 Jason A. Stock
President Jason Stock is responsible for facilitating strategic alliances as well as the development of all business initiatives at First Fi nish. With a background in international trade, Jason was formerly a commercial attaché overseas, working with exporters to develop new markets for their products. He then founded and ran a bi-lateral chamber of commerce for several years prior to returning to North America. He is a Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) Accredited Professional (AP) by the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI). He shares the concepts learned through LEED with organizations and companies looking to implement “Green Guidelines” as part of their memberships’ self-certifying movements. His accreditation was received under the commercial interiors (CI) stream. Jason also holds the Louisiana License in Commercial Construction—making him the authorized party in representation of First Finish for that area. Additionally, he is heavily involved with directing First Finish’s marketing efforts. Fluent in English, Spanish, and French, Jason represents First Finish in hospitality, construction, and development associations. He currently serves on the board of directors for the NEWH Washington DC Metropolitan Chapter (President, 2011) as well as the Maryland Hotel & Lodging Association (MH&LA) – Allied Director and the Delaware Hotel & Lodging Association (DH&LA) – Allied Director. read more |
 David N. Tracz
VP/Administration David Tracz is one of the leaders of OPX’s hospitality studio. Dave served as project manager on the Courtyard Marriott in Chevy Chase, Maryland – the only Gold LEED® hotel in Montgomery County (MD) and one of the first for Marriott. He also managed the Fairfield Inn & Suites Brand Prototype project, a complete refresh of this national brand. Splitting his focus between hospitality and green design, he also worked on construction documents and LEED® Documentation on a LEED® Silver Federal office building in Washington, DC. His combined base building, renovation and green experience has led to a strong ability to balance budget concerns with design and hospitality needs. He is often a guest juror at Catholic University of America in Washington, educating students in architecture and graphic presentation. He is also a leader for neighborhood pro-bono projects. read more |
 Valerie B. Coleman
VP/Development Valerie is a 3rd year board member with NEWH, and joined the Washington D.C. chapter as a student member and as a past NEWH schola rship recipient. She has served on both scholarship & programming committees, and has participated in efforts to garner more student members by telling her story and using her experiences as an example. Valerie transitioned into the Interior Design field from Human Resources where she worked for 9 years, which included returning to school to obtain a design degree. Working for Marriott International, Valerie has found her niche in the hospitality field, where she works as an Interior Designer on the renovations of the full-service Marriott hotel brands. She is excited to serve on the board again this year. read more |
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 Carol Sharpe Ranno
Past President/Parliamentarian Carol Ranno is a principle of Mimosa Cove Design Resources, a multi line sales agency, founded in 1998. Carol has a BFA in interio r design from East Carolina University. Previously a practicing interior designer and member of ASID, her design background marries well with her current profession of representing a variety of FF&E manufacturers in the hospitality and healthcare fields. Carol has held various positions on the Board of Directors of the Washington DC Metro Chapter of NEWH. President in 2009 and 2010, she is currently Past President and Parliamentarian. Carol lives on the water south of Annapolis with her husband Bob, two boats and three cats. read more |
 Whitney M. Tredwell
Executive Advisor A native of the Washington, DC area, Whitney Tredwell graduated from Syracuse University with a major in Environmental Design/ Int eriors and with a minor in Architecture. She has worked for BBGM & Leo A. Daly in Washington, DC, as an Interior Designer. She was with Genesys as a Wallcovering Consultant for 8 years. Whitney has been with National Wallcovering as a Regional Manager and serving the Mid-Atlantic region in September 2009. Whitney has served 11 years on the Washington DC Metropolitan board. She has held positions of Fundraising, Secretary, VP Chapter Development, VP Administration, President and Past President/International Delegate and the current position of Executive Advisor. Whitney enjoys family and friends, photography, Reiki, traveling and sports (Go ‘Skins & ‘Cuse!). read more |
David N. Tracz
NEWH, Inc. Delegate David Tracz is one of the leaders of OPX’s hospitality studio. Dave served as project manager on the Courtyard Marriott in Chevy Chase, Maryland – the only Gold LEED® hotel in Montgomery County (MD) and one of the first for Marriott. He also managed the Fairfield Inn & Suites Brand Prototype project, a complete refresh of this national brand. Splitting his focus between hospitality and green design, he also worked on construction documents and LEED® Documentation on a LEED® Silver Federal office building in Washington, DC. His combined base building, renovation and green experience has led to a strong ability to balance budget concerns with design and hospitality needs. He is often a guest juror at Catholic University of America in Washington, educating students in architecture and graphic presentation. He is also a leader for neighborhood pro-bono projects. read more |
Valerie B. Coleman
NEWH, Inc. Delegate Valerie is a 3rd year board member with NEWH, and joined the Washington D.C. chapter as a student member and as a past NEWH schola rship recipient. She has served on both scholarship & programming committees, and has participated in efforts to garner more student members by telling her story and using her experiences as an example. Valerie transitioned into the Interior Design field from Human Resources where she worked for 9 years, which included returning to school to obtain a design degree. Working for Marriott International, Valerie has found her niche in the hospitality field, where she works as an Interior Designer on the renovations of the full-service Marriott hotel brands. She is excited to serve on the board again this year. read more |
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 Carrene Ressa
Scholarship Carrene Ressa is the principal of Carrene Ressa & Associates, a multi-line sales firm based in Rockville, Maryland since 1993. Sh e attended the University of Maryland and the International Institute of Interior Design majoring in Home Economics and Interior Design. For the past several years, Carrene has served on the NEWH Washington DC Chapter board in a variety of positions. Currently, she serves as the Chapter's Treasurer. For twenty years Carrene has volunteered at The Children's Inn, a residential facility on the campus of the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland. Carrene loves being with her family, traveling, antiquing, gardening, a variety of needlework projects and skiing. read more |
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 Monica V. Meade
Fundraising Monica Meade is a certified interior designer who brings over 15 years of experience in hospitality design to Architectural Cerami cs. Monica worked at Marriott International on the International Design team and as a Sr. Project Mgr. with Leo A. Daly. Architectural Ceramics is committed to working with our client’s to maintain the integrity of their design vision. Monica now is the National Accounts Manager - Hospitality for Architectural Ceramics where she has worked to build the commercial design team over the last 3 years. Monica now works exclusively with designers, contractors and owners on Hospitality projects across the country. read more |
 Tobin R. Schermerhorn
Regional Tradeshow Chair Toby Schermerhorn is a principal with Cauhaus Design, an interior architectural firm she founded 14 years ago with her husband, Ro b Laschever. Cauhaus Design specializes in customized hospitality and product design. Their studio is located in a 7000 square foot dairy barn they designed to integrate their home and office with their extensive collection of mid-century furniture. Toby was born and schooled overseas, on the island of Aruba in the Netherlands Antilles. She completed her undergraduate studies at Smith College, receiving a Bachelor's Degree in Fine Arts, with a minor in Theater Lighting and Costume Design. Following a short career as a Social Worker, she completed her Masters Degree in Interior Design at the University of Massachusetts. While working for various Architects, she received both her Interior Design Certification and her Architectural License. Toby’s 25 years of contract and luxury residential experience have equipped her with a multi-faceted skill set. Her firm strives to create unique interiors that are both functional and affordable. She maintains close working relationships with both her clients and vendor partners, in order to provide truly tailored design solutions that best meet each project’s objectives. Her experiences as both a luxury residential designer and as a Senior Designer with Marriott International are at the core of her appreciation for distinctive spaces. She understands both the importance of branding, as well as the necessity for establishing a unique voice for each property. As a principal with Cauhaus, she has designed customized interiors for over 40 full service hotels for multiple brands including Marriott, Renaissance, Hilton, and Wyndham. In addition to being renowned for her penchant for unique solutions, she is well respected and recognized within the hospitality community for her design and documentation of several of Marriott’s CFRST prototypical design schemes. Personally, Toby enjoys spending her free time antiquing, sewing, singing, and traveling. She and her family have traveled extensively throughout Europe, South America, Japan, and Egypt. Her travels are an extension of both her personal and work life. They have provided her with an appreciation of other cultures, exposure to both modern and classical architecture, and a sensitivity for the beauty of both the eclectic and the vernacular. read more |
Carrene Ressa
Regional Tradeshow Chair Carrene Ressa is the principal of Carrene Ressa & Associates, a multi-line sales firm based in Rockville, Maryland since 1993. Sh e attended the University of Maryland and the International Institute of Interior Design majoring in Home Economics and Interior Design. For the past several years, Carrene has served on the NEWH Washington DC Chapter board in a variety of positions. Currently, she serves as the Chapter's Treasurer. For twenty years Carrene has volunteered at The Children's Inn, a residential facility on the campus of the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland. Carrene loves being with her family, traveling, antiquing, gardening, a variety of needlework projects and skiing. read more |
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Tobin R. Schermerhorn
Hospitality Toby Schermerhorn is a principal with Cauhaus Design, an interior architectural firm she founded 14 years ago with her husband, Ro b Laschever. Cauhaus Design specializes in customized hospitality and product design. Their studio is located in a 7000 square foot dairy barn they designed to integrate their home and office with their extensive collection of mid-century furniture. Toby was born and schooled overseas, on the island of Aruba in the Netherlands Antilles. She completed her undergraduate studies at Smith College, receiving a Bachelor's Degree in Fine Arts, with a minor in Theater Lighting and Costume Design. Following a short career as a Social Worker, she completed her Masters Degree in Interior Design at the University of Massachusetts. While working for various Architects, she received both her Interior Design Certification and her Architectural License. Toby’s 25 years of contract and luxury residential experience have equipped her with a multi-faceted skill set. Her firm strives to create unique interiors that are both functional and affordable. She maintains close working relationships with both her clients and vendor partners, in order to provide truly tailored design solutions that best meet each project’s objectives. Her experiences as both a luxury residential designer and as a Senior Designer with Marriott International are at the core of her appreciation for distinctive spaces. She understands both the importance of branding, as well as the necessity for establishing a unique voice for each property. As a principal with Cauhaus, she has designed customized interiors for over 40 full service hotels for multiple brands including Marriott, Renaissance, Hilton, and Wyndham. In addition to being renowned for her penchant for unique solutions, she is well respected and recognized within the hospitality community for her design and documentation of several of Marriott’s CFRST prototypical design schemes. Personally, Toby enjoys spending her free time antiquing, sewing, singing, and traveling. She and her family have traveled extensively throughout Europe, South America, Japan, and Egypt. Her travels are an extension of both her personal and work life. They have provided her with an appreciation of other cultures, exposure to both modern and classical architecture, and a sensitivity for the beauty of both the eclectic and the vernacular. read more |
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 Kristyn F. Ivey
Internet Communications Kristyn Ivey is a graduate of Marymount University’s Masters Interior Design program in Arlington, VA. In addition to NEWH Washi ngton, DC involvement, Kristyn is Student Affairs Committee co-chair and Historian of the ASID Washington Metro Chapter, actively volunteering and coordinating events for emerging professionals. Kristyn travels around the Washington, DC metropolitan area sharing her enthusiasm with interior design students seeking “e- folio Solutions” and maintains the resource blog portfolioenvy.com. In Fall 2009, Kristyn created an interior design video blog media outlet, kristynivey.com, which encourages students and professionals to get involved with design organizations and events. She is excited about leveraging the power of social networking to engage and foster relationships between design students, educators and industry professionals. read more |
 Ailene J. Werner
Community Service Ailene Werner is a Regional Sales Representative for Samelson Chatelane. Samelson is a full service converter and printer that su pplies exclusive interior and exterior decorative contract quality fabrics to the Hospitality, Cruise Lines and Restaurant Industry. Ailene graduated from The Maryland Institute, College of Art with a BFA in Interior Design. Ailene's design career varied, from model homes, nursing homes, legal and government offices to designing hotels for Choice Hotels. Then Ailene took a leap into sales and has never looked back! Ailene's true love is her dog and the work that she does with the kids at St. Ann's Infant and Maternity Home in Hyattsville, Maryland. Travel is another passion and visits to Peru included Cusco, Machu Picchu, the Amazon and Lima, followed with a trip to Rio de Janeiro, Manaus, The Amazon and Igussau Falls. On her bucket list is The Galapagos! Ailene has been a co-chair for Community Service for the DC Chapter for the past few years. A cookbook, ROOM SERVICE was a labor of love compiled with recipes from our industry. Proceeds went to one of our member’s goals while walking for the Avon Breast Cancer 3 Day Walk! We also, had a Beauty Day for 15 homeless women in the Maryland area. We partnered with a hair salon that donated their services to cut and style the women for the day of beauty. Our goal was to help these women get back into the work force. We had tons of clothes, shoes and accessories that were donated by our hospitality industry community. A make-up artist gave the women tips and they left feeling better about themselves. She heard a few success stories about some women that were able to gain employment! Ailene is hoping to stay on as co-chair and continue to bring good things to our community! read more |
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Whitney M. Tredwell
Strategic Planning A native of the Washington, DC area, Whitney Tredwell graduated from Syracuse University with a major in Environmental Design/ Int eriors and with a minor in Architecture. She has worked for BBGM & Leo A. Daly in Washington, DC, as an Interior Designer. She was with Genesys as a Wallcovering Consultant for 8 years. Whitney has been with National Wallcovering as a Regional Manager and serving the Mid-Atlantic region in September 2009. Whitney has served 11 years on the Washington DC Metropolitan board. She has held positions of Fundraising, Secretary, VP Chapter Development, VP Administration, President and Past President/International Delegate and the current position of Executive Advisor. Whitney enjoys family and friends, photography, Reiki, traveling and sports (Go ‘Skins & ‘Cuse!). read more |
Carol Sharpe Ranno
Ways & Means Carol Ranno is a principle of Mimosa Cove Design Resources, a multi line sales agency, founded in 1998. Carol has a BFA in interio r design from East Carolina University. Previously a practicing interior designer and member of ASID, her design background marries well with her current profession of representing a variety of FF&E manufacturers in the hospitality and healthcare fields. Carol has held various positions on the Board of Directors of the Washington DC Metro Chapter of NEWH. President in 2009 and 2010, she is currently Past President and Parliamentarian. Carol lives on the water south of Annapolis with her husband Bob, two boats and three cats. read more |
 Barbara Cohen Azzinaro
Committee Development Barbara Azzinaro is principal of Washington D.C. Metro Area based Cohen Azzinaro Associates, a diversified manufacturers' represen tative firm that represents a full array of interior design-related furnishings, ranging from carpet, to furniture, to accessories. Her hospitality career covers the full spectrum of interior design, purchasing and product sales. She began her career with a wholesale interior design showroom after graduating from the Maryland Institute College of Art with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Interior Design. Azzinaro subsequently became purchasing manager for a hotel interior design firm before joining Manor Care as contracts manager, where she was responsible for negotiating and managing national soft goods purchasing contracts for 166 nursing homes and providing functional guidance to regional purchasing offices. She then served as a company sales representative for a hospitality drapery and bedspread manufacturer before forming her own company in 1993. Azzinaro assembled the founding committee for the Washington Chapter of NEWH in 1990 and has served on the Board of Directors since its inception, holding board positions of President, Executive Vice President, Director of Membership, Director of Hospitality and Communications, Director of Job Forum, and is currently Vice President of Development. She is the 1999 recipient of NEWH's Joyce L. Johnson Award of Excellence, the first award given by the chapter. Active in the American Heart Association, her efforts have helped raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for the non-profit organization. She continues to be team captain of Team NEWH in the Washington, DC Regional Heart Walk fundraiser, and is also a member of their Gala Auction committee.. Barbara and her husband since 1981, Lew Azzinaro, became active in the American Heart Association after the loss of their infant son, David, who died at nine weeks of age in 1995, as a result of the effects of a congenital heart defect. Within the same five year time period, Barbara’s mother died of the effects of a stroke and her father died of the effects of a heart attack. Barbara and Lew are the parents of two wonderful, healthy daughters, Sarah and Rachel. read more |
arbara Azzinaro, president/owner of Cohen Azzinaro Associates, LLC is pleased to announce that with the $7,000.00+ funds she raised for the 2011 Heart Walk, she has been named in the Top Ten walker category in the Greater Washington, DC Region Heart Walk by the American Heart Association. 
Renee Golding is fully immersed in all things design. She received her BFA degree in graphic design/visual arts from SUNY Purchase College, School of Art & Design. Renee then had the pleasure of working in areas of Graphic Design, Furniture Showroom Design, Apparel Retail Design, and Interior Decorating. She worked as a graphic designer for several years, before she grew interested in designing interior spaces. She is currently finishing her work towards obtaining a Masters in Fine Arts at George Washington University in their Interior Design proram. Renee's formal education paired with her diverse past work experiences allows her to approach various design tasks with a unique and advanced technical ability. Renee graduated in December 2011 and is so excited to be continuing her career endeavors in the field of Interior Design.
Tamar Romero Marino grew up in a small town in Northern New Jersey and always imagined herself eventually working at a magazine or in fashion. While in college, she met a friend whose passion was cooking and agriculture. Tamar's friend recommended that she read Michael Pollan's 
Hillary McElroy is a 5-year Bachelor of Business Administration- Master of Tourism Administration student, concentrating in hospitality management at The George Washington University. During her time at GWU she has been actively involved in Alpha Kappa Psi Professional Business Fraternity, serving on the executive board, an RA, Americorps education volunteer, and currently is president of Tourism for Tomorrow, a graduate hospitality and tourism organization. She currently works at The Ritz-Carlton, Washington, D.C. as a Meeting and Special Events Coordinator.
