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

The IIDA Illinois 2025 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 our opportunity to put our chapter’s core values, Connect, Community, Advocate and Cultivate 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.

Leadership Award of Excellence Honoree

Valerie Jardon, IIDA
Managing Director of Strategy | IA Interior Architects

Valerie is a leader who has helped shaped the Illinois interior design community over 20 years. She pioneered the Harmonic Principles™ framework, merging human science, strategic foresight, and data-driven methodology to help organizations build purpose-driven, high-performing environments. Valerie was named a 2025 Globe St Women of Influence winner, underscoring her major impact and thought leadership in the industry. Her positive influence is evident through sustained philanthropic outreach, including working with Project Color Corps Chicago to beautify the Boys and Girls Club with youth-driven murals that foster hope and belonging in underserved communities. She serves as Chair of the Illinois IDFPR Interior Design Board, she has helped pass landmark stamp and seal legislation for interior designers. Valerie is also active on IA’s philanthropic committee, IA Reach. A dedicated IIDA member, Valerie served as Chapter President and VP of Professional Development, co-founded the RED Awards, and established the chapter’s Educational Fund to uplift emerging designers. Her holistic approach—combining strategic vision, philanthropic action, and tireless advocacy—has left a lasting mark on both the profession and the broader Chicago community.

Keynote Speaker:

Shola Richards
Founder and CEO | Go Together Global, Best-Selling Author

Shola Richards is a dynamic keynote speaker, the best-selling author of “Civil Unity: The Radical Path to Transform Our Discourse, Our Lives and Our World”, "Making Work Work", and "Go Together", an in-demand workplace civility expert, and a prolific writer with a passionate worldwide following. His articles and wildly-popular Monday morning "Go Together Movement" email series have impacted people in over 160 countries, and his work has been featured on the Today Show, CBS This Morning, Forbes, Black Enterprise, Complete Wellbeing India, and Business Insider Australia.

Event Tickets:

RISE AND SHINE | $6,500 (ONE AVAILABLE)

• Full Table of 10 at Event
• Welcome Reception Coffee Sponsor with Signage
• Preferred Table Placement
• Ten (10) Copies of Keynote Speakers Book
• Company Logo in Event Digital Itinerary
• Company Logo in On-Screen Presentation
• Company Name on Table Card
  

MORNING BLOOM | $5,000 (THREE AVAILABLE)

• Full Table of 10 at Event
• Event Floral Centerpiece Sponsor with Signage (Arrangements donated post event)
• Preferred Table Placement
• Company Logo in Event Digital Itinerary
• Company Logo in On-Screen Presentation
• Company Name on Table Card

FULL TABLE | $3,300

• Full Table of 10 at Event
• Preferred Table Placement at Event
• Company Name on Table Card
  

HALF TABLE | $1,625

• Half Table of 5 at Event
• Strategic Seating Assignments with Other Half Table Groups
• Company Name on Table Card

INDIVIDUAL IIDA MEMBER TICKET | $275

• Seating with IIDA Members, Industry Peers, and Colleagues

INDIVIDUAL NON-MEMBER TICKET | $350

STUDENT SPONSOR | $150

• Cover the cost for a student to attend Leaders Breakfast
  

Location:
Swissotel Chicago, 323 W Wacker Dr