Part of the BIFMA Learning Monthly Series, this is a live virtual learning opportunity for our members, designers, buyers, educators, and anyone interested in furniture for the built environment. There is no fee to attend.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND

• A&D Professionals
  
• Sales/Marketing Professionals
  
• Facility Managers, Owners & CEOs
  
• Instructors and Students
  
• Manufacturers of Commercial Furniture and Accessories
  
• Suppliers to the Commercial Furniture Industry

PANELISTS

Mary Ellen Mica;  Director of Sustainability; Steelcase

Mary Ellen Mika is Director of Sustainability at Steelcase Inc., where she leads a global team of over thirty people working in six countries. Her responsibilities include the company’s sustainability programs, its environmental strategy for ESG, and reporting progress to the Steelcase Board of Directors. Her team’s responsibilities span renewable energy procurement, setting science-based targets for greenhouse gas reduction, managing all compliance to environmental regulations, tracking and reporting waste, water, and energy usage, and proposing sustainability targets for product development. Her team implements the company’s ISO 14001 environmental management system and pursues product certifications for sustainability and indoor air quality.

Mary Ellen is a LEED-accredited professional and recently served on the Materials and Resources Technical Advisory Group for U.S. Green Building Council. She lends her time and expertise to initiatives at the state and local level on energy and environmental issues. She has a B.S. in Biochemistry, an M.A. in Counseling Psychology, and over thirty years of experience in environmental consulting and industry.

David Cordell, ASID Fellow, NCIDQ, LEED AP, WELL AP, Fitwel Ambassador; Practice Leader, Associate Principal; Perkins&Will

Though David grew up in Salem, Oregon, a job opportunity following high school brought him to the east coast where he later attended Virginia Commonwealth University as a psychology major. His career trajectory would change during his sophomore year when he took an interior design class as an elective. He realized his interest in social and behavioral psychology combined with this new-found direction could have a positive impact on people’s emotional health through design instead of counseling, as he originally intended.

That same passion to understand and affect human behavior drives his interiors work today. While he has been a part of many award-winning projects, his measure of success is directly tied to the impact on the project’s occupants. In addition, the expertise he brings to each space regarding sustainability and well-being make him a critical component to any successful project team.

MODERATOR

Holley Henderson, LEED Fellow; Director of Strategic Partnerships and Education; Chemical Insights Research Institute

Holley Henderson is the Director of Strategic Partnerships and Education for Chemical Insights Research Institute of UL Research Institutes. Her background includes interior design, sustainability consulting and providing education for the built environment community. A frequent speaker on sustainable design issues, she has presented for many groups including Greenbuild International Conference & Expo, IFMA World Workplaces, NeoCon, Greenguard Summit, Hospitality & Design (HD) Conference, CBRE World Conference, the International Convention Center Conference, as well as, numerous professional associations, academic institutions and corporate audiences. Holley is author of the book Becoming a Green Building Professional.

NeoCon 2024 Registration is Now Open

NeoCon has served as the world’s leading platform and most important event of the year for the commercial interior design industry since 1969.

Register Today!

Be sure to stop by the 7th floor and visit the BIFMA booth - 7-10050

Fulton Market District Set to Welcome Design Professionals and Enthusiasts for Fulton Market Design Days

More Than 35 Iconic Design Brands Bring the Fulton Market District to Life

Each June, over 40,000 people from across the global design community gather in Chicago to celebrate the latest in design and architecture, sharing product news and participating in a variety of events across the Windy City. The Fulton Market District will welcome top design professionals and enthusiasts to enjoy product launches, exhibits and events, from Monday, June 10 – Wednesday, June 12, 2024 at the Fulton Market Design Days.

Learn More!

Learn More!

SPEAKER

Jennifer Wammack; Director Outreach & Learning; BIFMA

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.

This session will explain how ergonomic considerations integrate into a human-centered design process. By integrating the science of fitting furniture to the worker, designers and their clients can promote healthy workstyles that enhance safety, wellness, and satisfaction in any work environment.

Learn More!

SPEAKERS

Steve Kooy; Director, Health and Sustainability; BIFMA

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.

Lauren Gant, PhD, CPE, WELL AP; Senior Workplace Advisory Manager; HNI

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.

Join the Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturers Association (BIFMA) and the Association of Contract Textiles (ACT) as they bring you this moderated discussion among industry textile and furniture trend-setters focusing on textiles’ influential role in furniture product design and performance. Topics will include textile design inspiration; innovations in materials, technology, and sustainability; application considerations and challenges; and incorporating client expectations into the development process.

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SPEAKERS

Andrea Nelson; Principal Designer | Colors, Materials, and Finishes, Industrial Design Studio; Haworth

Andrea Nelson, Principal Designer of Colors, Materials, and Finishes (CMF) at Haworth, has more than a decade of experience in the commercial furniture industry. Throughout her career, Andrea has applied her interior architecture and industrial design knowledge to approach material, application, and product integration on a holistic level. With her keen eye for details, trends, sustainable practices, and her deep understanding of materials' tactile and visual impact, she curates finishes that not only meet functional and performance requirements but also evoke a sensorial response. Whether designing fabrics with tactile allure, championing sustainable sourcing, or crafting designs that embody a timeless and engaging aesthetic, Andrea creates work that is a testament to the transformative power of conscientious CMF design in commercial spaces.

Shantel McGowan; VP of Design, Textiles; Momentum Textiles & Wallcovering

Shantel McGowan, Vice President of Design for Momentum Textiles & Wallcovering, is passionate about designing textiles for commercial interiors. With a career dedicated to creating innovative and sustainable textiles, she has significantly influenced the industry by pushing boundaries with new materials. Shantel's leadership has garnered accolades, including multiple products in the permanent collection of the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum. The award-winning design team under her guidance has achieved distinctions such as the Best of Neocon and Interior Design's Best of Year Award.

Maggie Keilhauer; Product Manager; Keilhauer

Maggie Keilhauer is the Product Manager at Keilhauer, where she currently oversees the launch and management of the company's product and textile offerings. Since joining Keilhauer in 2017, she has managed the launches of many award-winning products, Keilhauer's new branding, and countless textiles and partner cards. Before becoming Product Manager, she managed the marketing for all of Keilhauer's brands, overseeing showrooms, media, and marketing materials. Maggie has a passion for design through collaboration and creativity.

MODERATOR

Deborah Nemeth; Principal, Interior Design Discipline Leader; SmithGroup

Deborah Nemeth is a Principal and the Interior Design Leader at SmithGroup in Chicago. She is passionate about creating environments that are aesthetically pleasing, strategic, and purposeful. She is a versatile designer, team leader and business developer. Deborah has designed over one million square feet of corporate office and commercial building space in the last decade with a portfolio of clients including workplace, higher education, science and technology, and health care organizations. Deborah provides her clients with design solutions tailored to their unique culture and business goals. She is committed to the advancement of the Interior Design profession and currently serves as the President of the Illinois Chapter of the International Interior Design Association (IIDA).

Business Breakfast and Presentation | June 12, 2024 | 7:30 - 9am

7:30 AM	Breakfast at Marshall's Landing
8:00 AM	Industry Presentation | NeoCon Presentation Studio on the 2nd floor of theMART

SYNTHESIZE Evaluate show takeaways

CONVENE Officer and board elections

NETWORK Casual gathering to connect

DISCOVER Industry trend presentation

Government Approach to Workplace Strategy

Learn about government workplace strategies deployed at the US General Services Administration (GSA) and the Canadian Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC).

In two 20 minute presentations, you'll gain insights that promise to illuminate the path forward for workplace optimization.

1. What strategies have flourished and which ones have faltered.
2. Current workplace strategy, and how they enhance productivity and foster innovation.
3. Shifting landscape of property ownership, square footage utilization, and spatial optimization shaping workspace in the next five years.
4. Product types and attributes that will support these strategies, ensuring that every workspace is equipped for success.

Presenters

Charles G. Hardy, Chief Architect, AIA CCM, US General Services Administration

Charles “Chuck” Hardy serves as the Chief Architect of the General Services Administration’s Public Buildings Service. Hardy serves as senior executive and advisor to the GSA Administrator and PBS Commissioner on all matters concerning Federal architecture and design. Hardy is a licensed architect, a licensed interior designer, as well as a certified construction manager.  Chuck holds two degrees from the University of Minnesota: a Bachelor of Architecture and a Bachelor of Environmental Design; and Executive Program certificates from Harvard Graduate School of Design and the University of Texas-McCombs School of Business. Before joining GSA, Hardy was an architect with firms in Florida, Colorado, and Illinois practicing in the areas of real estate development and commercial architectural design.
He is published in AIA’s Architect Magazine, in two books on BIM and integrated design and in numerous other publications. Hardy is a retired officer of the U.S. Air Force where he served as an intelligence officer.

Jim Harper, Vice President, NUA Office Inc.

Jim Harper has over 30 years of experience in the office furniture industry with experience in direct sales, operations, and growing into National leadership roles within dealership and manufacturing.

Currently, Jim leads NUA Office Inc. as Vice President which operates in Montreal, Toronto, and Ottawa.

Prior to joining NUA, spent two years working with the Government as a Furniture Specialist – Advisor with Public Services and Procurement Canada. Jim utilized industry knowledge to assist Canada in the formation of several strategic initiatives that align with Canada’s priorities while addressing key issues related to procurement strategy, specifications including GCSB and BIFMA, performance assessment, and environmental considerations.

Jim’s unique experience from the client, manufacturing, and dealership levels provides a unique perspective on achieving best value, in a balanced approach, that benefits customers, dealers, and manufacturers while supporting innovation and sustainability priorities.

No refunds after June 1, 2024

WHO SHOULD ATTEND

• A&D Professionals
  
• Sales/Marketing Professionals
  
• Facility Managers, Owners & CEOs
  
• Instructors and Students
  
• Manufacturers of Commercial Furniture and Accessories
  
• Suppliers to the Commercial Furniture Industry
  

PROGRAM CREDITS

• IDCEC– 1.0
  

PRESENTER

Kimberle Frost, Design Professional, Mayer Fabrics

Kimberle Frost, an award-winning textile designer and colorist, has over 25 years of experience as an independent consultant offering services in textile design and styling, color consultation, and textile marketing in both the contract and residential markets. Frost is recognized for her broad range of design and technical expertise along with her strong color sensibility in woven and coated textiles, rugs, and hard surface finishes.

Frost formed her consulting studio in 1991, specializing in design, color, and marketing, and since has been engaged in a wide range of color and design projects. Her impressive portfolio includes work for highly regarded contract and residential companies such as Mayer Fabrics, Ultrafabrics, Designtex, Arc Com, Wolf Gordon, Robert Allen, and Fabricut.

She is a member of the Association for Contract Textiles and is on the advisory board for the Museum of International Folk Arts bi-annual design summit.

Frost has two children and lives with her husband, a ceramicist, in New York.  She loves to cook, entertain friends and family, and feed her passion for color and design through her extensive travels.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND

• A&D Professionals
  
• Sales/Marketing Professionals
  
• Facility Managers, Owners & CEOs
  
• Instructors and Students
  
• Manufacturers of Commercial Furniture and Accessories
  
• Suppliers to the Commercial Furniture Industry

PRESENTERS

Jennifer Kolstad, ASID, Assoc AIA; Global Design and Brand Director; Ford Motor Company

Jennifer Kolstad is the first Global Design and Brand Director at Ford Motor Company, and the first architect/interior designer to lead design and innovation at a fortune 100 company.

Jennifer has spent her career systematically advancing the design industry. Since joining Ford in 2019, she has envisioned the future of workplace, retail, hospitality, and community at Ford while pivoting the design team toward a human-centered methodology involving business, community, social justice, and human productivity.

Jennifer is a Doctoral candidate at the School of Environmental Design at the University of Calgary (’26). She achieved a Master of Architecture from Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) and undergraduate degrees in both Interior Design and Art History. Prior to Ford she designed at SOM, Gensler, HKS, and ALDAR in the United Arab Emirates. She is past chair of the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) and served on the ASID National Board from 2015-2021.

Jennifer is an invited NASA Luminary teaching her “Brain to Building Framework” as a design tool for off-planet habitation.  She has appeared in numerous national media outlets and is a sought-after speaker, advisor, lecturer, and juror.

Stewart Flemming, MCR.w, SLCR; Senior Director of Americas Portfolio Planning; Oracle

Stewart Flemming has been with Oracle for 23 years and currently is the Senior Director, Americas Portfolio Planning. In this capacity, he is responsible for interacting with Oracle’s internal customers on space requirements, forecasting growth and directing portfolio optimization within the US, Canada as well as Latin America countries. Prior to this role Stewart was a Facility Director with responsibility for ~3M Rentable Square Footage.

Stewart has a BA in Management from Thomas Edison State College in Trenton, NJ. His prior work experience includes Office Manager for an irrigation company, for a developer and home builder (included managing 23 commercial buildings), General Manager of a building center and various positions in the Army. Stewart has been an active member of CoreNet Global and has received the MCR and SLCR designations.

BIFMA will be presenting "Selecting Furniture Surfaces in Healthcare Environments" at the 2024 The Healthcare Design Conference + Expo!

Selecting Furniture Surfaces in Healthcare Environments

Join us for an insightful presentation that delves into the testing of furniture surfaces, aiming to meet or exceed expectations found in the healthcare setting. Using BIFMA's new ANSI-approved standard, we will guide you through the intricacies of the testing processes, emphasizing best practices as well as limitations to lab testing. We will discuss the processes involved in ensuring the durability, functionality, and quality of furniture surfaces. Going beyond the standard, we will also delve into best practices and design recommendations.

This presentation provides a opportunity to gain valuable insights into how best to approach specifying furniture products in an effort to reduce failures in the healthcare environment.

The session will allow ample time for questions, giving panelists the opportunity to share their expertise in more specific situations.

BIFMA's Director of Outreach + Learning, Jennifer Wammack, and Steelcase's Vice President of Workplace Insights, Tracy Bower, will be presenting "Workplace Culture Wins: How to Create a Places for Attraction, Retention & Performance" at the 2024 IFMA WORLD WORKPLACE!

Workplace Culture Wins: How to Create a Places for Attraction, Retention & Performance

Culture is a critical center of gravity for a thriving organization where people want to join, stay, and do their very best. Join us for a discussion about how place shapes behavior and the role of standards, expectations and norms in sustaining culture. We’ll talk about what we knew about culture, and what’s new—based on the new landscape of work. And we’ll share important insights, fresh perspectives and practical approaches for creating the conditions which inspire, motivate, engage and deliver results.

Presenters

Dr. Tracy Brower, PhD, MM, MCRW; Vice President of Workplace Insights; Steelcase

Dr. Tracy Brower is a PhD sociologist studying work-life fulfillment and happiness. She is the vice president of workplace insights for Steelcase and the author of The Secrets to Happiness at Work and Bring Work to Life. In addition, she is a senior contributor to Forbes and Fast Company. Tracy is an award-winning speaker and has over 25 years of experience working with global clients to achieve business results. Tracy is an executive advisor to Like|Minded, Coda Societies and to the MSU Master Industrial Mathematics Program. She is an executive council member with Design Museum Everywhere and board member for the United Way. Tracy’s work has been translated into 19 languages and she has been featured in TEDx, The Wall Street Journal, Work-Life Balance in the 21st Century (book), Globe and Mail (Canada), InsideHR (Australia), HR Director (UK), T3N (Germany), Real Estate Review Journal, Fortune.com, Inc. Magazine, HBR (France) and more. Tracy holds a PhD in Sociology, a Master of Management in Organizational Culture, and a Master of Corporate Real Estate with a workplace specialization.

Jennifer Wamamck; Director Outreach & Learning; BIFMA

Jennifer Wammack is BIFMA’s Outreach & Learning Director, 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.

Steve Kooy, Technical Director Health and Sustainability, will present at ORGATEC 2024

Presenter

Steve Kooy, Director of Health & Sustainability, BIFMA

Steve leads BIFMA’s Health and Sustainability programs including standard setting, advocacy, and outreach. 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.

Event Details

The Annual BIFMA Furniture Summit is your opportunity to get updates on all of the ANSI/BIFMA Standards in one place, at one time, and meet the many BIFMA volunteers in the industry that make it all possible. Our standards, founded on centuries of craft and enhanced by ever-advancing science, embody the best of our knowledge on safety, ergonomics, and sustainability.

Standards development application and regulations are intricately linked. The Furniture Summit brings together BIFMA’s Engineering, Health & Sustainability, Outreach & Learning, and Government Affairs Committees review current work underway, and future initiatives.

Please join us at the Embassy Suites in Grand Rapids, Michigan Wednesday, November 6 & Thursday, November 7 for an invaluable exercise in cross-committee collaboration, education on industry issues, and to provide input into the agenda for the coming year.

Hotel Information

Embassy Suites | 710 Monroe Ave NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503

Room Block Rate: $159/night

Guest Overnight Parking: $10/night

Breakfast + Wifi Included in Hotel stay

The Embassy Suites cancellation policy allows for 48 hours prior to arrival. Please verify when making your reservations.  We recommend air travel plans be made closer to the Summit date.

Individuals can call the hotel directly at 616.512.5700 or call the toll-free reservation number 1.800.774.1500. Reference BIFMA to confirm the special rate.

Book Online

Join BIFMA's Jennifer Wammack at EDspaces!

Presenter

Jennifer Wammack, Outreach & Learning Director

Jennifer Wammack is BIFMA’s Director of Outreach, 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.

Jennifer holds a BFA in Textile Design from the Rhode Island School of Design and a Masters of Management in Sustainable Business from Aquinas College.