Last month, the design community felt a surge of excitement surrounding NeoCon and Fulton Market’s Design Days. Amid those buzzy events, an important transition was underway: a changing of the guard for many IIDA leaders, both at the national and chapter level. Stacey Crumbaker, IIDA, Vice President of Advocacy on IIDA’s International Board of Directors, will remain active in advocacy efforts as she enters her new position as 2024-2025 president-elect. Susanne Molina, FIIDA, chair of the IIDA Advocacy Advisory Council and a member of the IIDA Southern California Chapter, will continue to lead the council while also assuming a new role: 2024-2025 chair of the College of Fellows.

At the chapter level, a portion of Vice Presidents of Advocacy just closed out their two-year terms. Several leave us with messages and advice for all IIDA members. “It is bittersweet,” wrote Seka Collins, IIDA, past VP of Advocacy for the IIDA North Florida Chapter, on ending her term. “I have grown very passionate for this position and have enjoyed building relationships with VPs across the United States. What an amazing opportunity this has been.”

Highlights: It’s All About Relationships

IIDA VPs with a long history of working on advocacy efforts note a particular change in the political climate. “[We are] seeing the tide turn with AIA [The American Institute of Architects] not opposing our legislation locally and potentially supporting us,” said Tamra Fuscaldo, IIDA, past VP of Advocacy in the Ohio Kentucky Chapter, regarding the Ohio effort. “We have an amazing group of young architects who want to back us but want to make sure it is mutually beneficial,” she continued. “They come to the table to listen and are encouraged by our desire to work with them to ensure our practices are aligned…I feel this new era of collaboration and unity gives me hope that we can achieve what we’ve wanted for so long.”

Relationships within the design community also are getting stronger in Utah. Karen Cahoon, IIDA, past VP of Advocacy for the Intermountain Chapter, referenced the chapter’s 2024 advocacy event, which was well attended by all members of the design community: architects, American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) leaders, and many interior designers.

Some noted strengthened relationships within the professional organizations. When reflecting on recent milestones, both Collins and Arelis Ferro, IIDA, past VP of Advocacy with the IIDA South Florida Chapter, mentioned establishing the Florida Advocacy Alliance with all three IIDA Florida chapters, as well as creating an advocacy CEU: “May the Force be With You: Florida Interior Design Advocacy Jedis,” which was made available statewide. The alliance partnered with Florida ASID leaders to create the Consortium for Interior Design – Florida, in order to establish a joint Capitol Day. They also worked to ensure there was an IIDA presence at meetings for the Florida Board of Architecture and Interior Design, strengthening that critical relationship between practitioners and regulatory boards.

For others, those relationships paid off this spring: “My highlight was just last week, June 6, when the Massachusetts Senate passed our bill out of the Senate!” said Krista Easterly, IIDA, past VP of Advocacy with the New England Chapter. “After over six years and three sessions, this is the furthest we have gotten the bill. I believe this happened because of a very successful Day on the Hill on April 11 that really helped us connect with legislators all throughout the state.”

ICYMI: Advocacy Is Sexy

The idea that advocacy work is at the heart of most professional associations is one that IIDA HQ embraces, and VPs of Advocacy are taking that message to chapter boards and members. Here are a few key lessons IIDA’s outgoing VPs of Advocacy want all members to know:

• “One thing I want members to know is that ‘advocacy is sexy!’” Collins said with a laugh, referring to a conversation that took place at the Advocacy Workshop during IIDA’s 2024 Winter Chapter Leadership Council. “I think that regardless of the status of your state, advocacy is just talking to people. Don’t be intimidated to reach out to your representatives—they are people too, and they may not know what interior designers do and why we are important.”
  
  
• “The advocacy role is key to the long-term success of the interior design profession, improved legislation, and IIDA membership growth and participation,” added Cahoon. “It’s all about advocacy!” exclaimed Easterly. “It’s critically important for our career to be recognized and understood by not only our peers, but everyone in our community. We provide a value to design and construction, and we do really important work. Ensuring that current and future practitioners of all kinds respect the interior design profession is hugely important. That is why the legal recognition of our profession is vital to our career growth and success.”
  
  
• “As in all things, advocacy starts at home, said Ferro, “but it doesn’t have to be lonely. Continually, not just teaching but learning helps to cultivate allies, which is the most important tool in our arsenal. Cast the net far and wide because you never know where you will find your greatest champions.”
  
  
• “This is really all about education and creating awareness,” Fuscaldo added. “Creating a consistent message and continuing that message even after legislation is so vital to what we do. Stay focused on the mission and continue to tell the story every day.”

Advice for Incoming Advocacy VPs: Patience, Patience, Patience

The VP of Advocacy role is unique, straddling member engagement and public awareness, including monitoring the political landscape and working with state legislators. The work to pass or expand legislation takes years, and inherent in that is the need to create or strengthen a culture of advocacy within their chapter and state. While they are leaving their posts, we hope outgoing VPs will stay close to statewide advocacy efforts, as their knowledge and experience becomes increasingly invaluable. Outgoing VPs of Advocacy offer these parting words of wisdom for those that will follow in their path:

• “This is not a quick event where you see the profit the next day,” Fuscaldo said. “It really is an effort that is ongoing throughout your years as a designer. Hell, I’ve been involved in some form or another since 1994, when I thought surely we would have legislation by at least 2000…Well, 24 years later, we are finally on the cusp of what I see as a very viable opportunity for change. Stay strong and keep believing.”
  
  
• Easterly offers similar advice. “Be patient with yourself and rely on those around you. I stepped into the role having not been involved in advocacy in the past and truly having no idea what I was doing. I was incredibly nervous at first but allowed myself the time and grace to get acclimated. I relied heavily on our past VPs and longtime committee members to help me get on my feet. I couldn’t have done it without them and I would not have wanted to do it without them!”
  
  
• Cahoon recommends establishing a contact at each large firm and dealership to promote increasing IIDA membership, and to encourage members to join a study group to pass the NCIDQ exam.
  
  
• Collins says to align and include all members of your board in the importance and experience of advocacy for your state. “We are more powerful with one voice.”
  
  
• “Regardless of whether you are working to pass laws or educate and grow, this is a battle with perception of our industry,” said Ferro. “You have to have a true passion for interior design as an industry, patience with misconceptions, and (most importantly) openness and compassion to meet people where they are in order to have them understand where we are.”

IIDA wishes to thank the following VPs of Advocacy for their service. At press time, the list is as follows: Katelyn Bell, IIDA, Texas Oklahoma Chapter; Karen Cahoon, IIDA, Intermountain Chapter; Seka Collins, IIDA, North Florida Chapter; Meghan Dudek, IIDA, Mid America Chapter; Krista Easterly, IIDA, New England Chapter; Arelis Ferro, IIDA, South Florida Chapter; Tamra Fuscaldo, IIDA, Ohio Kentucky Chapter; and Ellie Watkins, IIDA, Indiana Chapter.