4.7.08 | The HON Company, one of HNI Corporation’'s big financial engines and a mid-market furniture powerhouse, continues to be a treasure house of surprises. Generally, most people are aware of its operational superiority, but few know what that means and how that translates to worker attitude, and a variety of other essential corporate attitude.  Recently, I met with HON'’s Don Mead, Vice President of Marketing, Jim Cahill, Vice President of Systems and Mindy Billingsley, Environmental Marketing Manager, along with several of their colleagues, who offered an excellent overview of HON’'s “green” initiatives, as well as some candid observations on how to effectively communicate the company’s environmental story to its mid-market customers.

4.7.08 | French architect Jean Nouvel is all over the map – both literally, with projects on four continents, and in terms of his design as well. Maybe the diversity of his work is why Pritzker Prize jurors have been slower in recognizing the 62-year-old Nouvel, the 2008 winner, than several of his peers. Unlike, say, previous winners Frank Gehry or Richard Meier, Nouvel has no signature style.

3.31.08 | Charrisse Johnston of Gensler has taken an unorthodox path to the world of interior design. With degrees in behavioral biology and management and marketing, work experience in strategic planning on Wall Street (I’'m not even sure what that means!) as well as starting up and growing a successful event planning company, her diverse professional background may seem broad and unrelated.

3.31.08 | This year’'s first installment of IIDA NY’'s Pioneering Design series was Jonathan Adler, the celebrity designer whose name dons everything from pottery to textiles to interiors. Mr. Adler is also a judge on Bravo TV’s reality show Top Design and one of the bigger, mainstream names that IIDA has reeled in for the series. The evening’s turnout reflected this, with a practically packed auditorium of at least 300 IIDA guests.

3.31.08 | Haworth, Washington, D.C., hosted a celebration of the life of Francisco Laurier, the late senior principal and Director of Design for HOK’'s Washington, D.C. office. Haworth'’s Anne Pearson, with Mr. Laurier’'s life partner of 31 years, Michael Dufton, organized the affair, which drew folks from NYC, Philadelphia, St. Louis, and Miami. Kurt VanderSchuur represented Haworth’s headquarters.

3.24.08 | Steelcase president and CEO Jim Hackett is, as every great leader must be, a True Believer. And he believes that good design in the built environment can transform the world. We have know that as far back as the introduction to Pathways, the development that opened the door to interior architecture, as it is known, thereby expanding the world for the proper study and practice of interior design. Dan Chong, formerly president of Metro, has been selected to head the Design Community Collaboration effort.

3.24.08 | ASID (The American Society of Interior Designers) joins BIFMA (Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturers Society) in getting very high marks for their annual conferences. Both events had knowledge presentations that were worth the trip alone (and we are pretty educated to begin with). But if you really want to rock, ASID is the team to go with.

3.24.08 | Michele Caniato was named Material ConneXio's new President, taking over for company founder George M. Beylerian. Mr. Caniato has served as Executive Vice President of the company since 2005 and has been with the company since its inception in 1997. 

3.24.08 | Thornton Tomasetti made several leadership changes this week:

• Thomas Z. Scarangello was named Chairman,
• Daniel A. Cuoco, who has been president since 2002, was named president and chief executive officer
• Robert P. DeScenza, who is executive vice president, was named chief operating officer.