Author Archives: Amanda Hansen
24 DEA Thank You 1
Annual Sponsorship Drive Opens
Design Excellence Awards
Fall Student Symposium
2024 DEA | People’s Choice Voting
2024 Design Excellence Awards | Meet the Jurors
Kendra Shea, NCIDQ, IIDA
Kendra Shea first earned her AAS in 2010 from New York School of Interior Design and started her career at a startup hospitality firm with a design focus on nightclub and restaurant renovations. After leaving the east coast she then continued her education earning her BAA in 2015 from The Art Institute of Seattle. During her schooling there she found her passion for volunteering and networking, joining the Puget Sound Campus Center Council as a student and serving as Event Chair and PSCC President. As a professional she took on the role of Director of the PSCC and then VP of Campus Centers. Kendra continued in hospitality design focusing on hotels and multi-family before then moving to work on small medical TI, community spaces, and education design. In 2019 she received the IIDA NPC Emerging Professional Award. That same year she and her husband, Simon opened their own small design studio, KS Shea Designs specializing in contract production work, and any project where she can flex her love of color and pattern. In 2020 Kendra obtained her NCIDQ, in 2021 received the IIDA Tuition Reimbursement Award, and in 2024 IIDA NPC Presidential Honor Award. Outside of design she enjoys a good dance class, working in her garden, Renaissance Faires, walks with her pug Neelix, and playing video games.
Raynette Aggabao, NCIDQ, IIDA
Raynette is a true Renaissance woman in the world of interior design, seamlessly combining over 11 years of design expertise with more than two decades of customer service experience. As an NCIDQ-certified Senior Interior Designer, she is renowned for crafting spaces that harmonize aesthetics, functionality, and inclusivity. Her design approach is rooted in diversity, research-driven strategies, and universal design principles, ensuring her work is both innovative and accessible.
Her journey to interior design was anything but conventional. With a decade of college exploration that included film, theatre, fashion, and fine arts, she ultimately found her calling in Interior Design at Chaminade University of Honolulu, where she earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts. This eclectic background enriches her approach and is reflected in the thoughtful environments she designs.
Raynette has gained recognition for her award-winning projects, including the Maui Brewing Co. Restaurant in Kihei, Maui, and Nohona Hale, a mixed-use affordable housing development in Honolulu, Hawaii. She also served as President of the International Interior Design Association’s Hawaii Pacific Chapter from 2023-2024 and has been an executive board member for over seven terms.
In her downtime, Raynette’s creative energy extends to the kitchen and jewelry-making, though she’s just as likely to be found soaking up the Hawaiian sun at the beach. With her unique blend of skills and passion, Raynette is dedicated to designing spaces that meet and exceed her clients’ expectations.
Laura Taylor, NCIDQ, IIDA, LEED AP ID+C
Laura is a San Francisco-based, NCIDQ-certified commercial interior designer and project manager with a passion for leading diverse teams and creating unique, inspiring, and healthy commercial environments. Her workplace portfolio spans all scales, from global corporate headquarters to jewel box amenity spaces, throughout San Francisco and beyond. A ‘Designer’s Designer’, she takes great pride in collaborating with the talented design professionals, industry partners, contractors, and clients who make up the Bay Area’s vibrant design community.
As a strong advocate for a sustainable and equitable work culture in the A&D industry, Laura champions a cultural shift towards prioritizing mental health and well-being, and fair compensation for designers and architects. Over the past seven years, she has been committed to advancing the professional standing of interior designers as a member of IIDA Northern California’s Advocacy Committee. As a former VP of Advocacy, she led this committee of volunteers to educate and influence lawmakers, while collaborating with architects and building officials to push forward the rights of interior design practitioners – a super easy task in the largest and most layered state government in the country.
Originally from Salt Lake City, Utah, Laura draws inspiration from the interplay between architecture and nature, be it salty deserts, snow-capped mountains, or foggy bays.
IIDA at BEND-A-CON
Bend-A-Con Social
INTERIOR DESIGNER | Mackenzie
Interior Designer
At Mackenzie, our greatest asset is our people. We are committed to investing in the advancement and continuing education of our staff. We foster an environment that supports mentorship, continued learning, training, testing, and licensing support, and enhanced growth opportunities to maximize individual potential.
If you are passionate about your work, highly motivated, and looking for professional growth and development, Mackenzie may be the place for you. We offer career opportunities for motivated, creative professionals seeking a dynamic workplace environment who thrive on communication and collaboration. We provide an excellent benefits package, competitive pay, and life-work balance. Whether you are an experienced professional or a new graduate, you’ll have the opportunity to collaborate on interesting and meaningful work. Our projects, directly and indirectly, contribute to the economic vitality, environmental livability, and diversity of their communities.
We appreciate your interest in Mackenzie! We have exciting, immediate employment opportunities in our Vancouver office for Interior Designers with 8 to 12 years of experience. We are seeking candidates that demonstrate design and technical abilities in working on a multi-discipline team on Public Projects as well as interior tenant improvement projects of various types – end user and owner driven, predominately Workplace, Corporate interiors, etc.
Communication/organizational/multi-tasking/interpersonal skills, project coordination, some project management and mentoring experience, Adobe Suite, AutoCAD and REVIT proficiency required. Adobe Suite, SketchUp, and Enscape experience a plus!
Salary Range: $75,000 to $90,000
We are an equal opportunity employer.
To apply, please follow this link: https://www.mcknze.com/job-application?location=vancouver&department=Interiors
Benefits at Mackenzie
At Mackenzie, we invest in the well-being of our employees, both in and outside the workplace. Over the course of 60+ years in business, Mackenzie has created a vibrant employee culture.
By providing support for young families, and a transition plan for those nearing retirement, we nurture professional development through every stage of a long career.
We foster an active culture, engaging in our community and taking advantage of local sports, recreational, and cultural events. Mackenzie offers:
- Paid Parental Leave
- Paid Bereavement Leave
- Transportation Benefits Options
- Company-Funded Profit-Sharing Plan/Employee 401k
- Bonus Programs
- Paid Time Off
- Typical Paid Holidays
- Two Floater Holidays
- 18 days of Paid Time off earned per year
- Health, Vision, Dental Insurance Coverage
- Cigna Traditional PPO
- Cigna High Deductible Health Plan
- Disability and Life Insurance
- Flexible Spending Account
- Health
- Dependent Care
- Supplemental Insurance Options through Mutual of Omaha