Pacific Northwest Events
About Retail Design Institute’s Pacific Northwest Chapter:
Welcome to the Pacific Northwest Chapter of the Retail Design Institute.
We are a diverse group of designers, architects, graphic designers, suppliers, retailers, educators and students with the goal of advancing innovation and collaboration in the creation of selling environments. Just as we are surrounded by the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest our chapter which encompasses Washington, Oregon and Idaho is surrounded by some well known retailers in the country if not the world. Retailers like Starbucks, Nordstrom, Costco, Eddie Bauer, Amazon, Microsoft, Nintendo, Tommy Bahama, REI, Columbia Sportswear and Nike are just a few of our friends and neighbors.
The advancement of innovation and collaboration happens through our chapter meetings, presentations, networking events and retail walking tours and it is the energy and enthusiasm from our members that makes the Pacific Northwest Chapter stronger every day. We look forward to seeing you at one of our upcoming events.
Pacific Northwest Chapter Board members
mlsmith46 @ comcast.net
Maria Smith’s career path originated in the Midwest but has taken her to both the east and west coasts of the United States. A career of extensive experience, diverse capabilities and proven leadership has unfolded over 17 years of practice within the design industry. She has worked for Fortune 500 companies (Starbucks Coffee Company and Limited Brands), nationally recognized design firms (LS3P, FRCH and Fitch) and small consulting firms.
Maria has managed multiple complex projects and teams of various sizes, been a successful liason between multiple disciplines and consistently delivered results positively affecting the bottom line. Her specialties are:
* design & design development
* management of cross functional teams
* standards development
* training and coaching
* vendor and client management
* project management
Her greatest assets are in identifying strategic opportunities and obtaining high quality results. Maria’s passion lies in building talent, commitment and partnership.
ptb @ ptbdesignservices.com
As the founder and principal designer for PTB Design Services, Peter-Tolin Baker provides creative visual design solutions for a full range of retailers, designer brands, theatrical and promotional events. Often working with new or rapidly expanding businesses and brands, Baker understands the importance of communication, strategy and flexibility throughout the design and production process. Clients include: Nicole Miller, Saundra Messinger Jewelry, PacTeam America, Patron, The Macallan, Kwiat, JC Penney, and Calvin Klein.
Previously during Baker’s tenure at Tiffany & Co. in New York City, he was responsible for product presentations and display standards within all sales locations worldwide. Additionally, his role often required partnering directly with Tiffany’s legendary designers on their product presentations, including Frank Gehry, Paloma Picasso and Elsa Peretti. Significant store planning projects involved interfacing with such distinguished architecture and design firms including Yabu Pushelberg, Kengo Kumo & Associates, and Robert A. M. Stern Architects.
Baker launched his retail career as the visual manager with the legendary luxury emporium Henri Bendel on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan; a position that frequently required working directly with both well-established and new fashion designers on display window and in-store presentations. Designers including Michael Kors, Todd Oldham, and Jean-Paul Gaultier all relied on Baker to translate their brand and vision into sales.
Initial design and retail experience included clothing design for the award-winning contemporary clothing brand Japanese Weekend and design and construction management for Edward Martinez Fabrications, a custom display and prop company with clients that included Saks Fifth Avenue, Macy’s, and the Smithsonian Institute.
Additionally, Baker has worked as scenic designer for dozens of dramatic and musical productions. Earlier on in his career, he was both production designer and performer with the groundbreaking band Voice Farm, which, under the Morgan Creek Records label, played to sold-out crowds in venues such as the Roxy Theater in Los Angeles, The Fillmore in San Francisco and Madison Square Garden.
He is a regular contributor for Design:Retail magazine and has been a respected Adjunct Professor at New York’s Fashion Institute of Technology as well as past President of the Retail Design Institute New York Chapter. Baker graduated magna cum laude from San Francisco State University, where he received a bachelor’s degree in scenic design & fine arts.
aml @ amlinsights.com
Anne Marie Luthro has spent the last twenty years focusing a critical eye and a keen ear on all things retail and shopper-centric. Two decades studying the environmental factors that influence the purchasing decision, as well as the psychology of shopping behavior have earned AML a reputation as a leading authority in the industry of retail design. Anne Marie has worked on hundreds of retail concepts for a wide array of clients. Her insights have been shared with audiences across the globe.
Prior to opening AML Insights, Anne Marie was a pioneering member of Envirosell, a renowned research agency. AML developed, practiced and fine-tuned observational and participant observation research methods. Today she uses that historical perspective to help clients build, nourish and keep their shopper base.
Anne Marie has a wealth of experience and insight into numerous categories (beauty, technology, apparel, luxury, sport performance) and their various retail faces. Anne Marie’s extensive client list includes: adidas, Athleta, Estée Lauder Companies, L’Oreal, LVMH, Victoria’s Secret, Walmart, Oakley, and ESPN.
rstarkweather @ openeyeglobal.com
Passionately accomplished and consistently driven, Roger brings over 15 years of experience working in the retail and digital strategy space. As SVP, Roger guides & manages the Openeye Sales teams. He is always in pursuit of serving first our clients while solving complex initiatives. He is fortunate to have long standing relationships with nationally known brands such as Westfield, Nordstrom, Starbucks Coffee, REI, Hershey, Kroger, and L’Oreal. He currently holds a board position with the RDI Pacific Northwest Chapter.
dyamaguchi @ retaildesigninstitute.org
With over 20 years in the design business, Dena has been a member of the Retail Design Institute since 2006. As former President of the PNW Chapter over the past 4 years, she is excited to hand the reigns over to new leadership.
Dena has led highly effective teams through retail remodels and expansions, new stores, vendor shop roll-outs and branding initiatives. She comes with the aptitude to cross collaborate within various levels of an organization and has the ability to translate between the creative and business language. She currently holds the role of Design Director for Wyndham Vacation Ownership, transitioning her retail knowledge into the Hospitality industry.
Originally from Los Angeles, Dena lived in San Francisco prior to migrating to Seattle. She is a graduate of California State University at Long Beach with a BA in Interior Design. When she’s not around town in Seattle, you can find her in the mountains on a ski slope.