IFDA New England Fall 2013 Newsletter

Fall 2013 Newsletter LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT Dear IFDA Colleagues, Every time I’m on my way to an IFDA event I eagerly anticipate who will be there. Some times I’ve started a new project and I want to seek out potential collaborators. Other times I’m remembering a project I heard about at a previous event that I want to hear progress on. Always there are members with whom I’ve become friends and look forward to seeing. This all makes me remember a quote from Alfred A. Montapert, “All lasting business is built on friendship.” I’m grateful to be a part of the biggest IFDA chapter in the country which has given me a chance to build so many friendships.

Size is just one of several characteristics that distinguishes our chapter. This year we partnered with the BAC and created a Student Chapter focusing on Continuing Education Students. IFDA is committed to looking forward and mentoring the future of IFDA. National will use our student-chapter partnership as a model for all other chapters. Another aspect of our chapter that stands out is our wide range of programming which fluctuates between educational, networking and pure member appreciation. The board has paid particular attention to creating programs that are varied, fresh and innovative. Last, but not least, our chapter’s website calendar identifies all New England industry events, not just our own, to create “one stop” event information for the entire design community.

Our success is based on three factors: member engagement, board leadership and sponsor support. It’s been a privilege this year to head up a board with President-Elect Karen Dzendolet, VP of Membership Rob Henry, Treasurer Gary Rousseau, VP of Communications Matt Remeika, Co-VPs of Programming Vivian Robins and Rose Ann Humphrey, VP of Member Retention Peter Griffin, VP of Hospitality Marlene Ketchen, VP of Education Carolyn B. Meek, Industry Liaison Robert Grossman, VP of Community Service Christine Kay, and VP of Awards Arnold Lagueux. We were blessed this year to have a gold sponsor for the first time ever thanks to Rosemary Porto of

Poggenpohl Boston, who is a past chapter President and long-standing chapter member.

I certainly hope to see most of you at our 12th Annual Interactive Member Dinner on October 23rd. It’s one of our most successful events each year in large part to the interactive vendor exhibit - an incredible opportunity to see new products up close and to talk to product experts about the innovative and creative ways to use the products.

This year I’m particularly looking forward to hearing Coach Pouli speak about time management. It’s a challenge we small business owners all face and one that social media is making harder all the time.

Warmest regards, Nicole nicole@nicolehogarty.com

UPCOMING EVENTS There are three events planned to round out the 2013 program year. We hope you will plan to attend!   

October 23rd – 12th Annual Interactive Member Dinner November 21st – Creative Appetizers for the Holidays with Chef Bill at The Miele Showroom December 5th – Holiday Party at The Waterworks Museum

IFDA WORKS! Commonwealth Ave. Residential Project It is a special project when fellow IFDA members work together in the field and bring each other in on the right jobs for the right clients. This project on Comm Ave in Boston brings together eight different IFDA members from painting to rugs. Woodbourne Builders, Nicole Hogarty Designs, Audio Video Design, HDF Painting, Venegas and Co., Jaqui Becker Fine Arts, Landry and Arcari, and Herrick and White are all involved.

More interior shots to come down the road ‌ If you have a project that you would like featured in the newsletter please submit to Matt Remeika at mremeika11@gmail.com.

INTERIOR DESIGN CAREER DAY 2013 As so many of you know, one of the most important educational projects of IFDA New England is our commitment to the annual New England Interior Design Career Day. Held each fall, it is an event that brings together design students from the many schools in New England for an opportunity to hear professionals in the field, attend seminars and panels, and to lunch with and network with designers. Sponsored

by IFDA, ASID, NKBA, IIDA and the Boston Design Center, our members serve on the steering committee, historically man the registration desk and lunch with the students during the day. This has always been a part of our chapter’s goal and with the recent launch of a student group at the BAC, more than ever emphasizes the importance of design education to IFDA, New England.

This year the Interior Design Career Day took place last Friday, October 18th. Over 126 students registered for the event. Attendees began their day listening to one keynote panel called "Designing Across Generations" and a second one about Color Theory. They also heard a keynote address by Karen Euler on marketing and sales in the design industry.

After lunching with design professionals, tours of the Boston Design Center took students to showrooms that including Dalia Kitchen, COP, Ecomodern and Romo.

The registration table was staffed by IFDA members Al Lagueux, Susan M-Geough, Ray Bachand and Carolyn Meek. IFDA designers Karen Dzendolet, Nicole Hogarty and Elissa Fenster met with students and talked with them over lunch.

IN MEMORIAM Earlier this year we lost a dear friend and longtime IFDA supporter Steve Twombly.

Steve was the publisher of Design New England magazine and a familiar face around the organization. He was always full of energy and enthusiasm for IFDA and will be greatly missed!

The picture on the right shows him at the 2010 Members Dinner and his full obituary is below.

TWOMBLY, Stephen D. Of New London, NH, Founding publisher of Design New England and a music composer, died March 16 after a short illness. He was 59. Design New England, launched in 2006, is a regional magazine that has won numerous industry awards, including three Gold FOLIO awards and four from the National Association of Real Estate Editors for Best Design Magazine. Twombly was a member of numerous architecture and design associations in the Boston area. During a career spanning 35 years, Twombly managed and launched magazines for International Data Group, Cahners Publishing, McGraw-Hill, Advanstar, and New Age Publishing, now a property of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Inc. After graduating from Drew University summa cum laude, Twombly attended the Juilliard School. Among Twombly's compositions are the Septet for Sunrise, a chamber piece for winds, Psalm 91 for voice with organ, and a twelve-tonal violin sonata. He was a composing fellow at the 1976 Aspen Music Festival, conducting performances of excerpts from his children's opera, Durien's Debut.

He also attended the New School in NewYorkCity. He is survived by his wife, Jean, his mother, Elizabeth Bowers Twombly, brothers, Peterand Geoffrey Twombly and five nieces and nephews.

BIG NEWS Congratulations to member Chris Magliozze on joining FBN Construction. Best of Luck on your new position Chris!

Congratulations also go out to Mahmud Jafri of Dover Rug and Home who was recently awarded the 2013 Immigrant Entrepreneur Award for “Outstanding Neighborhood Business�

Congratulations to Kelli Weber of Interim Furnishings who has joined Real Estate Radio Boston as an Expert Contributor

Congratulations to Sue Adams Interiors for winning Best of the North Shore for 2013

FUN FACTS It wasn’t until 1986 that IFDA allowed men to join and participate as full members.

EVENT ROUNDUP Connecting the Dots The inspiring summer-like weather was a prelude to the even more inspiring conversation with Jody Seivert, warmly hosted by California Closets. Jody is an expert in sales and project development and delivered an engaging presentation on project pricing and development.

Jodi also came back to do a further lunch and learn after the event due to positive response!

IFDA/ASID Harbor Cruise IFDA joined ASID on a summer evening to set sail down the Charles River. The night was filled with great conversation and great food.

The Art of Fine Bedding IFDA members attended an informative evening at Fretté’s Boston showroom and learned about the different types of bedding and fabrics available .

STAY CONNECTED Our IFDA New England webpage is your connection point to past, present and future chapter activity: http://ifda.com/new-england-chapter.

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