Meet The 2025 Chicago Luxury Conference Speakers
More Speakers Coming Soon
Jenn Zella
Cofounding Principal + Chief Visionary Officer
CID Design Group
Jenn has fueled CID’s growth over the past decade currently working with 9 of the top 10 and 17 of the top 25 largest developers in the US according to NHMC. Their award-winning portfolio spans over 20 years, 39 states, 70 cities, and Canada. Recognized for the last 4 years as one of Interior Design Magazine’s top 100 Giant’s of Design, after landing #1 in growth for 2018. “Growth is lifeblood, it creates energy, opportunity, and a call to be better.” Jenn’s role is to create the company vision, generate ideas, lead culture, inspire creativity, collect incredible people, and cultivate a fulfilling environment where we can do our very best work, where we can thrive and make a real, lasting difference. Since 2011, Jenn has passionately championed and published a design forecast that serves as a useful tool to elevate our practice, our industry and to create engaging, elevated, and enduring spaces and brands. Jenn’s commitment to perpetual discovery, research and openly sharing for a greater good has distinguished her as an industry leader and is routinely engaged to speak about designing for the future.
Ryan Hainey
Founder & Owner
RH Photography
In a world inundated with images, the story a picture tells better be a compelling one. For professionals who use images to show the quality of their work, mediocrity won’t do. They need expressive, evocative photographs that engage people. I’m a professional photographer who specializes in telling visual stories of the built environment. I use my craft of photography to help others – architects, designers, contractors, craftsmen. They spend a great deal of effort taking ideas and turning them into physical realities. For them, truly capturing their creations with photos is crucial. If my formal training in photography and my subsequent 10-plus years in the field have taught me anything, it’s this: quality photos that captivate and really move people do not come easily. But I love the challenge. Vivid, dramatic photos that convey a powerful story – that’s my goal with every shoot.
Brian Jessen
Sr Mortgage Loan Professional
Wintrust Mortgage
Brian R. Jessen is a Senior Mortgage Planner at Wintrust Mortgage within the Lake Forest office, specializing in residential mortgage lending, home equity lines and loans, lot loans, construction loans, and multi-family lending across the United States for primary homes, second homes, and investment properties. Brian has been involved in the financial industry for the past 31 years with experience in underwriting, secondary marketing, compliance and CRA, private banking, and outside sales for residential lending, targeting high-net-worth clientele throughout the country. His wealth of financial experience is a substantial asset to his clientele, as they not only get the best financial advice and insights into current economic trends, but superior service and follow-through by himself and his entire team. Brian attended The University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana and is married with 3 children. Brian's personal interests include golfing, biking, studying the financial markets, charity involvement, and family travel.
Kelly Brainerd
Founder
KMB Design Consulting
Kelly started out her career in Landscape Design. She worked at a high-end floral shop and then a trusted art gallery in Downtown Milwaukee where she continued to refine her eye and approach to design. She wanted to combine the interior and exterior living experience to seamlessly flow together so she went back to school for her degree in Interior Design. She worked for Deep River Partners and then went on to a 15 year immersive experience at HGA Architects and Engineers where she continued to refine her eye, skill and design approach on projects as diverse as a condominium development in Milwaukee to a $400 million replacement hospital in New Jersey. All this brought her to start her own business in 2016 based on the encouragement from a client. This provided the perfect opportunity for her to blend her 20+ years of experience in residential and commercial design, art consulting, and project management into a business where she can continue to be a trusted resource for her clients.
Leanne Reichhoff
Founder, CEO + Marketing Strategy
Re3 Creative
I am the Founder, CEO, and Marketing Strategist of Re3 Creative in Minneapolis, MN. At Re3 Creative, we help businesses transform and strengthen their foundation through our Business Growth BlueprintTM— a strategic, high-level method I created to help established businesses uncover what’s holding them back and chart a path to purposeful, profitable growth. It’s not a cookie-cutter approach, but a comprehensive approach that assesses where you are, clarifies where you want to go, and outlines what needs to shift across your brand, marketing, services, sales, and systems to get there.
Eric Nelson
Owner
Core5Creativ Marketing
As the owner of Core5Creativ, my mission is to extract the inner core values of your company and work together to create authentic content that can then be used as marketing materials for your company. Alwasy remember - honesty is your best currency. My wife & I, along with our 5 beautiful children, reside in the west metro. We enjoy being outdoors and spending time with friends & family.
Darren Leonardi
President
Darren Joshua Photography
As a forever artist, I care deeply about the quality of my work. Composition and attention to detail behind every visual are critical. I love working with people from all industries and backgrounds capturing the human experience, their passions, and their stories. By photographing others and giving others a chance to be seen, I believe we can make the world a better place. My goal is to provide the highest quality media, over delivering and providing a comfortable, stress free, and most importantly, an enjoyable experience." Darren's portfolio ranges from portraits and products to community events and concerts. His background in landscape architecture and design allows him to create compelling visual stories that highlight the innovation of leading talents in the architecture and design community. Darren's versatility extends underwater, where he merges his freediving experience with photography to produce stunning underwater portraiture and capture the beauty of the underwater world. Under the mantra "Art for the Sake of Nature," DARREN JOSHUA PHOTOGRAPHY aims to restore the human connection to nature, inspiring others to develop their own relationships with the natural world.
Jennifer McGraw
Owner
Jennifer McGraw PR
Jennifer McGraw specializes in public relations in the luxury home industry. Starting her career at Rolling Stone Magazine working with home good companies and record labels, her passion shifted exclusively to the luxury home space nearly 20 years ago. Crafting unique PR opportunities is her talent and her dream is to have a sanctuary for dogs!
Carrie McCormick
@properties | Christie's Int. RE
Carrie McCormick, a leader in the Chicago Real Estate market, has more than 24 years of real estate sales expertise along with an unsurpassed reputation for quality and results-oriented service and support. As a member of the Christie's Master Circle, Carrie constantly stays on top of sophisticated technology which has made her a forerunner in the marketing and selling of real estate, she has it down to a science. Her talents and on-target recommendations are always based on facts, reliable market analysis, and her vast knowledge of real estate and the market. Patient yet persistent, she is also highly detail oriented & a very determined negotiator.
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Amy Carman
Principal Designer & Owner
Amy Carman Design
As the firm’s founder and principal designer, Amy has built a reputation for taking a holistic approach to design rooted in architecture, technical skill, and creativity. She creates compelling interiors that are both timeless and uniquely tailored to the individuals she works for. Earning her degree from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, Amy moved to Milwaukee to focus on her design career. After gaining experience in residential design and construction, she ventured out on her own. Now, after a dozen years in business, what started as a one-woman enterprise has flourished into a respected design firm with local, regional and national projects. The firm’s award-winning work has been featured in Luxe Magazine, Veranda, Architectural Digest, and Rue Daily among others. In addition to her love of art and architecture, Amy enjoys traveling and spending time with her daughter, Ava, and husband, Aaron. The family recently traversed the country in their renovated vintage airstream trailer.
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Claire Staszak
Owner & Principal Designer
Centered by Design
Claire Staszak is a Chicago-based interior designer known for her holistic design process and expertise in designing and restoring homes, infusing them with soul. She has a special affinity for crafting timeless and functional kitchens. Centered by Design was born out of her love of historical architecture, her well-trained eye for interiors, and her passion for personal wellness. Claire studied interior design at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and holds a Certificate of Kitchen and Bath Design from Harper College. Her work has been featured by Architectural Digest, House Beautiful, Domino, Chicago Tribune, HGTV, LUXE and others
Pamela McNally
Head of Field Marketing
+ Market Development
Houzz
As a results-driven marketing executive, I am passionate about storytelling, brand transformation, and revenue acceleration. With deep expertise in digital innovation, corporate branding, and audience engagement, I specialize in scaling businesses, creating high-impact partnerships, and leading marketing transformations that create lasting industry influence. From launching multimillion-dollar sponsorship programs to increasing audience reach by over 1,000%, I thrive on uncovering new revenue opportunities and driving measurable growth.
Rebecca Pogonitz
Principal Designer
GOGO Design Group
In 2001, Rebecca founded GOGO Design Group to serve residential design clients in the Chicago area and throughout the Midwest. Rather than being recognized for a particular design style, she is known for designing spaces that are uniquely tailored to each homeowner’s preferences and daily lifestyle, resulting in rich, layered spaces that will embolden, energize and delight them for years to come. With honesty, integrity and trust at the core of how GOGO Design Group operates, Rebecca provides valuable insight, design expertise and personal attention as the unique vision for each client’s home is brought to life. Rebecca speaks often on design-related topics at consumer education events and B2B design/build conferences. Her work has been featured in Chicago Tribune Magazine and on Houzz and HGTV.com.
Darrell Katz
Principal
Impact Training Solutions
Darrell has worked with management teams globally for more than 20 years to create and deliver custom designed training and communication programs that align specific tools and resources with organizational needs and training gaps. Darrell provides training for Fortune 500 companies, the U.S Government and several colleges & universities. With his variety of expertise, Darrell sits on the Board of Directors for the College of Lake County Foundation and PowerHouse Recruiting & Consulting. He also serves as an Advisory Council Member for the Harvard Business Review. Darrell is a graduate of Indiana University and the Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management. Darrell and his wife, Wendy, live in Highland Park, IL with their one-year old Cavapoo, Zoe.
Deborah Flate
CEO/Founder
Dialogue Consulting
Deborah Flate is a dynamic business and sales strategist, speaker, and innovator known for her relentless pursuit of cutting-edge strategies that drive real results in today’s sales climate. With nearly three decades of hands-on experience in the design industry, she has helped struggling B2B and B2C companies not only reach but surpass their sales and business goals. Her 7 Core Principles to Optimize Sales — combined with her powerful GUSTO System (Greet, Uncover Needs, Solve, Take Order, Optimize) — deliver measurable success for both companies and salespeople. Built from years of in-the-trenches sales and management experience, this proven approach helps sales professionals master intention, pull rather than push, focus on solutions, and follow up with purpose. She launched her own business in 2001, building a prestigious client roster that includes industry leaders such as Kravet, Baker Furniture, Brentano, Jasper Showroom (a Michael Smith company), Lee Weitzman, Brimar Trims, Zachary A, and HOLLY HUNT.
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Connie Antoniou
Global Real Estate Advisor
Senior Vice President of Sales
I’ve always been a bit of a marketing rebel. Helping upper-bracket homeowners buy or sell their Luxury Lifestyle Home is where I thrive—and where my expertise shines brightest. My true passion lies in distilling the essence of a magnificent home and conveying that feeling to the most qualified buyers across the globe. I have a gift for capturing a home’s true spirit and attracting the right audience. It’s energizing, rewarding, and personal. I’ll keep you informed every step of the way, and your trust will always be protected—confidentiality is sacred to me.
Nathan Kipnis
Founder and Principal
Kipnis Architecture + Planning
Nathan Kipnis, FAIA is a fellow of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and principal of Kipnis Architecture + Planning, based in Evanston, Illinois and Boulder, Colorado. A founding member of the AlA's 2030 Commitment Working Group in 2009, Mr. Kipnis served as the national co-chair from 2018 to 2019. He has also served on the AIA's national Sustainability Leadership Group, the Committee on Climate Action and Design Excellence, and the Executive Committee of the AlA's Small Firm Exchange, where he served as its Sustainability Director. Effective 2026, he will assume a position on the AlA's Resilience and Disaster Response Committee. Mr. Kipnis is the founder of NextHaus Alliance, a premium design/build concept to provide ‘net zero' sustainable, resilient and healthy luxury homes that seamlessly merge 'High Design' with *Low Carbon™. NextHaus recently completed its first Passive House, located in Evanston, which has to date garnered local, state and numerous international design awards. Mr. Kipnis has delivered lectures throughout the United States, both professionally and to the general public, and his work has been widely published. A graduate of the University of Colorado in Boulder, he earned his Environmental Design degree in 1983. That same year, he designed his first solar home in Boulder. He subsequently obtained his Master of Architecture degree from Arizona State University, with a focus on Energy Conscious Design
Gary Kraemer
Founder and Chairman of the Board
John Kraemer & Sons, Inc.
In 1978 at the age of 20, Gary Kraemer Co-Founded John Kraemer & Sons, Inc. with his Father John. Over the past 47 years the company has become the premiere luxury builder and Remodeler in Minnesota and Western Wisconsin. In 2023 the company earned its fifth Builder of the Year award from Housing First Minnesota. This honor is in recognition of trust, communication, loyalty, ethics, and customer satisfaction. This award is the most coveted distinction a member of the association can receive. Growing up in the business, Gary has worked in every aspect of construction from Laborer, Carpenter and Project Management, to his current role as Chairman of the Board. Through the leadership of Gary and his Father, the company remains committed to providing the finest quality, craftsmanship, customer service and value that his clients expect and deserve. Gary is the proud Father of 3 Sons and 5 Grandchildren. Youngest Son Evan is currently an infantry Major in the US Army. Older Sons John and Jeff carry on the tradition as Third Generation Builders and now serve as Presidents of the Company. John and Jeff’s tremendous leadership skills and attention to detail have allowed Gary the time to expand the brand into SW Florida from his home in Venice, Florida.
Elizabeth Cohen
Principal
EC Consulting
Every day, I feel fortunate to be working side by side our remarkably strong and talented team. We share a passion for creativity, great work, and collaboration. Transparency to the design process, out-of-the-box ideas, on the spot problem solving, and effective communication with the client and project teams, are the foundational elements of our studio. Seeing each job completed successfully is my constant goal and that achievement is the reward.
Philip Sassano
Principal & Design Lead
The Design Coach, LLC
Philip Sassano is the Principal and Founder of The Design Coach, LLC, a nationally recognized design, build, and lifestyle management firm headquartered in Harvard, Illinois, with a celebrated presence in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, Naples, Florida, Bedford, Pennsylvania, and beyond. For more than 25 years, Philip has led clients through the art of creating heirloom properties and legacy lifestyles, guided by his philosophy of “Designing for People, Not Projects.” Blending his background in fine art with a passion for architecture, interiors, and cultural heritage, Philip has redefined the role of a designer by building a comprehensive model that unites three distinct yet interconnected business units: Design/Build, Design/Decoration, and Lifestyle & Maintenance. This holistic approach allows clients to move seamlessly from concept to completion—and well beyond—into the long-term stewardship and enjoyment of their homes.
Expert Moderators
Jacob Rimatzki
Principal Designer/Owner
JR Interior Design
Seth Romig
Principal
Seth Romig Architect
Marla Cloos
Executive Director
Construct My Future
Daniel Baigelman
Principal/Architect
Full Circle Architects
Nancy Jacobson
Principal/Owner
Kitchen Design Partners
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George Markoutsas
CEO
Ablaze Design Group
Mark Benner
Founder
Mark Eric Benner -
Architects, Ltd.
Raad Ghantous
Owner & Principal Designer
Raad Ghantous & Associates
Jasmin Reese
Owner & Principal
Interior Designer
Jasmin Reese Interiors
Steve Melnick
Owner
Heartstone Custom Builders
Wes Crocket
Co-Owner / General Manager
Mahogany Builders
Adrienne Frazier
Vice President Business Strategy
Frazier Homes
Lauren Coburn
Owner & Principal Designer
Lauren Coburn LLC
Pipa Bradbury
Founder Creative Director
Pipa Bradbury Design
Amy Storm
Principal Designer
Amy Storm & Company
Michael Menn
Principal Architect & Owner
MM LTD.
Emerging Leaders
Terese Poulos
Principal Designer
Relic Design
Adam Max
Team Lead /Managing Broker & 2026 NSBAR Secretary/Treasurer
Advisors North at Compass
Noah Bachofen
Territory Manager
Unilock
