Robin Reigi Begins Her Term as IIDA NY President
A NEW CHAPTER OF LEADERSHIP AT IIDA NY
The 2026 IIDA NY Annual Meeting brought the chapter together on a summer evening in New York. The event was held at the Gibson Interior Products Showroom and co-sponsored by Robin Reigi Materials.
The night marked a formal change at the top. Robin Reigi was installed as IIDA NY President for the 2026-27 term. The meeting also closed out a strong year of programming and honored the volunteers who made it happen. Here is what took place, and what comes next for the chapter.
THE BOARD OFFICIALLY TURNS OVER
The evening made the leadership transition official. Elisabeth Mejia moved into the Past President role. Robin Reigi stepped up as President. Rachel Robinson joined as President-Elect.
The newly elected officers and directors took the IIDA Officer Oath together. They pledged to uphold the association’s bylaws and to support the growth of IIDA NY. The room answered as one: “I Do.” With that, the 2026-27 board began its term.
A YEAR OF PROGRESS UNDER ELISABETH MEJIA
Before the handoff, the chapter looked back on Elisabeth Mejia’s year as President. She opened the meeting by asking every co-chair, committee member, and sponsor in the room to stand. It set the tone for a night about the people who carry the chapter.
Her year brought a national milestone. The Student Uplift Program (SUP) won an IIDA National Chapter Award for Excellence. The program has grown over three years, bringing students, emerging designers, and industry partners into the same room.
The chapter also moved the profession forward. After a Capital Day in Albany, the chapter’s interior design legislation reached the Governor’s desk. Advocacy, member services, and the Action Committee kept that momentum going all year.
"Serving as your president has been the greatest privilege of my professional life."
Signature programming filled the calendar. Color Invasion returned at a new venue. INSTUDIO made room for emerging talent, and the new Listening Lounge began a series of smaller, focused conversations. At the Leaders Breakfast, Ingrid Fetell Lee spoke on the surprising power of joy, and the chapter recognized Tom Polucci. Pioneering Design brought Vishaan Chakrabarti in to discuss the Domino Sugar Factory. Career Night became the chapter’s most successful yet, with more than 200 students, professionals, and partners in the room.
The city centers stayed busy across the state. Albany hosted Capital Day and redesigned a room for St. Margaret’s Center. Buffalo delivered another BuffCon and its annual awards. Rochester ran Product Runway and an awards ceremony with the AIA. Syracuse turned out for food drives, student events, and its annual boat cruise.
Elisabeth also pointed ahead. Her strategic planning work this year was built to support the initiatives Robin will lead as President.
"Over the past two decades of my career, I have spent my time designing spaces, but this past year challenged me to help shape the future of our community."
CELEBRATING THE CHAPTER’S VOLUNTEERS
The Annual Meeting also recognized the people behind the work. Three chapter awards went out this year, including the Lance Amato Legacy Award, honored below.
The Ellen Kushman Distinguished Service Award went to Rick Stewart and Jeremy Jonet, co-chairs of the NCIDQ Study Group. The award honors loyalty and outstanding service to IIDA NY. It carries the name of Ellen Kushman, a former Executive Director of the chapter.
The Spirit Award, for outstanding board member, went to Paridhi Chawla, VP of Student Development. It recognizes a board member whose contribution reaches well past the role itself.
The one-of-a-kind awards were designed and created using a handcrafted resin technique by Caroline Zimbalist.
HONORING THE LEGACY OF LANCE AMATO
The Lance Amato Legacy Award carries special meaning. It honors the memory of Lance Amato, a much-loved member of the IIDA NY community who gave his time and care to the chapter for years.
Suzette Rhodes of MillerKnoll presented the award to Patty Garr. Rhodes serves as Vice President of the BluePrints for Hope Foundation, founded in Lance’s honor. An anonymous donation was also made to the foundation in Patty’s name.
The award named for Lance recognizes members who lead the way he did, with heart and humility. These are the planners and the note-takers, the first to raise a hand when something needs to get done. They might not always be front and center, yet their fingerprints are on the chapter’s best work.
The Lance Amato Legacy Award honors members who lead with heart and humility, whose fingerprints are on every successful event and initiative.
THE FIRST MANUFACTURER’S REPRESENTATIVE TO LEAD IIDA NY
Robin Reigi takes the role with a milestone attached. She is the first manufacturer representative to serve as IIDA NY President.
Her path to the chair was not a straight line. She trained as a sculptor at SVA, then founded Robin Reigi Inc. in 1998. The firm was among the first to bring new and hard-to-find architectural materials to the New York market.
She came to IIDA later, first through Design Camp, then by leading Student Development. Along the way, she co-created the Hazel Siegel Scholarship, the Student Uplift Program, and Career Night.
"I'm honored to be the first manufacturer's representative to serve as President of IIDA NY."
"I was found, brought in, and given agency every step of the way, by leaders who saw someone a little different and made space for her."
INSIDE THE ALL IN PLATFORM
Robin’s platform for the 2026-27 term is called ALL IN. The idea is simple. Every member of the community should be seen, heard, and engaged, whether they are a Seeker, a Doer, or a Visionary.
The platform sets four priorities. The first is professional communications, with new paid staff to support the all-volunteer board. The second is a more united set of city centers, connecting the work in Albany, Rochester, Buffalo, and Syracuse. The third is programming that stays relevant and brings in fresh faces. The fourth is stronger value for the chapter’s sponsors and advocate firms.
"ALL IN means that every member of this community, the Seeker, the Doer, the Visionary, gets to be seen, heard, and engaged."
THE LOUPE: A NEW IIDA NY ROAD SHOW
Robin’s presidential initiative is called The Loupe. It is an IIDA NY road show with a twist. Each event takes the chapter inside an A&D firm for a conversation led by the designers themselves. Sponsors, committee members, and students share the room, connected to a single topic.
The 2026-27 schedule is already booked from September through June. Host firms include Corgan, Mancini, HLW, Perkins & Will, Ted Moudis Associates, Switzer Group, STUDIOS, HDR, TPG, and Spector Group. A closing event wraps the season in June.
AN INVITATION TO THE DESIGN COMMUNITY
Robin closed the evening with an ask. She wants the most welcoming chapter the community has seen, and that takes participation from everyone.
At Robin Reigi Materials, we hold that same value in our own work. Strong design communities grow through connection and shared effort. We are proud to watch Robin step into this role, and we look forward to a good year ahead with IIDA NY.
Want to get involved or see what we are working on? Talk with us about your next project, or connect with IIDA NY to find your place in the chapter.
"My vision for the year ahead is simple: the most welcoming, inclusive culture this chapter has ever seen."
