Experience design authority announces 2025 U.S.

New organization led by all-star experience team

Author: Travis Stanton

With 2025 just three days away, the authority on experience design is proud to announce the launch of its 2025 U.S. Advisory Council, composed of experience designers, experience marketers, and other thought leaders in the exhibition, event, and experience design industries. The 32-member Board of Directors will help guide the new organization in developing and overseeing a series of awards programs designed to highlight best practices in experiential design and honor those working in the world’s most remarkable, innovative and immersive environments and Kudos to the people behind the experience.

“This is my dream team and I’m so grateful to have them on the advisory board,” said Travis Stanton, executive director of the Experience Design Authority and director of strategy at Storylink Creative. “The breadth and depth of experience represented is only matched by the high ethical standards and professional reputation of those selected.”

In particular, the Experience Design Authority is proud to have representatives representing FIT Graduate Exhibitions and Experience Design Programs, Bemidji State University Exhibitions + Experience Design and Production Programs, the Smithsonian Institution, Exhibitor Advocates, and Experience Designers and Board member of the Producers Guild Board of Directors. directors. In addition to weighing in on the direction of the organization, board members will serve as judges for various awards programs (any member with a conflict of interest will recuse themselves from the appropriate panel).

The first competition of the authority on experience design, the BOSS Awards (Best of Stand Award), will be held at CES 2025, with the finalists announced on January 10. The winners will be announced in February at an official event hosted by the organization. US media partner, Exhibit City News.

“We are overwhelmed by the outpouring of support,” Stanton said. “I started looking for 32 people willing to donate their time and talents, and ultimately achieved that goal, with a few more on the waiting list. There are so many great people on the list that I look forward to serving on the advisory board in the future.”

Experience Design Authority’s 2025 U.S. Advisory Board members include:

• Steve Lid, CEO Lid & Moneypenny
• Dana Esposito, Executive Vice President of Strategy, BlueHive Exhibits
• Mike Denison, Director of Design, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution
• Jessica Sibila, CMP, CTSM, Executive Director, Exhibitor Advocate
• Stephen Ross, Vice President and Executive Creative Director, Access TCA
• Christina Stoll, former Senior Marketing Manager, Event Marketing, CTSM Diamond, CDMP, PCM, HD Supply
• Michael Vallone, Vice President, Creative and Brand, Hill & Partners
• Courtney Soice, Chief Marketing Officer, Hamilton
• Sachel Josefson, Associate Professor of Exhibition + Experience Design and Production, Bemidji State University
• Allison Saget, author and event marketing consultant
• Jason Popp, President and CEO of Moss
• Glenda Brungardt, CTSM Diamond, former Global Events Manager, HP
• Frank Jones, Experienced Producer, A Team Experiences
• Dee Silfies, Head of Knowledge Center
• Matt Jones, founder of DXM Solutions
• Katina Rigall Zipay, M.A., Creative Director, Classic Exhibits Inc.
• Alex Hill, Vice President of Experience Solutions at Taylor Corporation
• Liz Nacron, Partner, President, Creative & Production, Field Marketing
• Don Schmid, MBA, CTSM Gold, CME-H, former global conference director, Pfizer
• Jeannette Sanders, Vice President of Marketing and Strategy, 2020 Exhibitions
• Christian Lachel, LEED AP, Chief Creative Officer, BRC Imagination Arts
• Christina Lyons, Professor and Chair of Graduate Exhibition and Experience Design at FIT
• John Pavek, Director of Partner Development, Global Event Services, Willwork
• Judy Volker, founder of Volker Marketing Services
• Brian Dukerschein, External Communications Manager, Abbott
• Emma Bica, Certified High Performance Coach, Emma Bica Coaching
• Casey Baron, Creative Director, Storylink Creative
• Stephanie Chavez, CTSM, Vice President of Sales and Marketing, BlackPearl Technologies
• Al Mercuro, Strategic Marketing and Customer Engagement Consultant, Genesis Exhibits
• Dominique Cook, MBA, CTSM Diamond, Senior Meetings and Events Specialist, Boston Scientific Corporation
• Steve Riches, CEO and Principal, Laguna Displays
• Chris Fry, Partner, Pulse Studio

The organization will form an international advisory board that will provide input on global projects such as Expo 2025 (recognizing experiential design at Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan), while providing a global perspective and global exposure. Those interested in representing their country on the International Advisory Board are encouraged to contact info@experientialdesignauthority.com and provide their name, title, resume and, if applicable, a link to their LinkedIn profile.

About Experience Design Authority

The Experiential Design Authority is comprised of industry leaders and champions in the field of experiential marketing and design and serves as the regulatory body overseeing a number of international competitions including the BOSS Awards, ExSys Awards and World Expos. The organization is committed to fairness and transparency, as well as the value of professional competition and the goal of giving back to the next generation of experiential design professionals. For more information, please visit www.theexperientialdesignauthority.com.