SAVE THE DATE to spotlight leadership in the Atlanta design community!

The IIDA Georgia 2026 Leaders Breakfast looks to connect the diverse group of professionals in our industry, celebrating design excellence through our Leadership Award of Excellence honoree and offer a motivational and thought-provoking keynote speaker. This year in keeping with the chapters’ dedication to celebrating more facets of the design community we will again highlight an up-and-coming IIDA member by honoring an Emerging Leader! Leaders Breakfast is an opportunity to put our chapter’s core values on center stage!

The IIDA Leaders Breakfast is an annual event series that celebrates design’s importance in the global marketplace by honoring the people who are both the legacy and future of design. This is made possible through the support of IIDA Headquarters, International Benefactor MillerKnoll, and Media Partner Interior Design.

Event Tickets:

MARTIN LUTHER KING | $6,500 (1 available)

• Table of 12 at Event
• VIP Table Placement
• Welcome Mimosa Sponsor with Signage Recognition
• Verbal Recognition from IIDA Chapter Leadership at Event
  
• Promotional Logo Recognition on Event Materials, Website and Onscreen Presentation
• Sponsor Recognition Post on IIDA Georgia Social Media Channels
• Promotional Logo Recognition in IIDA Georgia Post-Event Email Blast

JOHN LEWIS | $3,500 (2 available)

• Table of 10 at Event
• Preferred Table Placement
• Verbal Recognition from IIDA Chapter Leadership at Event
• Promotional Logo Recognition on Event Materials and Onscreen presentation
• Sponsor Recognition Post on IIDA Georgia Social Media Channels
• Promotional Logo Recognition in IIDA Georgia Post-Event Email Blast

RALPH DAVID ABERNATHY | $2,500

• Table of 5 at Event
• Verbal Recognition from IIDA Chapter Leadership at Event
• Promotional Logo Recognition on Event Materials and Onscreen presentation
• Promotional Logo Recognition on IIDA Georgia Post-Event Email Blast

DR. ROSLYN POPE | $150

• Student Sponsor
• Verbal Recognition from IIDA Chapter Leadership at Event
  

IIDA Member Ticket | $250
Non-Member Ticket | $300

Location:
The Ritz-Carlton, 181 Peachtree Street, N.E.

Keynote Speaker:

Cheryl S. Durst
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 the International Interior Design Association, Durst is committed to achieving broad recognition for the value of design and its significant role in society. With members across 58 countries, Durst oversees the strategic direction of IIDA, setting an agenda that leads the industry in creating community, advancing advocacy and continuing decades of work toward equity. Durst is a member of the International WELL Building Institute Governance Council; as well as a Trustee for Chicago’s Museum of Contemporary Art and the NYSID. She has been referred to by Interior Design magazine as “an ambassador for innovation and expansion, and a visionary strategist.” Durst was inducted into the prestigious Interior Design Hall of Fame in 2016 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. A lifelong knowledge enthusiast and voracious reader who has considered librarian, astronaut and journalist as potential careers, Durst never walks away from meeting someone without gleaning a bit of their story.

Leadership Award of Excellence Honoree

Betsy Graham, IIDA
Senior Principal, Director of Interiors, HOK

As Senior Principal and Director of Interiors at HOK, Betsy Graham has leveraged over 25 years of experience to design human-centric environments that balance strategy and well-being. A recognized leader in workplace innovation, she has spearheaded award-winning projects such as the IIDA Georgia Chapter Sustainable project of the year - Porsche Cars North America and won the IIDA Georgie Chapter Gold for corporate office design. Beyond her project work, Graham is a dedicated advocate for the design community. She has served on the board of CoreNet Global Atlanta for 16+years and previously sat on the ASID National DEI Committee. Graham is an active IIDA member and an important figure in the Atlanta design community. Her expertise in designing for the neurodivergent and creating inclusive habitats continues to shape the future of the built environment.

Emerging Leader Honoree

Rae Cook, IIDA
Design Manager, IHG Hotels & Resorts

Rae Cook is a licensed interior designer with over 14 years of experience creating inviting, budget-conscious spaces. She began her career at IKEA, specializing in innovative retail presentations, before transitioning to hospitality with Home Grown Industries, where she led franchise revitalization efforts nationwide. Currently, Cook serves as a Design Manager at IHG Hotels & Resorts, shaping design strategies for Essentials and Suites Brands and leading the design for the launch of IHG’s 19th brand, Garner Hotels earning recognition as one of Hospitality Design’s Boutique 18 in 2023. Cook holds a Bachelor of Science in Interior Design from Georgia Southern University and was honored as a Georgia Southern University 40 Under 40 honoree. She is passionate about advancing the interior design profession through mentorship and industry involvement.