture at FXCollaborative, a New York City-based architecture, interiors, and planning design firm. With 25 years of experience in design, programming, and space planning, Florencia's expansive portfolio includes educational, cultural, residential, workplace, and hospitality projects worldwide. As an experienced interior designer, Florencia is often crafting creative approaches to design solutions in which she prioritizes progressive design and sustainability. Her expertise and knowledge in architecture and interiors have positioned her as a global leader in strategic programming and space planning—she can uniquely shape buildings from the inside-out. Florencia has been responsible for partnering worldwide to implement innovative initiatives across industries. She is experienced in real estate analysis and data driven design. One of her strengths is implementing flexible workplace strategies and change management with a focus on efficiency, community, and user experience.

Mark Bryan is a Senior Foresight Manager at the Future Today Institute and leads the Built Environment, Hospitality, Retail, Restaurants & CPG practices. He has also authored and provided insights into the Supply Chain, Logistics, and Manufacturing industries. Prior to FTI, Mark worked as a workplace strategist, designer, design researcher, and futurist for clients across the country, most recently through his role as Director of Innovation + Research and Senior Interior Designer.

Mark’s portfolio of clients includes national foundations, global CPG companies, international associations, product manufacturers, national retail brands, higher education institutions, nonprofits, multi-family developers, healthcare systems, senior living facilities, restaurants, and large corporate clients. Mark has developed research surrounding what leaders need to know about the future of workplace culture and authored several whitepapers on topics such as co-living strategy, distance learning, and senior living facilities.

In his work at FTI, Mark has explored the future of communities, digital interactions, supply chain and logistics, geographic cities, the workplace, immersive experiences, hotels and restaurants, design, manufacturing, urban planning, engineering, and artificial intelligence’s impact on various industries and sectors.

Meaghan Beever, DDes, is a Strategist at Gensler specializing in user-centered, applied design research. With more than 15 years of experience conducting both academic and practice-based research, she approaches each of her projects with a discovery mindset. Before joining Gensler, Meaghan was a research scientist at the University of Kansas Medical Center’s Cognitive Neuroscience Lab where she worked on NIH-funded research with children with developmental disabilities. In 2022, Meaghan received a Gensler Research and Innovation Award for her client work in neurodiversity research. She is currently co-leading a research grant awarded by the Gensler Research Institute on the topic of neurodiversity in the workplace.

Kirima Isler, CPABE L1, is a strategist at Gensler with over five years’ experience specializing in accessibility and inclusive design for architectural and design projects across various sectors. Kirima’s work ranges from building inclusive design guidelines, to performing accessibility assessments of existing workplaces, to reviewing project work throughout the design process to assess its alignment with inclusive design goals. With a background in History and Peace & Conflict Research, Kirima approaches design as a tangible way to address patterns of exclusion and inequity in our everyday practices and built environment and leverages her background in research to champion experience-based strategies throughout the design process.

Steve Kooy leads BIFMA’s Health and Sustainability programs including-standard setting, advocacy, and outreach. Currently, Steve is working with BIFMA members on three standards: creating the Furniture Surfaces: Cleaning, Sanitizing, and Disinfecting standard, completing the BIFMA X10.1 Ergonomics standard, and revising the BIFMA e3 Sustainability standard.

As a graduate of the University of Michigan’s Civil/Environmental Engineering program, Steve has more than 15 years of experience as a sustainability professional in the furniture industry. Prior to joining BIFMA, Steve worked in sales and business development for Intertek – a third-party auditor, certifier, and test lab. In this role, he worked with global furniture clients to properly test and certify products to electrical, mechanical, and environmental standards.
Steve served as Haworth’s Global Sustainability/Open Innovation Manager for many years as the built environment’s interest in green building flourished. Highlights at Haworth included: creating and driving well-being initiatives, setting sustainable design criteria for cleaner chemistry and responsible supply chains, and pursuing product certifications. WELL and LEED experience includes managing or co-managing LEED certification projects in Asia, Europe, and North America as well as piloting the WELL certification in Shanghai and Los Angeles.

Dr. Lauren Gant, PhD, CPE, WELL AP is a Senior Workplace Advisory Manager at HNI. Lauren’s background in biomedical engineering allows her to apply human factors and ergonomics principles to the design of office furniture, and to research emerging trends in the office environment.
Lauren is highly involved in product development and in research of emerging trends. Her goal is to ensure that the products we produce encourage healthy postures, promote productivity, and that are intuitive to use correctly for a broad spectrum of worker types, sizes, and capabilities.
Lauren is also involved in education for our clients and end users. Lauren has taught engineering and ergonomics courses at the university level, has conducted extensive research in the field of ergonomics, and holds a doctoral degree in biomedical engineering from the University of Iowa. Lauren is an Adjunct Associate Professor at the University of Iowa, is a member of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, and is a Certified Professional Ergonomist, granted by the Board of Certification in Professional Ergonomics. Lauren is also a WELL Accredited Professional, a WELL Advisor, and a Fitwel Ambassador, and is qualified to provide guidance regarding health and wellness in the built environment.

Jennifer Wammack is BIFMA’s Director Outreach & Learning, a role created in 2017 to enhance engagement with influencers of the commercial built environment. Since that time, Jennifer has been the organization’s brand ambassador, communicating BIFMA’s message as the industry leader in developing furniture safety, durability, and sustainability standards that ensure product performance and inspire confidence wherever people work, learn, heal, and play. Prior to BIFMA, Jennifer had a successful career as a commercial textile designer with manufacturers Milliken, Guilford of Maine, and Valdese Weavers. She spent several years with IDA Design, an award-winning furniture design consultancy. As part of that leadership team, Jennifer’s role included design strategy, trend research, marketing, and sustainable practices. Jennifer holds a BFA in Textile Design from Rhode Island School of Design and a Master of Management in Sustainable Business from Aquinas College.

Jenna Clements, IIDA Associate, is an Associate, Interior Design Coordinator and is an alum of The Art Institute of Pittsburgh where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Interior Design. Since embarking on her career 10 years ago, Jenna has experience in various market sectors, scopes, and a wide range of project types, cultivating a versatile skill set focused within the realms of commercial workplace, higher education, and senior living. She is driven by a passion for enhancing environments for all end-users. Her meticulous attention to detail and data processing ensures the delivery of comprehensive design solutions tailored to each client’s individual needs. She conducts projects focusing on strategic planning, programming and workplace solutions. Trained in the latest technological design tools, discovering innovative technology to implement into the design process for streamlining workflows is an emphasized interest of hers.

At Stantec, community is at the center of one of the missions. Jenna has been involved with the local industry organizations and local collegiate design community to foster mentoring with real world design experience, to keep community at the fore front of design.

Kelsey Ziegler NCIDQ, CHID, EDAC, LEED Green Associate is a graduate of La Roche University with a Bachelor of Science in Interior Design and a minor in Marketing. Kelsey is a problem solver who takes pride in finding thoughtful and innovative solutions to challenging design problems, no matter what phase the project is in. As a Medical Planner and Interior Designer with Stantec, Kelsey has more than 13 years of experience of designing spaces that help promote healing and well-being for patients, staff, and visitors alike while ensuring these spaces meet the functional and safety requirements that healthcare facilities demand. Trained in Lean Six Sigma practices, Kelsey works closely with providers, nurses, and other healthcare staff members to understand their needs and workflows to implement the client’s goals through successful designs.

Due to Kelsey’s passion for community and mentorship she has been involved in several local industry organizations. She has served as Student Representative to the Board and Professional Development Director for ASID PA West, as well as a board member and President of the La Roche University’s Design Advisory Board.

Sydney Strugaru is licensed Interior Designer and graduated from Ohio University in 2019, where she majored in the CIDA Accredited Interior Architecture (BFA) program. While at Stantec, Sydney has been mainly involved in commercial workplace and large industrial manufacturing and distribution projects. She strives to design spaces that support the diverse processes and functions her clients require - from wealth management to battery manufacturing.

From project start to project closet out, Sydney manages, designs, and organizes projects with ease and grace, bringing new strategies and ways of thinking to the project team. She is a well-rounded team player and fosters a collaborative environment across all disciplines of a project. Her strong documentation skills and attention to detail allows her to think ahead well beyond the current phase at hand. She has experience in all aspects of project delivery including finish selection, construction drawings, construction administration, multi-discipline coordination, project close out, programming, space planning, furniture selection and specification, visualization, and project and account management. Her constant curiosity and willingness to help with any aspect of the design process makes her an exemplary asset to any project.

Zach Skala serves as an Interior Design Coordinator at Stantec Architecture and Engineering, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He is an alumnus of Kent State University, where he attained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Interior Design, complemented by a minor in Construction Management, in the year 2022. Accumulating approximately three years of professional experience within the design realm, Zach has actively contributed to a diverse array of projects spanning across various scales and sectors, encompassing residential, commercial, healthcare, and industrial domains.

Over his emerging career, Zach has cultivated a strong appreciation for the preliminary phases of design research and its subsequent implementation. His involvement in projects has provided him with comprehensive proficiency across the entirety of the project life cycle, from initial programming and documentation, through spatial planning, rendering, construction documentation, finish selection, and onto construction administration and project closure protocols.

Of notable significance is Zach's dedication to ensuring that interior spaces are meticulously tailored to positively impact the human experience. His dynamic approach involves a keen interest in collaborating closely with end-users, thereby fostering a supportive interior environment conducive to enhancing occupants' well-being and overall satisfaction.

Principal and director of branded environments in the Dallas studio of Perkins&Will, Sarah Wicker leads a multidisciplinary team working with designers to translate the essence of clients’ brands into memorable and engaging experiences. A deeply strategic thinker, she has an intrinsic drive to understand human motivation and connection to place. She believes that great design starts with understanding people, a belief backed up by more than 20 years in brand strategy, trend forecasting, human-centered design, and applied research.

Raised in Texas, Sarah has worked with developers, municipalities, and major brands around the globe. She is a frequent contributor to industry publications, a repeat speaker at ICSC, ULI, and AIA conferences, and—deepening her research into behavior and identity—she recently finished a master’s degree in psychology at Harvard University. Curious and energetic, Sarah finds guidance in empathy.

Dianne Murata is the founding principal of kimiko designs, a team of furniture planning, specification and technology experts specializing in commercial furniture projects. A graduate of the University of Manitoba, Dianne has led kimiko as an industry innovator and visionary builder of exceptional teams since 1999. Her passions are keeping used office furniture out of the landfill and rescuing pups from the puppy-mill.

Joanna Friesen Toler is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) and is the Space, Design & Construction Manager for Amegy Bank, overseeing 1.2 million square feet of office space in Texas and Utah. Her responsibilities include space and utilization studies supporting the bank’s real estate strategies and overseeing office and retail projects.

After graduating from Texas A&M in 2004 with a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Distribution, Joanna began her career in sales before finding her way to a Houston-based interior architecture firm. While there, she consulted on several large campus projects for domestic and international clients in various industries. Joanna is an advocate for sustainable facility practices and believes that we, as facility owners and managers, have a responsibility to be good stewards of our real estate. She is a steering committee member of Kimiko Green, a community of facilities and real estate leaders committed to solving the problem of 17 billion pounds of office assets dumped into US landfills every year.

Joanna spends all of her free time with her husband, toddler daughter, and giant rescue dog. They reside in Houston, Texas, and currently are in the throes of the threenager phase. Her passions include the efficient use of real estate, rockin out to live music, and hanging out in rivers with her family and friends

Dianne Murata is the founding principal of kimiko designs, a team of furniture planning, specification and technology experts specializing in commercial furniture projects. A graduate of the University of Manitoba, Dianne has led kimiko as an industry innovator and visionary builder of exceptional teams since 1999. Her passions are keeping used office furniture out of the landfill and rescuing pups from the puppy-mill.

Joanna Friesen Toler is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) and is the Space, Design & Construction Manager for Amegy Bank, overseeing 1.2 million square feet of office space in Texas and Utah. Her responsibilities include space and utilization studies supporting the bank’s real estate strategies and overseeing office and retail projects.

After graduating from Texas A&M in 2004 with a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Distribution, Joanna began her career in sales before finding her way to a Houston-based interior architecture firm. While there, she consulted on several large campus projects for domestic and international clients in various industries. Joanna is an advocate for sustainable facility practices and believes that we, as facility owners and managers, have a responsibility to be good stewards of our real estate. She is a steering committee member of Kimiko Green, a community of facilities and real estate leaders committed to solving the problem of 17 billion pounds of office assets dumped into US landfills every year.

Joanna spends all of her free time with her husband, toddler daughter, and giant rescue dog. They reside in Houston, Texas, and currently are in the throes of the threenager phase. Her passions include the efficient use of real estate, rockin out to live music, and hanging out in rivers with her family and friends

Dianne Murata is the founding principal of kimiko designs, a team of furniture planning, specification and technology experts specializing in commercial furniture projects. A graduate of the University of Manitoba, Dianne has led kimiko as an industry innovator and visionary builder of exceptional teams since 1999. Her passions are keeping used office furniture out of the landfill and rescuing pups from the puppy-mill.

Laurel Christensen, AIA, WELL AP serves as Mindful MATERIALS VP of Engagement, where she focuses on building industry partnerships with stakeholders across the built environment. These relationships help expand industry education and build alignment around the Common Materials Framework, an emerging common language for evaluating materials’ sustainability. Her dual role as both VP of Engagement for mindful Materials and as a practicing Architect and Sustainable Design Leader at Dyer Brown Associates, and past experience as a manufacturer’s rep, make her uniquely positioned to understand and communicate the value that the Common Materials Framework brings to the industry.