Color as a Mirror: Reflections of Human Need
Laura Guido-Clark, Founder, LOVE GOOD COLOR and Project Color Corps™

Color goes beyond the surface—it’s a reflection of our deepest human needs. In this presentation, we’ll explore how specific hues and palettes are inextricably linked to our universal desires. Discover the emotional architecture behind color and learn how to use it as a powerful tool.

Circular Economy Innovations
Karen Leonas, Professor of Textile Sciences, North Carolina State University

The textile contract industry is advancing circular solutions through recycling, closed-loop systems, and design considerations. Some innovations that will be discussed include chemical recycling, waterless dyeing, modular design, 3D weaving, digital printing and other new technologies being developed.

Navigating an Evolving Global Economy
Stuart Paul, US & Canada Economist, Bloomberg Economics

The global economic order is evolving quickly. Policy decisions are affecting trade flows, public-sector spending, and private investment. Stuart will explore what this all means for the labor market, inflation, interest rates and global investment.

Inside the Spec: Trends Redefining Design Decisions
AJ Paron, EVP+Design Futurist, SANDOW DESIGN GROUP

Who’s specifying, what they’re specifying, and why—it’s all changing. Using the latest industry data and design trends, this session dives into emerging markets, the rise of Gen Z specifiers, and how sustainability expectations are reshaping product choices. Walk away with actionable insights to better align with today’s clients and tomorrow’s projects.

The Fabric of Aging: Textiles in the New Era of Senior Living
Melissa Pritchard, Partner, Design4Age Strategic Advisors
Amy Carpenter, Partner, Design4Age Strategic Advisors

Senior living is evolving rapidly—and interior design is a key differentiator. Fabric choices impact comfort, safety, and emotional well-being. This fast-paced session will provide an overview of the senior living market, examples of successful interiors and insights into how the textile industry can continue to change and innovate to serve this growing segment.

Keynote Address
Turn the Page: Innovative Thinking for Better Results
Tucker Bryant, Entrepreneur | Strategist | Renowned Poet

This signature keynote experience blends poetic storytelling with business insight. As we navigate the age of AI, competition is fierce, customer expectations are soaring, and the rules of the world are being rewritten in real time. We must quickly evolve our ways of thinking and working in order to avoid being left behind. Tucker has discovered an unexpected perspective to help professionals break from status quo thinking and write the future with confidence: the mindset of a poet. Learn how his Turn the Page™ principles unlock creativity, collaboration, and competitive advantage.

Laura Guido-Clark, Founder, LOVE GOOD COLOR and Project Color Corps™

Laura is an expert in the skin of consumer products—their color, materials and finish. Throughout her 30+ year career, she has analyzed conscious and unconscious influences that drive buying decisions for clients like Herman Miller, Samsung and Toyota. Laura’s groundbreaking patented color methodology LOVE GOOD COLOR, launched in 2017, integrates science and the senses to enable designers to factor in emotive response and impact in color application. She previously founded Project Color Corps™, a participatory public arts organization that collaborates with students and communities to educate and add color to their essential community spaces, creating beauty, belonging, and joy. Laura was honored as the IIDA Northern California Chapter recipient of the 2014 Leadership Award of Excellence.

laura@lovegoodcolor.com

Karen Leonas, Professor of Textile Sciences, North Carolina State University

Karen is an internationally recognized leader in textile chemistry, sustainability, and protective apparel. With a career spanning more than three decades, she has advanced knowledge in fiber and polymer degradation, microfiber pollution, life cycle assessment, and fiber-to-fiber recycling. Her work has been widely published in top journals and has significantly influenced both academic research and industry practices. Karen is the 2025 recipient of the AATCC Olney Medal, honoring her pioneering contributions to textile chemistry and sustainability. She has held key academic leadership roles, mentoring faculty, students, and industry collaborators while shaping policy discussions on textile waste and circular economy practices. Her research and teaching emphasize innovation, ethics, and environmental responsibility, ensuring the next generation of textile professionals is prepared to meet global challenges.

kleonas@ncsu.edu

Stuart Paul, US & Canada Economist, Bloomberg Economics

Covering the US and Canada, Stuart forecasts key data releases, analyzes the effects of policy developments on broader activity, and writes thematic economic research for Bloomberg Terminal subscribers. He previously worked as a macroeconomist for Thiel Macro—a discretionary macro hedge fund—and a financial services policy analyst at Washington Analysis, LLC. He was a dissertation research fellow in the FDIC’s Center for Financial Research while completing his doctorate in economics at George Mason University.

spaul184@bloomberg.net

AJ Paron, EVP+Design Futurist, SANDOW DESIGN GROUP

AJ drives industry intelligence, strategic partnerships, and innovation across Interior Design magazine, Metropolis magazine, Design Milk, Architizer and ThinkLab. Her career spans founding and leading a multimillion-dollar, award-winning design/build firm, developing national programs for ASID, and pioneering research on designing for neurodiversity at the University of Minnesota. Her thought leadership has been featured in Harvard Business Review, Forbes, and multiple publications. She authored the groundbreaking book series Interior Design for Autism. Recognized with numerous awards from IIDA, ASID, NKBA, USGBC, and more, AJ continues to influence the conversation on sustainability, emerging markets, and the evolving role of specifiers shaping tomorrow’s built environments.

ajparon@sandowdesign.com

Melissa Pritchard, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP BD+C, Partner, Design4Age Strategic Advisors

A nationally recognized leader with nearly three decades of visionary expertise in senior living design, Melissa guides organizations, clients, and interdisciplinary teams through complex development and strategic growth initiatives. She is committed to creating environments that empower older adults to live with independence, dignity, and wellness. Melissa shares her insights through independent research, post-occupancy evaluations, and presentations at conferences nationwide. Her published work and collaborative partnerships push the boundaries of what senior living environments can be—setting new standards and shaping future trends. She is an active member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA), the Society for the Advancement of Gerontological Environments (SAGE), an inaugural member of the Resilient Aging Environments Network (RAEN). Melissa received the prestigious Design Champions Award from Environments for Aging and holds certifications with NCARB and GBCI.

melissa@d4a-sa.com

Amy Carpenter, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP, EDACT, Partner, Design4Age Strategic Advisors

With 30+ years of architectural experience and certification in interior design, Amy provides planning, design and construction documentation services for the full spectrum of senior living communities. She has a passion for crafting specialized and supportive physical environments for elders—from active adult and affordable senior apartments through long-term care and memory support residences, as well as associated community buildings and amenity spaces. Amy’s post-occupancy evaluation work and her decade as a board member at White Horse Village in Pennsylvania give her a strong understanding of operations, management, and staffing concerns for life plan communities. Amy has a Certificate in Lighting for Health from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and also holds certifications with NCARB, LEED and EDAC. She is active in the Society for the Advancement of Gerontological Environments (SAGE) and is a member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA).

amy@d4a-sa.com

Tucker Bryant, Entrepreneur | Strategist | Renowned Poet

Tucker nurtured his craft at Stanford University and then went on to become a lead product marketing manager at Google. This was where he discovered that creative tools used by poets throughout the millennia have the potential to unlock innovative leadership in the corporate world. After a decade in Silicon Valley, he unleashed his entrepreneurial spirit to help leaders worldwide overcome universal barriers to change.

Tucker’s poetic performances have garnered millions of views online and been featured at TEDx, The New York Times, and dozens of other organizations across the globe. He has shared the stage with such influential individuals as Mark Cuban, Malcolm Gladwell, Gary Vaynerchuk, Earvin “Magic” Johnson, and Mel Robbins, as well as governors and executives from scores of Fortune 500 companies.

tucker@tuckerbryantspeaks.com

Arc-Com
Amanda Eaton
Ki-Yeoun Kim

Architex
Lauren Williams

Bernhardt Textiles
Megan Devine
Susan Green
Kathrin Hagge

Brentano
Allen Chen
Matthew Muccino

Burch
Jenni Chilver

C.F. Stinson
Lori Roop

Camira Group
Jodie Padgett

Carnegie
Aliesha Crosby
Mary Holt
Remona Teague

Charles Samelson
Phil Landau
Maria Rodriguez

Designtex
Carol Derby
Bryan Hallam
Deidre Hoguet
Rocky Jantzen
Kim Land
Andrea Langlais
Owen Lasko
Claire Mann
Teesha Prezeau
Elizabeth Sanzari
Eve Singer
Catherine Stowell

Fabricut Contract
Valerie Hamroff
Julia Rodriguez Dalton

Gabriel
Tobin Anderson
Cindy Schleh

HBF Textiles
Dusty Lockwood
Annie Ming
Heather Murphy
Raegan Stein

KB Contract Textiles
Brooke Kahn

Kravet Contract
Megan Ayers
Karen Keating
Suezette O’Garro
Ian Schwartz

Kvadrat
Shawn Cook
Lauren Korb
Kelly Queen

LDI Interiors
Rachel Dame
Karen Donaghy
Cecilia Staniec

Lebatex
Dawn Ludwig

Luum Textiles
Jane Ardielli
Andrea Babb
Dorothy Cosonas
Carl Lindsey
Melanie Roven
Mee Ok Ryu
Honrina Rozario
Daniela Tonini
Dave White

Maharam
Adam Debus
Sabarish Janardanan
Natalie Pantoja
Betsy Phillips
Christina Russo

Mayer Fabrics
Maggie Mayer
Rob Mayer

Momentum Textiles & Wallcovering
Leo Bushell
Eduardo Elizondo
Sina Pearson

P/Kaufmann Contract
Mark Denecour
Leigh Douglass
Cindy Krewson
Jayne Mielo

Paul Brayton Designs
Joel Riley

Pollack
Jenia Myagkov

Posh Textiles
Sarika Shah

Richloom Fabrics
Lauren Pelusio
Robyne Peterson

Thibaut
Anne Lekow

United Fabrics
Carolyn Mitchell
Scott Warwick

Valley Forge
Diana Dobin

Weitzner
Janice Lynch

Wolf-Gordon
Nicole Layne
Michael Loughlin
Frank Marchese
Sierra Neale
Marybeth Shaw
Chase Taylor

AIS
Sophie Palma

Davis Furniture
Ashley Williams

Haworth
Liz Johnson
Andrea Nelson

HNI
Jacquelin Fisher
Hannah McGrath

Irwin
Anne Chapman
Therese Williams

MillerKnoll
Liz Gibbons
Xiaolei McKean

OFS
Adam Lewis
Celia Yow

Steelcase
Melissa Hart
Courtney Moyer

Stylex
Lauren Elliott

Teknion
Farnaz Naeiminia

Antex
Pol Berenguer

Applied Textiles
Maxwell Johnstone
Hannah Schroeter
John Schroeter

Bredemeier Material Sampling
Galen Eckland
Roland Leupolt

Burlington Contract Fabrics
Jenny Durham
Keith Ogden

Color Communications
Nicole Chapple

Colormass
Tas Sóti

Configura
Rob Detrick
Brooke Snow

Cortex Fabrics 
David Dryer
Aaron Gelvan

Crypton
Jack Eger
Rebecca Lee
Nikki Rubalcaba
Kristen Tynan

Culp Contract
David Wells

David Rothschild
Kelsey Adams
Walter Rothschild

Dominion Sample
Jacob Edwards

Duvaltex
Martin Bourque
Billy Ford
Irene Miller
Lisa Olson-Wong
Ann Reinhard
Christian Roy
Juliet Terzian

Enduratex
Jim McKeon

Foresight Management
Amy Robertson

Geo. Sheard Fabrics
Perihan Sheard

Hopetex
Sarah Wolfe

JB Martin
Michael Benjamin
Robert Lachow

KM Fabrics
Paul Tantillo

Lady Fabrics
Aleks Birman
Jeffrey Irwin
Kelly Picard

Leslie Jee Textiles
Leslie Jee

Mercato Place
Alison Goldman

Milliken
Peter Dow
Zach Huckabay
Kay Sawdy
Chris Wulforst

Morbern
Lisa Hernandez
Sarah Manojlovic
Justyna Pikul

MTL
JoMarie Battle
Tom Hillebrand
Brian Kunetz
Erin McHugh
Cigdem Ozturk
Taya Thongyoo
Celeste Wells

My Resource Library
Laura Carlson

Nassimi
Larry Barbash
Noah Barbash
Kaila Donohue
Joe Filippi
Andreea Flores
Debbye Lustig
Jordan Matthew
Edward Nassimi
Iwan Nassimi
Elizabeth Schoonfield
Lillian Slate

Omnova
Olivia White

Pointe International
Matthew Cohen
Hoe Jung
Mindy Marcus
Ed Marquez
Moira Murray
Franco Nannucci
Naoko Tanabe

Rohleder
Leni Rohleder

Spradling
Deborah Lanzner

The Mitchell Group
Michael Fisch
Roslyn Muney

Thoroughbred Fulfillment
Ray Sayers

Ultrafabrics
Scott Ackaway
Jeremy Brown
Amanda Bylsma
Isabella D’Aguanno
Kimberle Frost
Md Tanjim Hossain
Janet Kuntz
Jillian Love
Danielle O’Kane
Caroline Ollivier
Dana Platt
Sergio Prosperino

Unifi
Sara Porter
Augusta Schmitz

Valdese Weavers Contract
Gregory Battreall
Rosemary Harley
Julie Huggins
Jacquelyn London
Ji-hong Park
Crystal Sigmon
Bill Snyder

Vescom Textiles
Jason Romero
Christine Wekilsky

VIP Samples
Adam Montgomery

York Wallcoverings
Gina Shaw
Luise Stromberg

Baldwin Sales
Amy Baldwin

Barbara Weber
Barbara Weber

Casey Design
Nicole Casey

Collection 280
Amy Pisansky

Ellen Shultz Consulting
Ellen Shultz

Limn + Loom
Geraldine Blanchot Fortier
Veronique Bouche-Rouet

MJP Textiles
Michael Paul

MLB Textile Sales & Design Consulting
Margaret Blum

North Coast Design Studio
Jay Correia

Rowan Consulting Group
John Rowan

Suzanne Tick
Suzanne Tick

LOVE GOOD COLOR and Project Color Corps™ 
Laura Guido-Clark

North Carolina State University
Karen Leonas

Bloomberg Economics
Stuart Paul

SANDOW DESIGN GROUP
AJ Paron

Design4Age Strategic Advisors
Amy Carpenter
Melissa Pritchard

Keynote Speaker
Tucker Bryant

ACT
Janan Rabiah
Lynne Willis

Gerald Forster Studio
Gerald Forster

JW Writing
Judy Wood

Volunteer
Jennifer Rabiah

Annette Schaich Changemaker Award
Caroline Baumann
Allen Bianchi
Tony Conway
Hillary Ellner
Stefanie Kubanek
Beth Layne
Robert Ortega
Karla the Losen

EDPA USA
Alp Benadrete
Elyse Berkman

Sarah Baker
Sarah Baker

Anzea
Arc-Com
Architex
Bernhardt Textiles
Brentano
Burch
C.F. Stinson
Camira Group
Carnegie
Charles Samelson
Chilewich

Concertex
Designtex
Ennis Fabrics
Fabricut Contract
Gabriel
Guilford of Maine
HBF Textiles
KB Contract
Knoll Textiles
Kravet Contract
Kvadrat

LDI Interiors
Lebatex
Luum Textiles
Maharam
Mayer Fabrics
Momentum Textiles &
Wallcovering
Optimum Textiles
P/Kaufmann Contract
Pallas Textiles
Paul Brayton Designs

Pindler
Pollack
Posh Textiles
Richloom Fabrics Group
Somato Textiles
Standard Textile
Thibaut
United Fabrics
Valley Forge Fabrics
Weitzner
Wolf-Gordon

AIS
Davis Furniture
Global Furniture Group
Gus* Design Group
Haworth

HNI
Irwin
Keilhauer
Lutron Electronics
MillerKnoll

Novawall Systems
OFS
Room & Board
Rose Brand
SitOnIt Seating

Steelcase
Stylex
Teknion

American Flamecoat
Antex
Applied Textiles
Aquafil O’Mara
Bredemeier Material Sampling
Burlington Contract Fabrics
Color Communications
Colormass
Configura
Cortex Fabrics
Crypton
Culp Contract
David Rothschild
Diversified Testing Laboratories

Dominion Sample
Duvaltex
Enduratex
Europatex
Foresight Management
Geo. Sheard Fabrics
Glen Raven
Heritage Textiles
Hopetex
JB Martin
KM Fabrics
Lady Fabrics
Leslie Jee Textiles
Majilite
Mercato Place
Milliken

Morbern
MTL
My Resource Library
Nassimi
Neon Textiles
Omnova
Pointe International
Rohleder
Sattler
Seaqual Initiative
SGS Govmark
Sileather
Spradling
Symphony Mills
Texind
The Mitchell Group

Thoroughbred Fulfillment
TSG Finishing
Ultrafabrics
Unifi
Valdese Weavers Contract
Vanelli Textile
Vartest Laboratories
Vescom
VIP Samples
York Wallcoverings

Amy Baldwin
Geraldine Blanchot Fortier
Margaret Blum
Robert Carlton
Nicole Casey

Jay Correia
Janet Hild
Elisabeth Karp
Peter Kuklinski
Michael Paul

Adity Phadnis
Amy Pisansky
John Rowan
Ellen Schultz
Suzanne Tick

Eugene van Veldhoven
Barbara Weber
Kenneth Wolf
MaryPaul Yates
Anna Zaharakos