Emerging Professionals Advisory Council

The Emerging Professional Advisory Council (EPAC) welcomes you to discover who we are, what we do and why we exist. Come meet our members and get acquainted!

The Emerging Professionals Advisory Council (EPAC) works to pursue strategies to engage recent graduates and new designers in Society programs, encourage career advancement and promote the accomplishments and contributions of ASID emerging professionals within the interior design industry.

To reach a member of the EPAC, please submit your inquiry to epac@asid.org.

To view a video introducing the EPAC and to hear about their backgrounds before they were designers click here!

Read more on EPAC Mission, Goals and Projects

Maureen Baker, Allied ASID

Maureen earned her BFA from Syracuse University's Interior & Environmental Design program, where she served two terms on the ASID student council. Since graduation she has been a practicing designer for Thom Filicia Inc in New York City, where she specializes in graphics and furniture design. Baker also immerses herself in design research projects, one of which is working with the VA Hospital to explore the potential of the interior design process as it relates to modern war veterans. She also donates her time to NJ non-profit From Houses to Homes, with whom she is mentoring a team of students at Syracuse University to design a school in Guatemala.

Cate Drury, Allied ASID

Since graduating from Georgia Southern University in 2009 with a BS in Interior Design, Cate has worked in several departments of the interior design industry, constantly learning in our ever changing field. She first worked as an interior designer with Ethan Allen Interiors Inc. and then customer service for the Jerry Pair showroom at the Atlanta Decorative Arts Center. She is now Director of Operations for Collezione Cesaro USA, a high end textile company headquartered in the Netherlands represented in the Jerry Pair showrooms. ASID has played a giant role in her career thus far and she looks forward to her second year as EP Chair for the Georgia chapter.

 Amanda Jesse, Allied ASID, EPAC Chair

Amanda Jesse is a designer with Eve Robinson Associates in New York City and the National Chair of ASID’s Emerging Professionals Advisory Council, of which she is a founding member. Ms. Jesse received a Bachelor’s degree in Ballet Performance from Indiana University and a Master’s degree in Interior Design from Pratt Institute. Her notable projects include the design and decoration of a 3,000 square foot Manhattan residence featured in the December 2010 issue of NY Spaces (Bella Mancini Design) and the set design of Hartford’s Playhouse on Park production of Yasmina Reza’s Art. In addition, Ms. Jesse has served on juries for the Art Institute of New York City and Pratt Institute, as well as the acquisitions committee for the Material ConneXion archive. Visit www.amanda-jesse.tumblr.com.

Joanne Levreault, Allied ASID

Joanne is a graduate of the Design Institute of San Diego, in CA.  She is a freelance interior design consultant and actively pursuing a position as an interior designer.  Joanne became active in ASID as a student member and has continued as an Allied Member. She is currently the ASID EP Chair for the ASID San Diego Chapter.

Pedro Lima, ASID

Pedro has more than 10 years of industry experience. A recent ASID New York Metro Chapter President, Lima has worked with IDLNY (Interior Design Legislation for New York) and is currently a full-time faculty member at the Art Institute of New York City, where he helped develop curriculum and revisions for nine courses, including Space Planning, Interior Design Process, Portfolio Presentation, and Residential Design and Documentation. Lima has also served as a guest lecturer at Parsons, and is currently an adjunct faculty member for Westwood College Online and Art Institute of Pittsburgh online.

Kia Weatherspoon, Allied ASID

Kia, a dancer turned solider who fell in love with interior design. The principal designer at DETERMINED by DESIGN, a Washington, DC based firm specializing in multi-family and hospitality markets. She's also a social networking maven expanding her creative network, connecting with the design industry across the globe. Kia has sustained her goals with active involvement in ASID and advanced studies in Interior Design. Keep up with her journey on Twitter @DetrminedDesign