SAVE THE DATE to spotlight leadership in the Los Angeles design community!

The IIDA Southern California Leaders Breakfast looks to connect the diverse group of professionals in our industry, celebrating design excellence through our 2026 Leadership Award of Excellence honoree and Emerging Leader honoree with a keynote speaker who will offer a motivational and thought-provoking presentation. Leaders Breakfast is our opportunity to put our chapter’s core values, Connect, Community, Advocate, Cultivate and Aspire 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. Please join us!

Leadership of Excellence Honoree(s)

Alex Athenson, AIA
Co-Founder, Executive Director, The Foothill Catalog Foundation

Alex Athenson is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Foothill Catalog Foundation, and a licensed Architect and Urban Designer living and working in Pasadena, CA. Athenson was born and raised in Lake Forest, IL and previously earned a B.A. in Economics from the University of Chicago, as well as a Master of Architecture from the University of Notre Dame. With an expertise and passion for regional traditional design, Athenson has contributed to a number of architecture and urban design projects throughout the United States. He has undertaken several architectural research endeavors around the world, including most recently a study of urban reconstruction in postwar Germany. He is a board member of the AIA Pasadena Foothill Chapter.
 

Cynthia Sigler, AIA
Co-Founder, Dir of Communications & Project Architect, The Foothill Catalog Foundation

Cynthia Sigler, AIA is a licensed architect based in Pasadena. Originally from Honolulu, she earned her Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Notre Dame. Passionate about regionally sensitive and sustainable design, Sigler is motivated by the impact of the built environment at every scale. Her experience spans a wide range of project types, including commercial and public-facing spaces. She recently served as Associate Director of the AIA Los Angeles Emerging Professionals Committee, where she worked to expand licensure resources, networking, and professional development opportunities for the newest members of the profession. In January 2025, Sigler co-founded The Foothill Catalog Foundation. Personally impacted by the Eaton Fire as a Pasadena–Altadena community member, she has since dedicated herself to developing the framework for pre-approved standard plans that make the path to rebuilding equitable and accessible for all.

Emerging Leader Honoree

Lennis Serrano
Interior Designer, DLR Group

Serrano is an Interior Designer at DLR Group specializing in K-12 and community-focused design. A proud Compton native and graduate of CSULB, Lennis brings a deep personal perspective to his work, designing environments and engaging stakeholders to foster belonging, opportunity, identity, and connection for the communities he serves. Serrano is passionate about mentorship and outreach, and he works to expand pathways into design for students from underserved communities, providing mentorship, career exposure, and opportunities that help the next generation see themselves in the profession.

Keynote Speaker

Sekou Andrews
SekouWorld, Inc., CEO, Award-Winning Entrepreneur, Grammy-nominated spoken word poet

Sekou Andrews is one of the most successful spoken word poets in the world. On any given day, this artist can be found keynoting at a Fortune 500 company, inspiring thousands at a concert, or performing for Barack Obama in Oprah’s backyard. Sekou has dedicated his career to pioneering a mainstream industry for spoken word. He has built a 7-figure company on poetry, has had his work featured on dozens of major TV networks, has innovated a new category of public speaking called “poetic voice,” and has garnered prestigious awards in advertising, theater, business, poetry, and music, including a GRAMMY nomination for “Best Spoken Word Album”. Sekou’s vanguard career is driven by his mission to not only inspire the world, but to teach people how to be inspiring themselves. 

KEYNOTE SPEAKER SPONSOR | $7,500 
One Available

• Table for 10 at Event
• VIP Table Placement 
• Stage Introduction of Keynote Speaker
• Exclusive Coffee Bar Sponsor with Promotional Signage Recognition
• Promotional Company Logo on Event Materials and On-screen Presentation
• Blog post in IIDA SoCal Newsletter distributed to 4,000 local designers 
• Exclusive company feature on IIDA SoCal social media

GOLDEN HOUR SPONSOR | $4,500
6 Available 

• Preferred Table Location for 10
• Promotional Company Logo on Event Materials and On-screen presentation
• Blog post in IIDA SoCal Newsletter distributed to 4,000 local designers 
• Verbal Recognition from Chapter Leadership During Program

FIRST LIGHT SPONSOR | $3,500 
6 Available

• Table for 10 at Event
• Promotional Company Logo on Event Materials and On-screen presentation
• Verbal Recognition during Program from Chapter Leadership

HALF TABLE | $1,500

• Table for 5 at Event
• Strategic seating assignment with other Half Table Groups
• Promotional Company Logo included in On-screen presentation

INDIVIDUAL TICKETS

IIDA Member: $275 

• Seating with Other IIDA Members, Industry Peers, and Colleagues

Non-Member: $325

Sponsor A Student: $150

• Provide an upcoming industry IIDA student with an opportunity to attend, network, and learn from Industry Leaders
• Promotional Company Logo Recognition in On-screen presentation