FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SEPTEMBER 23, 2019

IIDA ANNOUNCES LEADERS FROM OHIO/KENTUCKY AND MASSACHUSETTS AS ADVOCATE AND LEGISLATORS OF THE YEAR

CHICAGO, IL — IIDA is proud to honor Chealyn Jackson, IIDA, vice president of advocacy, IIDA Ohio/Kentucky Chapter, as the 2019 IIDA Advocate of the Year and Massachusetts Senator Joan Lovely, 2nd Essex District; Massachusetts Representative Patricia Haddad, 5th Bristol District; and Massachusetts Representative Elizabeth Poirier, 14th Bristol District, as the 2019 IIDA Legislators of the Year.

The annual Advocate of the Year award celebrates an IIDA member whose dedication and commitment to interior design advocacy have made a significant impact on their design community.

“Chealyn is a true representation of an interior design advocate and a strong leader for the industry and our community,” said IIDA Advocacy and Public Policy Manager Abigail Wilson. “Between her role as an interior designer for Nationwide Children’s Hospital and her contributions as the vice president of advocacy for Ohio/Kentucky, she approaches advocating for her profession with hard work, grace, and passion.”

The annual Legislator of the Year Award recognizes an elected official who has put forth extraordinary effort on behalf of the commercial interior design profession.

“IIDA is so grateful to have the support of three strong women in the Massachusetts legislature in Senator Lovely and Representatives Haddad and Poirier,” said IIDA Director of Advocacy and Legislative Affairs Emily Kelly. “Their unwavering support of the registration bill in Massachusetts and determination to help small business owners and commercial designers is why IIDA named them the 2019 IIDA Legislators of the Year.”

For more information about the Advocate or Legislator of the Year Award or other IIDA advocacy initiatives, please contact Abigail Wilson at awilson@iida.org.

ABOUT IIDA
For 25 years, IIDA, the commercial interior design association with global reach, has been a leader in defining, supporting, and enriching the interior design profession. We support design professionals, industry affiliates, educators, students, firms, and their clients through our network of 15,000+ members across 58 countries. We advocate for advancement in education, design excellence, legislation, leadership, accreditation, and community outreach to increase the value and understanding of interior design as a profession that enhances business value and positively impacts the health and well-being of people’s lives every day. www.iida.org