Network Next Gen Podcast

In this episode of the Mom and Dad Design Club podcast, first-time moms Tarra Avila, Lauren Korb, and Haley Salas share their personal experiences navigating motherhood, pregnancy, and maternity leave. They discuss the challenges of balancing work and family life, the emotional rollercoaster of pregnancy, and the identity shifts that come with becoming a mother. The conversation highlights the importance of community and support among new moms, as well as the realities of postpartum life that are often not discussed openly.

NNG's first NeoCon Panel brought three heavy-hitters from companies that have their finger on the pulse of sustainability in manufacturing. Panelists include: Rebecca Best - VP of Sustainability for Material Bank, Malisa Maynard – Chief Sustainability Officer for Mohawk Group, and Victoria Engles – Director of Commercial Sales for Fireclay Tile. We get a few different perspectives on how these companies see sustainability and how they're making proactive strides to affect lasting change.

What is the future of design? How will technologies like AI help, hider, or revolutionize the design industry and our world as we know it? Our second NeoCon Panel jumps head first into chatting through these huge topics and some of the benefits and concerns they have with AI as it continues to seep further into many areas of design. Panelists include: Farshid Taffazoli – Cofounder and CBO for Material Bank, Cynthia Sarria – Senior Interior Designer for HOK, Kendra Shea – Owner of KS Shea Designs, and Susan Suhar, Principal at HDR Architecture.

As we look at innovation and future of design – we can't look any further than the next generation of designers and architects entering the industry. We get hind-sight perspectives from our panelists and advice they have for the those they're passing the torch to. Panelists include: Kelly Weertz - Executive Director A&D Initiatives for Material Bank, Keri Caune – EVP of Business Dev for Summer Classics & Gabby, Rae Cook – Design Specialist for IHG, Kayla Felice – Interior Designer for Gresham Smith, and Alyssa Alvarez – Interior Designer for IA.

Summer Classics & Gabby provided the gorgeous furniture in the NNG Social Hub at NeoCon. We sat down with Keri Caune, EVP of Business Dev for Summer Classics & Gabby, to chat through a few of the NeoCon crowd favorites and a little background on the family behind the brand. Website: https://summerclassics.com/ IG: https://www.instagram.com/summerclassics/ https://www.instagram.com/summerclassicscontract/ https://www.instagram.com/summerclassicshome/ https://www.instagram.com/gabbydecor/

Maria VanDeman, co-author of ‘Design Your World', chatted with us about the process of writing a children's book and why it's important. The book focuses on the value of design and the impact it can have on your daily life. OFS created the book to inspire children of all backgrounds and foster a more diverse and equitable world through design that works for everyone. Purchase ‘Design Your World': https://ofs.com/design-your-world?search=Design%20Your%20World https://shorturl.at/cfhtI IG: https://www.instagram.com/ofs/

Hightower Group has been a family-owned furniture manufacturer for 20 years, and Natalie Hartkopf, Owner and CEO, sat down with us to walk us through how the business has evolved and changed over the years. Hightower, now a certified B-Corp, is innovating and changing perspectives on furniture and not just stressing how the furniture feels but how it makes you feel. Website: https://hightoweraccess.com/ IG: https://www.instagram.com/hightowergroup/

Mohawk Group is partnering with ArtLifting to champion artists who are impacted by housing insecurity or disabilities. ArtLifting provides a platform and creates opportunities for underrepresented artists to amplify their voices and participate in the contemporary art market. Mark Page and Christina Bailey sat down with us to give us a peek behind the curtain on how the partnership got started and the carpet collections they've collaborated on. Websites: https://www.artlifting.com/ https://www.mohawkgroup.com/ Painted Perspectives Collaboration: https://www.mohawkgroup.com/products/soft-surface/collections/custom-collections/painted-perspectives?sort=all Social Canvas Collaboration: https://www.mohawkgroup.com/products/soft-surface/collections/running-line-collections/social-canvas?sort=all IG: https://www.instagram.com/artlifting/ https://www.instagram.com/mohawkgroup/

Michael Ditullo, Creative Director for Kirei by Carnegie, and Giulio Masotti, Founder and CEO of Wood-Skin for Carnegie, sat down to chat acoustics with us. We get into how product design at the intersection of sustainability and acoustics is changing the industry. Wood-Skin for Carnegie: https://carnegiefabrics.com/wood-skin Kirei by Carnegie: https://carnegiefabrics.com/kirei IG: https://www.instagram.com/carnegiefabrics/ https://www.instagram.com/wood.skin/ https://www.instagram.com/kirei.design.materials/

Our first Live Podcast of NeoCon 2023 was with Mike Blessinger, VP of Sales & Marketing for Indiana Furniture. He gave us a little background on the origins of their company as ‘Indiana Desk' and how they've continued to adapt and ride the waves of change for 118 years in furniture manufacturing. Catalyst collection: https://indianafurniture.com/products/catalyst IG: https://www.instagram.com/indianafurniture/?ref=badge

We got the chance to sit down with Nicole Lashae Ben and discuss the origins of her company 'Thrive In Design' - consulting that offers human-centered strategies that revamp a designer's experience with brands. Find Thrive in Design on social: Website https://www.thriveindesign.co IG https://www.instagram.com/thriveindesign/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/thriveindesign Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/company/thriveindesign/

We caught up with Ammee Snyder and Lauren Perich, two of our San Francisco Next Gen'ers. We chat through their thoughts on setting boundaries at work, “paying your dues” as a junior designer, and more!

Kelsey Paul, our newest NNG host, got the chance to chat with two members of our Denver Next Gen Crew Renee Fine & Nicole Benjamin. They discuss the generational differences between the in-office culture they grew to know vs. the wfh culture that has become pervasive.

We sit down with Elizabeth Kim & Sara Cecil to recap our LA dinner on 8/25

We sit down with Elyse Ayoung & Tyler Hilaire-Dubreuil to recap our Boston dinner on 8/9

We sit down with Joe Mautino of Whitney Architects in Chicago to chat about the 'new normal' in workplace culture.

Designer Drop ft. NYC Next Gen'er

Featuring Devon Grace Interiors (Devon and Michael) & Rebel House Design (Marli and Michael)

62 -be HUE Chats: The Next Generation of Design with Network Next Gen Founder Tarra Kieckhaefer by Network Next Gen

Brentano Fabrics Framing the Future - Network Next Gen "Our Chicago rep @margeebrentano had a blast chatting with Tarra from @networknextgen!! Thanks for joining us, Tarra!"

60 - Executive Chef Jon Liddell at the Chicago Monogram Design Center by Network Next Gen

Discussing racial injustice and increasing diversity in the Architecture + Design field.

“At the end of the day, whatever the information is. You have to come back to yourself and figure out what's true for you. In terms of who you are, don't let anything external define you because it's just going to scramble you up. If you’re going to look for validation outside of yourself, you’re never going to find it.” - Kevin Kevin and Tarra are back!! Listen to hear them talk about Tarra's social distance dinner plans and Kevin's Corner about getting back to yourself post-covid.

57 - Kevin and Tarra Talk Episode 13 by Network Next Gen

How Architecture and Design Firms should react and improve with continued unrest for Racial Injustice

Curious about the current state of the Architecture & Interior Design Industry? Link in bio for a full recap from 129 designers across the country. • • • (Filmed April 16th, 2020)

53 - Kevin and Tarra Talk Episode 12 by Network Next Gen

Kevin and Tarra Talk Episode 12

Kevin and Tarra Talk Episode 11

Dallas Interior Designer Patricia Tram with Ink and Oro

NYC Next Gen Interior Designer Ruba Never with Ralph Lauren

Dallas interior designer Whitney Precia with B2 Architecture

Kevin and Tarra Talk - Episode 10

Designer Drop featuring NYC Interior Designers Lindsay Frost & Kelsey Paul

Kevin and Tarra Talk - Episode 9

Designer Drop featuring Seattle Next Gen'er Tessa Fox with Collins Woerman

Designer Drop Ft. Dallas Next Gen'er Allison Foltz

Designer Drop featuring Nashville Next Gen'er Erin Leaf with Remick Architecture

Designer Drop featuring Julia Schafauser

Designer Drop featuring Stacy Ellison

Staci Patton head of Hospitality at DLR group.

Got Monday blues...or purple or blonde? Episode 8 of #kevinandtarratalk podcast is out now.

[ Network Next Gen LIVE Podcast ] Episode 6 features Caroline Manzo ( Real Housewives of New Jersey) and Jamie Laurita ( Middleby Residential ) NETWORK NEXT GEN

Network Next Gen LIVE at Design Chicago in The Merchandise Mart. Episode 4 features Donna Mondi ( Donna Mondi Interior Design ) and Daniele Busca ( Scavolini )

Tune in to listen to Network Next Gen LIVE at Design Chicago 2019. Episode 2 featured Brianne Bishop ( Brianne Bishop Design) - Lonni Paul ( Lonni Paul Design ) - Josh Young ( Josh Young Design House )

Tune in to listen to Network Next Gen LIVE at Design Chicago 2019. Episode 2 featured Chad Stark ( Stark Carpet )and Brynn Olson (Brynn Olson Design Group)

Tune in to listen to Network Next Gen LIVE at Design Chicago 2019. Episode 2 featured Nicholas Moriarty ( Nicholas Moriarty Interiors )and Ilene Chase (Ilene Chase Design)

Episode 1 at Design Chicago with Network Next Gen LIVE - Ep. 1 features Host Tarra Kieckhaefer with Network Next Gen - Zach Griffith with House of Rohl - Jennifer Kranitz with Project Interiors - Lauren Warnock with Project Interiors - Connor Lamb Bartender

Kevin and Tarra Talk Episode 7

Designer Drop ft. DC Next Gen'er Stephanie Houston from Fox Architects

Designer Drop ft. Nashville Next Gen'er Lizzie Gerock with Gresham Smith