MEET THE 2022 INawards MODERATOR, JURORS, AND HONOREES
Cheryl S. Durst, HON. FIIDA
Executive Vice President and CEO, IIDA
An exceptional communicator, innovator, and visionary leader, Cheryl S. Durst has spurred progress, driven change, and encouraged the expansion of the interior design industry. As the Executive Vice President and CEO of IIDA, Cheryl is committed to achieving broad recognition for the value of design and its significant role in society through both functionality and engagement in every day workspaces and the built environment. Demonstrated by her active involvement in connecting industry professionals, including designers, manufacturers, clients, end users, and employers, she has worked to promote an understanding of how design impacts human behavior and affects all aspects of shared spaces.
With 15,000 members across 58 countries, Cheryl oversees the strategic direction of IIDA, curates and publishes Perspective, the association’s award-winning design journal and manages the Headquarters professional staff. In addition, she leads the International Board of Directors and directs all Association outreach and programs, including more than a dozen global design competitions that recognize worldwide excellence in interior design.
Cheryl’s ability to engage audiences with insight, humor, and authenticity has positioned her as a sought-after keynote speaker, guest lecturer, panelist, and moderator at both domestic and global conferences and seminars. She is also an experienced facilitator and moderator in discussions around equity, diversity, inclusion, and social justice and holds a certificate in Diversity and Inclusion from Cornell University.
Cheryl also holds honorary doctorates from the New York School of Interior Design, the Santa Fe University of Art and Design, and the Fay Jones School of Architecture at the University of Arkansas in recognition of her impact on the industry. Cheryl extends her support of arts and culture through volunteerism and is a Trustee for Chicago's Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA); the New York School of Interior Design (NYSID); and Marwen, a visual arts education organization. Citing her leadership in the industry, Cheryl was inducted into the prestigious Interior Design Hall of Fame as the recipient of its first-ever Leadership Award. She is the first African American woman to be inducted into the industry’s Hall of Fame.
Joey Shimoda
Joey Shimoda is curious about anything beautifully designed. A lifetime of searching has created an exceptional architect, planner, and interior designer. His expertise, passion and thoughtfulness lead to inspired and tailored solutions. Born in Alabama and educated in California, wanderlust has led him to live in Florence and London. In 2000, he and Susan Chang founded Shimoda Design Group in a loading dock in the artist district of Los Angeles. Notable clients include; Rolex, Bad Robot Productions, TOMS, Steelcase, Bloomberg and Tishman Speyer. Joey is one of the rare designers who is a Fellow in the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and the International Interior Design Association (IIDA).
Michelle Widner, IIDA, NCIDQ
Over the past 20 years, Michelle Widner has dedicated herself to the advancement of the Interior Design profession throughout the region. A 15 year Member of the IIDA, she served on the NPC Board for nine years, beginning her service as the first Inland Northwest Campus Center Director and ending it as the first Chapter President to serve outside of Seattle. As a Campus Center Director, she worked to establish an IIDA presence at all the interior design schools on the eastern side of the Chapter and mentored students to transition from school to work. She then served as the Spokane City Center Director, spearheading REVEAL, the first interior design tradeshow in the region. Other positions she has held include VP of City Centers, NPC Advocacy Committee member, and the Advocacy Chair for both the Spokane and Boise City Centers. Promoting NCIDQ certification is a passion of Michelle’s, and during her time on the Board she worked to establish the NCIDQ Program to provide resources to IIDA Members throughout the Chapter. She currently serves on the NPC Past President Council, Chapter Historian, and REVEAL Spokane 2024 Chair.
A graduate of Washington State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Interior Design, Michelle is currently an interior designer and project manager at Bernardo Wills, a multidisciplinary design firm in Spokane, WA. She has extensive design experience in a variety of markets including education, retail, financial, multi-family, workplace and public spaces. As a volunteer, she has also served on many local boards and committees, including both the Spokane Falls Community College and Washington State University Interior Design Advisory Boards.
Samantha Josaphat
Samantha Josaphat is an Architect and the founder of Studio 397 Architecture. Part of a mere 0.3% of Architects, she founded her firm and named it STUDIO 397 after her accomplishment of becoming the 397th African American female architect achieving licensure in all of USA history.
Highly regarded by past and present clients, Samantha’s ability to be a decisive team leader has earned her the respect as an Architect and Designers. Providing project stakeholders, consultants and vendors with clear direction and guidance to ensure successful outcomes is the bassline of her work ethic.
As a professor has at The Bernard and Anne Spitzer School or Architecture, she has taught 1st year, 3rd year, and Advance Design studio courses.
In 2019 and 2020 Samantha served as the President of The New York Chapter of The National Organization of Minority Architects (nycoba|NOMA). During her presidency she grew the chapters membership by 150%, provided programming for 200+ members of various experience levels, led her chapter in hosting a multiple record-breaking National conference, and received a proclamation from New York City’s Public Advocate.
In 2022 Josaphat was selected as a fellow for the Civita Institute Design Climate Action Fellowship. In 2021 she was the award recipient for the Anna Hernandez/Luna Textile Visionary Award, which recognizes contributions made by women business owners in the design industry. In 2020 she received the Tribune Award from the Beverly Willis Architecture Foundation for her commitment to advancing women in the building profession. In 2019 she was appointed as a Board of Director to the Penn State Architecture Alumni Group. In 2018, she was awarded the 9th Annual Women in Architecture from AIANY, had her work exhibited at the United Nations visitors center, and was a finalist in the Times Square Valentine Heart Design Competition.
Josaphat’s work and research has been featured in several media coverages including The Wall Street Journal, NBC, CBS, ABC, Hulu, Forbes, Architectural Digest, Dwell, NOW THIS, and many more.
Kim Parsley
Kim Parsley, a recently retired design professional whosealmost30-yearcareerhighlights include designer, workplace strategist, project manager, account manager, author and researcher, managing director, and global studio director. Kim has led strategic initiatives for dozens ofFortune500clients and has organized teams across multiple countries and cultures. Kim maintains her connections to the art and design industry through a chair position with the Edmonds Art Studio Tour, creating original encaustic art of her own, curating vintage travel bars, and consulting for an international architecture and design firm. Kim also nurtured her passion for sustainability by leading her former firm’s sustainability committee and becoming a legacy LEED Accredited professional. While Kim enjoyed a challenging and dedicated career in the interior design and architecture field, she is now focused on spending time with her three granddaughters and hiking the forests of the North Cascades with her husband. “It’s all about setting your own personal limits and boundaries with work, and constantly recalibrating and rebalancing this pendulum of life to support what’s be stand most fulfilling for you.”
Emily Moses
Emily’s career in the industry started in 2004, after graduating from Washington State University with an MA in Interior Design. Over the next 8 years she worked for Burgess Design, SkB Architects, and NBBJ. In 2012 Emily joined Steelcase where she spent 10 years as an A+D Manager and Business Development Manager providing clients and A+D partners with research insights, product inspiration and support exploring the recent hybrid work transformation.
Since 2003 Emily has had a strong passion for advancing the Interior Design Profesion, she joined the Interior Design Coalition of Washington, serving on the board for 6 years, 3 years as President. Over the last 19 years through IIDA, ASID and IDCW Emily has never stopped advocating for an Interior Designers right to practice and equal treatment within the built environment. Emily is currently serving her 1st term as Advocacy Legislative Chair for the IIDA Northern Pacific Chapter, doing the prework necessary to continue the wave of national Interior Design legislative success seen in the last two years.