January 2025 Newsletter
Dear Retail Design Institute Members & Friends,
I trust this letter finds you well. It brings me immense joy and pride to share several important updates about our organization's growth, leadership changes, and upcoming opportunities.
As we embark on another term, I am humbled to continue serving as International President, supported by Kathryn Patton-Miller, RDI, Vice President, Dina Meindl, Allied RDI, Treasurer, and Kathryn Hof-Abercromby, RDI, Secretary as of November 1st, 2024.
We also held elections for the local Chapters, and I would like to welcome these new executive boards:
Chicago | Great Lakes Chapter:
President: Anthony Pastore, RDI
Vice President: Blake Ross, RDI
Secretary: Jennifer Acevedo, Allied RDI
Treasurer: Amanda Smith, RDI
New York Chapter:
President: Annie Greenhouse, RDI
Vice President: Jo Abbott, RDI
Secretary: Ramon Ocampo, RDI
Treasurer: Sonja Macchiochi, Trade RDI
Ohio Chapter:
President: Faith Huddleston, RDI
Vice President: Steve Calhoun, RDI
Secretary: Fiyinfoluwa Akomalafe, Associate RDI
Treasurer: Andrea Davis, RDI
Pacific Northwest Chapter:
President: Nomi Cooper, RDI
Vice President: Astrid Garcia Luna, RDI
Secretary: Bob Ustanik, Associate RDI
Treasurer: Marta Abas, RDI
I'd also like to extend special congratulations to the entire Southwest & Pacific Chapter board for being re-elected to their roles!
Global Growth and Chapter Updates:
I'm thrilled to announce that our India Chapter is now fully operational, marking a significant milestone in our global expansion. Chapter President Sanjay Argarwal, RDI, and Vice President Surender Gnanaolivu, RDI have been instrumental in recruiting members and establishing our presence in India's retail professional community.
Additionally, our Northern California chapter has undergone a comprehensive overhaul, with new President Jesse Moyer leading the assembly of a refreshed board.
Member Spotlight:
I'd like to recognize Catherine Keywan, RDI, President of our New England Chapter. Catherine has become an invaluable source of knowledge and energy, working with her board to develop engaging content and events across three different cities within the Chapter's reach. Her dedication continues to demonstrate the value of Retail Design Institute membership in the New England region.
Upcoming Events:
We're busy preparing for our prestigious International Design Awards, featuring a revamped submission process thanks to our dedicated awards committee. Stay tuned for more details about this celebrated competition and event showcasing global retail design excellence.
We are also pleased to highlight three major upcoming industry events. The RCA Annual Conference will take place March 7-9 in Grapevine, Texas, offering excellent networking opportunities. This event is the lead-up to the SPECS Conference where there will once again be a Texas City Center event on the 9th co-sponsored by RCA. Stay tuned for more details.
Following that, Shop! MarketPlace will be held April 8-10 in Charlotte, North Carolina. If you miss walking the trade show floor and seeing what’s new in retail and visual merchandising while having the opportunity to engage in inspiring content sessions, you won’t want to miss this!
All events promise valuable insights and connections for our members.
Administrative Updates:
To better serve our growing community, we've implemented a new email system. Please update your preferences at retaildesigninstitute.org/subscribe to ensure you receive the most relevant communications. Additionally, I invite you to visit The Institute Shop on our website for the latest RDI merchandise.
Thank you for your continued support and engagement. Together, we're building an even stronger design community.
Best regards,
Cynthia Ortiz, RDI
International President
Retail Design Institute