NEW YORK SCHOOL OF INTERIOR DESIGN
GALA 2024
MARCH 5, 2024
AN EVENT TO BENEFIT THE NYSID SCHOLARSHIP FUNDNYSID BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Ellen Kravet, Chairman
David Sprouls, NYSID President
Chesie Breen
Jill H. Dienst
James P. Druckman
Cheryl S. Durst
Ingrid Ongaro Edelman
John Edelman
Susan Zises Green
Alexa Hampton
Young Huh
David Kleinberg
Courtney R. McLeod
Dennis Miller
Betsey Ruprecht
Brad Schneller
David Scott
Kelly M. Williams
Eric Joseph Gering, Faculty Trustee
Joanna L. Silver, Esq., General Counsel
Inge Heckel, Trustee Emerita
Patricia M. Sovern, Chairman Emeritus
NYSID ADVISORY BOARD
Robin Klehr Avia
Michael Bruno
Kathleen M. Doyle
Ross J. Francis
Mariette Himes Gomez
Gerald A. Holbrook
Thomas Jayne
Wolfram Koeppe
Charlotte Moss
Barbara Ostrom
Sylvia Owen
Ann Pyne
Peter Sallick
Calvin Tsao
Bunny Williams
Vicente Wolf
NYSID ALUMNI COUNCIL
Marie Aiello ’04
Lawrence Chabra ’09
Krista Gurevich ’16
Michelle Jacobson ’17
Maisie Lee ’00
George Marshall Peters ’08
Erin Wells ’04
THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES of the NEW YORK SCHOOL OF INTERIOR DESIGN
Ellen Kravet
CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
David Sprouls PRESIDENT
Chesie Breen, Ingrid Ongaro Edelman, Alexa Hampton,Young Huh, David Kleinberg, Betsey Ruprecht TRUSTEES & GALA CO-CHAIRS
Welcome you to the College’s 2024 Gala HONORING
Ann Pyne/McMillen Inc.
Albert Hadley Lifetime Achievement Award
Nate Berkus
Larry Kravet Design Industry Leadership Award
Erick Espinoza ’13
Rising Star Award/Sponsored by The Shade Store
BACCARAT, AWARDS SPONSOR
Tuesday, March 5, 2024
The University Club
One West 54th Street
New York City
MENU
APPETIZER
Heirloom Tri-Color Salad
With Arugula, Endive, Radicchio, Parmesan Reggiano, Champagne Vinaigrette
ENTRÉE
Green Circle Farm Roast Chicken
With Olive-Crushed Potatoes, Heirloom Beans, Pepitas-Parsley Pesto
VEGETARIAN OPTION AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST
DESSERT
Flourless Chocolate Cake
With Crème Chantilly
Coffee/Tea Service
WINE
DeLoach Vineyards, Heritage Reserve Chardonnay, 2020
Sebastiani, Sonoma County, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2019
ORDER OF THE EVENING
Welcoming Remarks
David Sprouls, NYSID PRESIDENT
Ellen Kravet, CHAIRMAN OF THE NYSID BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Alexa Hampton, EMCEE AND NYSID TRUSTEE
Awards Ceremony
Presentation to Erick Espinoza ’13
Rising Star Award/Sponsored by The Shade Store
Introduced by Zach Gibbs, CO-FOUNDER, THE SHADE STORE
Presentation to Ann Pyne/McMillen Inc.
Albert Hadley Lifetime Achievement Award
Introduced by David Netto, DAVID NETTO INTERIOR DESIGN
Main Course
Presentation to Carissa Pintello ’25 (MFA1)
NYSID Alumni Scholarship Recipient
Introduced by Marie Aiello ’04, PRESIDENT, NYSID ALUMNI COUNCIL
Presentation to Nate Berkus
Larry Kravet Design Industry Leadership Award
Introduced by Wendy Goodman, DESIGN EDITOR, NEW YORK MAGAZINE
Concluding Remarks
Alexa Hampton
David Sprouls
Dessert and Coffee/Tea
Ann Pyne/McMillen Inc.
Albert Hadley Lifetime Achievement Award
There are long-lived firms, and then there’s McMillen.
Founded in 1924 by Mrs. Drury McMillen (later, Mrs. Archibald Brown), the New York institution is on the verge of celebrating a full century in business—by any measure, it’s the longest-lasting full-service interior design firm in America. Along the way, McMillen has served as the proving ground for industry icons like Albert Hadley and Mark Hampton, executing highprofile projects for everyone from Doris Duke and Babe Paley to Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen. There’s no single explanation as to why so many once-proud firms have fallen by the wayside while this one soldiers on, but having Ann Pyne as the president certainly helps.
Ann Pyne has a master’s degree in Decorative Arts from the Bard Graduate Center, as well as an MFA in Writing and an MA in English and American Literature, both from Columbia University. She came to McMillen Inc. in 2002. Before that she was a teacher, the author of a book of short stories, and a collector of aesthetic-period furniture and ceramics. Ann finds it rewarding to introduce clients to McMillen’s standards of execution and to the tradespeople, artists, and artisans with whom McMillen works. She likes to think that her exposure to other forms of art plays a part in the decoration and design of her interiors, and that her experience as a collector is helpful to clients when they are assessing their needs for furniture and decorative objects.
GARDEN ROOM.
PHOTO: BJORN WALLANDER
Nate Berkus
Larry Kravet Design Industry Leadership Award
Since starting his interior design firm over 25 years ago, Nate’s design expertise and his philosophy, that your home should tell your story, has extended to television and a number of thoughtful and accessible home collections. His current home collaborations include a sleep collection with Beautyrest, roller shades for The Shade Store, a furniture line sold at Living Spaces, and a fabric line with Kravet. Nate is also an avid collector of vintage furniture and decorative accessories, and his curated collections are available through his stores on 1stDibs, Chairish, and at Showplace in New York City. NATE HOME, a collection of bedding, bath and organizing essentials, launched in 2023 in partnership with mDesign. Well known for his travel-inspired collections, Nate currently serves as the Travel Ambassador for the Edge class of ship by Celebrity Cruises; and designed the Sunset Bar on Celebrity’s newest ship, Beyond. In 2011, he served as Executive Producer of the Oscarwinning film, The Help. Nate has appeared on countless television shows as well as those of his own: the daily-syndicated The Nate Berkus Show, 2014’s American Dream Builders (NBC), and Nate and Jeremiah By Design (TLC). Nate and his husband Jeremiah Brent competed in HGTV’s popular Rock The Block, and their most recent show, The Nate & Jeremiah Home Project, recently aired its second season on HGTV.
LIVING ROOM, CAMBRIDGE, MA.
PHOTO: HEATHER TALBERT
Erick Espinoza ’13
Rising Star Award/Sponsored by The Shade Store
As a first-generation American, I’ve always aimed and reached for the stars. With a humble beginning and a burning desire, I grew up in the suburbs of Miami, Florida, and was accepted into a magnet program for high school. I began painting at a young age and always had an affinity for color and pattern. Studying artists like Matisse, Picasso, Kandinsky, and Cezanne made it easy to understand how color works together to please the eye. I was awarded the Albert Hadley Scholarship to attend the New York School of Interior Design and after my sophomore year I began interning with the venerable design firm Diamond Baratta Design.
Shortly after my start with the firm, Mr. Diamond retired, Mr. Baratta began his own firm, Anthony Baratta, LLC, and I was officially hired. Within a few years of working with Mr. Baratta, I became Creative Director for the brand and we have now worked together for 12 years.
We have worked on various projects throughout the U.S. and several charity projects such as the Ronald McDonald House, Design on a Dime, Rooms With A View, and the Center for Special Studies. We’ve also licensed with incredible American brands, such as Thomasville Furniture and Capel Rugs. I was named one of House Beautiful’s Next Wave Designers by former editor in chief Sophie Donelson in November 2017 and will continue to reach higher still.
Quite the American dream.
Carissa Pintello (MFA1)
NYSID Alumni Scholarship Recipient
Though Carissa is currently an MFA student studying at the New York School of Interior Design, she had a roundabout path into the field. Raised in Central Florida, Carissa originally got her Master’s in Education with a specialization in ESOL. Coming from a multi-racial home and community, Carissa has always been surrounded by and inspired by immigrants and the hurdles they overcome. This led her to teach at-risk immigrant children in the public-school sector for 3 years.
As a creative release from the stress of teaching, Carissa started refinishing furniture for local antique shops, before deciding to start her own business, a curated vintage home goods shop. Through the process of collecting vintage and antique pieces, Carissa learned about design history, color, textiles, and architecture.
While this make-shift curriculum was a great starting point, Carissa decided to pursue more formal training through an Associates in interior design online. While formal design education was deeply fulfilling, it quickly became clear that balancing part-time education, a small business, and a full-time job was impossible long term. While struggling with how to move forward, one day Carissa’s husband Gunnar said, “You clearly want to be a designer. Why don’t you apply to your dream school, and if you get in, you quit your job, we sell the house, and move to wherever that is.” And the rest is history.
Carissa is deeply grateful for the overwhelming support she has received from NYSID as an institution and community. From financial assistance, life-giving mentorship, challenging education, and extracurricular opportunities, NYSID has not only equipped her with the tools to excel, but taught her how to dream bigger than she knew was possible.
Some things that drive Carissa as a designer-in-training are representation in the design industry, the juxtaposition of contrasting cultures and eras, and the incorporation of artisans. She is so excited to continue to grow creatively and professionally, and push the ceiling as high as possible.
THANK YOU TO OUR SUPPORTERS! †
PATRONS
Nate Berkus
John and Cynthia Fish
David Kleinberg
Ann Pyne/McMillen Inc.
John S. Pyne
Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Sherrill
The Shade Store
CONNOISSEURS
Keith Granet with Studio Designer
Wilkinson Global Asset Management
BENEFACTORS
Benjamin Moore & Company
Cullman & Kravis Associates
Jim Druckman/New York Design Center
Ferguson and Shamamian Architects
Kravet Inc.
Lloyd Marks & Michael Tavano/Marks & Tavano Workroom
Marc Phillips Decorative Rugs/Mr. and Mrs. Marc and Daniellah Partial
Natalie Officer
Gale Singer and Andy Singer/Visual Comfort and Co.
Robert A.M. Stern Architects*
Schumacher
Kelly M. Williams and Andrew Forsyth
UNDERWRITERS
Thomas and Ingrid Edelman
Fairfax and Sammons Architecture
Allegra and Martin Kelly
Liz and David McCreery
Betsey Ruprecht
David Scott ’91/David Scott Interiors
SUPPORTERS
Acquavella Family Foundation
Baccarat
Sara Barsoom/Waterworks
Maribeth Borthwick
Design Leadership Network
Jill Dienst/Dienst + Dotter Antikviteter
Rosie Fiallo/Waterworks
Ann Gilligan/Waterworks
FRIENDS
Emily and Brian Beare
Ann and John Bookout
Chesie Breen
Clark Construction Corporation
Sarah Coulson
Vincent and Joseph DiSalvo/ DiSalvo Contracting Co. Inc.
Mary Beth Donohue
Kathleen M. Doyle
Jamie Drake
Clair Fitzgerald ’11*
George and Alice Frelinghuysen
Gensler
Wendy Goodman
Elizabeth Graziolo/Yellow House Architects
Susan Zises Green
Marjorie Gubelmann
Tim Hamilton
Alexa Hampton
Heller Furniture/John Edelman and Andrew McPhee
Alexandra and Philip Howard
Barbara and Thomas Israel
Michelle Jacobson ’18/MLJacobson Design*
Corey Damen Jenkins & Associates
Harry and Jill Kargman/Kargo
Peti Lau ’11*
Pierre Frey
Minna Lee
Jon Liebman and Eliza DeVone/ Brillstein Entertainment Partners
Tali Magal/Freebird Productions
Paul Golaszewski/Waterworks
Dennis Miller and Milan Hughston
Brad and Eliza Schneller
Jessica Schuster
Joanna L. Silver, Esq./Bond Schoeneck & King
Susan M. Townsend
Young Huh Interior Design
Brian J. McCarthy
Elizabeth Monaco McCarthy
Melanie Millner/The Design Atelier
Charlotte Moss
Pat and Peter Nadosy
Margaret Nichols
Liz O’Brien
James O’Donnell
Mrs. Gordon B. Pattee
Christopher and Elizabeth Pollack
Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin N. Pyne
Guido Rebosio/Rebosio Construction Services
Alex Robertson
Tom Robinson/Taconic Builders
RoseHyll Studio/Robin Feuer
Brian Sawyer
William P. Short, III
Georgia Shreve
Kate Kelly Smith/Luxe Interiors + Design
Genevieve Sonsino
Steven W. Spandle Architect
David Sprouls and Kate Wood
Russell Steele
Beatrice Stern
Ellen Sullivan and Peter Sullivan
Margie and Nate Thorne
Suzanne Tucker
Elsie Vance
Robin Weingast and Claire Zeppieri
Wendover Art Group/Richard Forsyth CEO
Williams Lawrence
Meryl and Chuck Witmer
Vicente Wolf
THANK YOU TO OUR SUPPORTERS! †
CONTRIBUTORS
Marie Aiello ’04*
Charlie and Sara Ayres
Anthony Baratta LLC
Charles G. Berry
Catherine Besley
David Bohnett Foundation
Linda Boothby
Virginia Burke
Carrier and Company Interiors
Lawrence Chabra ’09*
Thurston Clark
Hilary David
Guy and Kitty de Chazal
Kathaleen Duffin in honor of Dennis Miller and Milan Hughston
Erick Espinoza ’13*
Alan Falcone
Deborah Farrington
Emily Frick
Julie and Tommy Frist
Eric Gering
Krista Gurevich ’16*
Lewis I. Haber and Carmen Dubroc
Camille Hellwig Interiors
Lauren and Timothy Horsburgh
Helen H. Houghton
Elizabeth Howard
Gail and Carl Icahn
Sarah Jurta
Nicole Keith Interiors
Cathy Kinney
Christopher Labrot ’22
Maisie Lee ’00*
Linda and Jim Lippman
Mark Magowan
Mr. and Mrs. Roman Martinez IV
Catherine and Michael R. Mayton
Christine McPherson
Cal Nugent ’22
George Marshall Peters ’08*
Olympia Rizzo
Anna Romano
Benjamin and Donna Rosen
Mr. and Mrs. Eric Rothfeld, in honor of Erick Espinoza
Schafer Buccellato Architects
Marjorie and Richard Schneidman
Eleanor R. Seaman
Benny Seda-Galarza ’22
The Sheehan Family
Zita Sheehan
Ajaeé Shepard ’18 and Moamen Ammar
Suzanne Slesin and Michael Steinberg
Bryan Jeffrey Smith
Jamie Lyn Smith ’23, Interior Design/ Smith Home Studios
Eileen and Robin West
Brooke Wilson ’22
† List as of Feb. 20, 2024 * Donors to Alumni Scholarship Fund
SPECIAL THANKS AND GRATITUDE
Our deep appreciation to Baccarat for being the awards sponsor for NYSID’s 2024 Gala. Thank you for donating and engraving the exquisite crystal Octogone vases that are presented to our illustrious honorees–Ann Pyne/McMillen Inc., Nate Berkus, and Erick Espinoza ’13. We are thrilled to be partnering with Baccarat for the fourth year in a row.
Many thanks to the remarkable David Boatman for concepting and producing the extraordinary videos about our three honorees. The evening would not be the same without them. We are incredibly fortunate to be in the capable hands of Boatman Media for the fourth consecutive year.
ABOUT THE AWARDS
NYSID is proud to present awards in the following categories to individuals or companies in residential or commercial design who have made outstanding contributions to the interior design profession.
NYSID CENTENNIAL MEDAL
This Medal was presented for the first time in 2016 to commemorate NYSID’s 100th anniversary. It is awarded every few years to an individual who has had a significant impact on the industry over a period of many years, and is also recognized for their contributions to the wider community. Past awardees include James Druckman (2016), Charlotte Moss (2017), Patricia M. Sovern (2017), and Jamie Drake (2022). The sterling silver medal, designed by the artist Michele Oka Doner, presents an emerging growth form, a kind of tree of life, simultaneously representing the growth of knowledge and the organic nature of design.
ALBERT HADLEY LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Since 2011, NYSID has been presenting the Albert Hadley Lifetime Achievement Award to individuals who have made contributions of outstanding artistic significance to the field of interior design. The award is named in memory of the iconic interior designer Albert Hadley, a long-time member of NYSID’s Advisory Board who generously gave his time to the college and its students. He was also the benefactor of the Albert Hadley Scholarship Fund at NYSID.
Past Hadley honorees include Mario Buatta (2011), Jack Lenor Larsen (2012), Geoffrey Bradfield (2013), Mariette Himes Gomez (2014), John Rosselli and Bunny Williams (2015), Ellie Cullman (2016), David Kleinberg (2017), Suzanne Rheinstein (2018), Jeffrey Bilhuber (2019), Brian J. McCarthy (2020), Alex Papachristidis (2021), and Suzanne Tucker (2023).
LARRY KRAVET DESIGN INDUSTRY INNOVATION/LEADERSHIP AWARD
This award is presented to an individual or company who has helped advance the field of interior design in a significant way and is a leader in the industry. Presented for the first time in 2019 to Christopher Spitzmiller (Innovation award), we presented the 2020 Innovation award to Gale Singer (Circa Lighting) and Andy Singer (Visual Comfort & Co.), the 2021 Leadership award to Corey Damen Jenkins, the 2022 Leadership award to Young Huh, and the 2023 Leadership Award to John Edelman.
The Kravet Award is named in memory of Larry Kravet, an icon within the interior design industry, who passed away in 2018 at age 92. He transformed his grandfather’s small tailoring shop, established over 100 years ago, into Kravet Inc. Under his leadership, Kravet Inc. grew into North America’s largest integrated ‘to the trade’ wholesaler of decorative home products and one of the world’s foremost purveyors of fabric, furniture, wall coverings, and carpet. Mr. Kravet was the third generation of a now five-generation family company. His daughter, Ellen, is Chairman of the NYSID Board, and is helping to continue his legacy both at NYSID and Kravet Inc.
RISING STAR AWARD
The Rising Star Award is presented to a designer, preferably a NYSID alumnus, who is hitting their stride in the profession. The award honors a talented individual relatively early in their career, who is becoming a recognized name in the field and demonstrates great promise and leadership. Presented for the first time in 2019 to Alberto Villalobos ’06, we presented the 2020 Rising Star Award to Elizabeth Lawrence ’03, the 2021 award to Nina Farmer ’02, the 2022 award to Laura Hodges ’09, and the 2023 award to Peti Lau ’11. We are thrilled that The Shade Store has been a sponsor of this award since 2019.
For three generations, service has been the foundation of The Shade Store. As the leader in custom window treatments, it is committed to providing the finest quality drapery, Roman shades and roller shades, a great value and an exceptional customer experience. The brand’s exclusive collection of more than 1,300 in-stock materials and industry-leading C.O.M. program give designers virtually endless creative opportunities. The Shade Store has some of the fastest lead times in the industry, with orders shipping in 10 days or less and C.O.M. orders shipping in 15 days or less. With nationwide measurement and installation services, The Shade Store can work with designers on projects all over the country to ensure the perfect fit every time. At all of The Shade Store’s 140+ showrooms nationwide, expert Design Consultants help designers realize their vision for beautiful window treatments. For more information, please visit theshadestore.com.
The board, faculty, and staff of NYSID are delighted to congratulate this year’s distinguished honorees:
Ann Pyne/McMillen Inc. Nate Berkus Erick Espinoza ’13
Thank you for everything you have done to make this evening a resounding success!
The NYSID Alumni Council honors the history and mission of the college and maintains a meaningful connection among graduates—past, present, and future. Ours is a commitment to create opportunities for one another and to deepen the bonds between us. As ambassadors, we engage in philanthropic activities to support NYSID’s scholarship programs while steadfastly supporting its achievement as one of the leading interior design programs in the country. For more info, please contact alumnicouncil.president@nysid.edu.
NEW YORK SCHOOL OF INTERIOR DESIGN
The New York School of Interior Design has been leading the study of interior design for over a century. A private, nonprofit college focused exclusively on interior design, NYSID offers certificate, undergraduate, and graduate programs for students at all stages of their careers—whether they’re just becoming familiar with the discipline, considering a career change, or looking to deepen their knowledge in a particular area. Consistently ranked one of the top interior design programs in the United States, students study both residential and commercial interior design, some with specialties in sustainable design, lighting, and healthcare interiors. NYSID students enjoy a small class size and sharp focus, receive a great deal of personal attention from dedicated faculty, and go on to practice at the highest levels of the profession.
170 East 70 Street
New York, NY 10021
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