The ASID Texas Chapter Member Awards recognize those who have provided exemplary volunteer service to the chapter. Each of the awards is named after an individual who has exuded the characteristics all of us should admire and strive to emulate. They both left a legacy behind, setting the bar for us all to reach for in our own dedication to the interior design industry through the Texas Chapter of ASID.

On the evening of Friday, August 12, 2022, during the ASID Texas Chapter Celebrating Design Texas Awards Event, the following members were recognized for their service to the chapter by winning 2022 Texas Chapter Member Awards:
 

THE KATHY HAMMOND INDUSTRY PARTNER AWARD

Kathy Hammond was praised for her commitment to professionalism, keen sense of style, and eagerness to support the community. She consistently stepped up to the plate, always willing and eager to contribute where the need arose. This award is for an Industry Partner Representative who has continually and enthusiastically supported the Texas Chapter through their contribution of time, energy, materials, and resources.

• Kathy Tomkins, ASID Industry Partner Representative with The Stone Collection (Dallas) | Kathy has graciously and tirelessly supported ASID in many ways over the years. She currently serves on the Texas Chapter Board as Financial Chair and has previously served the Dallas Design Community in the same position. Her attention to detail has greatly benefited the chapter’s commitment to be responsible financial stewards of its finances as to benefit its members. Kathy is always willing to lend a helping hand. She has presented numerous continuing education courses to practitioner members, participated in both METROCON Expo & Conference and Celebrating Design Texas: Education, Expo & Awards, and she was instrumental in motivating The Stone Collection to host two of the Dallas Design Community’s fabulous holiday parties. Her calm, warm demeanor and welcoming, positive attitude make her a wonderful and valuable member of the ASID Texas Chapter, and she is most deserving of this award.

THE ROBERT PRESTON HENRY PRACTITIONER AWARDS

Serving as ASID Texas Chapter president from 1993-1994, Robert Preston Henry actively promoted the profession he loved so much through a vibrant career spanning 60 years of dedication. He cultivated a love for interior design and was devoted to ASID. Practitioners nominated for one of these three awards radiate the same vibrant eagerness to support the chapter through volunteerism and commitment to peers, events and the chapter as a whole.

On the Rise Legacy Award
This individual is still immersed in their interior design studies while being plugged in and eager to volunteer time and energy at the student level, encouraging peers and fellow members alike to further advance the interior design profession, the chapter, and ASID.

• Farzane Omidi, Student ASID (Lubbock) | Currently Farzane is a doctoral student at Texas Tech University and has demonstrated incredible support to ASID and the future of interior design. Most recently, she was awarded the Diversity in Design Scholarship during ASID Texas Chapter’s 2022 Student Symposium / Real World Design Week. With previous experience as a design student, practitioner and instructor in Iran, Farzane brings a level of diversity to her studies and Texas Tech’s program. Aside from her professional qualifications, Farzane’s cultural background enriches her PhD program and the educational experience of the undergraduate design students. The challenges Farzane faced making a way for herself professionally in Iran within the male-dominated industry of architecture have prepared her to continue to forge her path forward as an Iranian in American culture. Farzane’s pursuit of excellence in everything she does stems from having to work harder to create opportunities for herself in Iran and from having to be deeply persistent in the pursuit of her student visa to study in the U.S. She has carried this persistence through to her commitment to being awarded a teaching assistantship in the department, in which she is excelling. Farzane has worked diligently to ensure that she has one of the brightest and most promising futures in the industry.

Emerging Legacy Award
This practitioner is relatively new to ASID but is supporting the chapter with lots of time and energy, all with a fresh outlook and positive attitude.

• Whitney Smelser, Allied ASID (Austin) | During her relatively brief career within the interior design industry, Whitney has shown herself to be a natural born leader and a shining example to her ASID peers. After graduating from Texas State University in 2018 with a Bachelor of Science in Interior Design, Whitney landed an entry position with New Edge Design Studio. She then gained experience at Levy Architects before moving over to MidCentury Custom Homes, where she is currently a Lead Interior Designer. Despite all of the challenges that come with settling into a new company, she knew she wanted to get involved with ASID, and, boy, did she ever. When the Austin Design Community was struggling to find new leadership to rebuild after the major disruption that was the pandemic, she volunteered to take the helm and steer the ship to get things back on course for her fellow members. Since Fall 2021 she has acted as Chair of the Austin DC, rallying her fellow volunteer leaders to gather members together for a series of social events to get reacquainted, build new relationships, and gain trust. In order to be a responsible financial steward, she has also faced down the challenge of renegotiating the contract with the venue that was supposed to host the Design Excellence Awards event back in 2020 so that members may convene this coming fall to celebrate after a two-year hiatus. And on top of all this, somehow she managed to get married, and she is currently studying to sit for the NCIDQ Exam. We are impressed with her drive and resolve, and we are very grateful she has elected to share her talents with the ASID Texas Chapter!

Longevity Legacy Award
This individual has graced the ASID Texas Chapter with support, time and energy for six or more years of consecutive membership.

• Nichelle Hosley, Allied ASID (San Antonio) | Nichelle has been a long-time active member of the ASID Texas Chapter and has always been willing to help in any way needed. Three years ago she began serving on the San Antonio Design Community Board and was the Chair last year. Her reign as Chair served the community well and established a greater presence within the community. Currently, she still works with the board, and when the current chair had to step down, Nichelle stepped up. For two years she has also chaired and executed San Antonio’s Pinnacle of Design Awards Event. Additionally, Nichelle has her own passion for fashion and five years ago founded a nonprofit event called “Interior Design Meets Fashion.” The fashion show allows local designers to work with interior design fabrics to make beautiful ready-to-wear items, and the successful event has benefitted several local nonprofits since its inception. Two years ago, she began serving on the Texas Chapter Diversity Task Force and is now stepping up to serve on Texas Chapter Board as the Membership Chair. Nichelle has proven to be a steady and consistent face and member of ASID and deserves this recognition.