IIDA Elects New President

Mitchell E. Sawasy succeeds John Mack, senior partner of HLW International.

by Mairi Beautyman -- Interior Design, 6/24/2008

On July 1, leadership of the International Interior Design Association (IIDA) will pass into new hands. Mitchell E. Sawasy, executive vice president and studio/design principal of Rothenberg Sawasy Architects, was inducted president at the organization's annual meeting, held Sunday June 8 at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago. The event also included the election of new board members and advisers, and the induction of three fellows.

Sawasy, who succeeds John Mack, senior partner of HLW International, co-founded Los Angeles-based Rothenberg Sawasy Architects with Mark Alan Rothenberg in 1979. He heads up the architectural and interior design divisions for the firm, which has a diverse award-winning project portfolio.

"I see my primary role as president as moving forward the initiatives and goals already established by IIDA and previous boards," says Sawasy. "I would hope that through my efforts IIDA would continue to gain exposure and credibility while providing its members and the industry with the leadership and vision of moving our profession forward."

A complete list of new fellows, board members, and advisers is below.

IIDA Fellows

Gail Burns, interior designer for architecture and interior design firm WHR Architects, based in Houston

Barbara Dunn, designer and partner/principal for the Santa Monica, California chapter of architecture and design firm Gensler

Jean Hansen, sustainable interiors manager with a focus on healthcare design for architectural, engineering, and consulting firm HDR, based in Piedmont, California

2008-2009 IIDA International Board of Directors

•    Mitchell Sawasy, president, executive vice president and studio/design principal, Rothenberg Sawasy Architects (Los Angeles)

•    Derrell Parker, president-elect, co-founder and interior design studio principal, Parker Scaggiari, (Las Vegas)

•    Viveca Bissonnette, vice president of communications, associate, Carrier Johnson + CULTURE (San Diego)

•    Vicki VanStavern, vice president of chapters, founder and president, VanStavern Design Group (Edmond, Oklahoma)

•    LaRayne Lundell, vice president of members, founder and principal, L2 Design Studio (Scottsdale, Arizona)

•    Laura Tribble, vice president of government and regulatory affairs, principal, project manager, Tribble Design Associates (Edmond, Oklahoma)

•    David Hanson, vice president of professional development, interior designer, Gustavson Wylie Architects (Vancouver, Canada)

•    Allen Parker, vice president of industry relations, senior vice president of product strategies, The Mohawk Group (Kennesaw, Georgia)

•    Cheryl S. Durst, IIDA executive vice president/ CEO, IIDA Headquarters (Chicago)

2008-2009 Forum Advisory Council