Interior Designers of Canada (IDC) welcomed architecture and design industry sales professionals, designers, architects, and manufacturers to the Spring 2026 edition of the Industry Sales Professionals Course (ISPC) in Toronto on April 29 at the Euro Tile & Stone showroom.
Designed as a high-impact half-day forum, ISPC Toronto brought together industry professionals for practical conversations, peer learning, and meaningful networking opportunities focused on strengthening partnerships across the design community.
The day’s discussions were guided by IDC CEO Trevor Kruse, who served as moderator and facilitated thoughtful dialogue across three panel discussions covering residential design, hospitality, and development sectors.
Panel 1 – Accessing Residential Design Projects
The first panel explored how residential designers build trusted relationships with industry partners and approach sourcing and specification decisions.
Panelists:
Bahar Zaeem, Principal, RZ Interiors
Eva Healy, Founder/Principal Designer, Avenue Design
Gelanaz Hemati Founder/Principal, GELANAZ & ASSOCIATES INC.
« Participating in the ISPC panel was meaningful. These conversations create clarity between designers and reps, and that clarity strengthens our industry. Sharing real project conditions, timelines, and expectations helps everyone work better together. I’m always glad to contribute when the dialogue supports the community and elevates the standard of practice.”
Gelanaz Hemati, Founder & Principal, Gelanaz & Associates Inc.
Panel 2 – Hospitality and Residential Convergence (Home Away from Home)
The second panel focused on the growing overlap between hospitality and residential design, exploring evolving client expectations and experience-driven spaces.
Panelists:
Cassandra Droog, Interior Designer, DesignAgency
Gordon Mackay, Founder/Director of strategy, mackaywong
Ken Lam, Principal/Co-Founder, Navigate Design
“Thank you for having me at the recent ISPC panel. It was a pleasure to share a stage with thoughtful colleagues and share our work experience with the audience. It is fantastic that these conversations include various sectors of Interior Design, as they help debunk the over-generic perception of what Interior Design is, since every sector has their specific insights and challenges.” Ken Lam, Principal/Co-Founder, Navigate Design
Panel 3 – Stepping into the Development Sector
The final panel explored opportunities and considerations within the development sector, including collaboration, timelines, and specification processes for large-scale projects.
Panelists:
Adriana Migliorini, Director, Interior Designer, Marlin Spring Developments
Emily Edmunds, Director of Development, main+main
Yasmine Goodwin, President, My Design Studio
A Setting Designed for Conversation and Connection
Hosted at the Euro Tile & Stone showroom, this edition of ISPC Toronto brought attendees into an immersive environment designed to encourage conversation, discovery, and industry connection. Throughout the day, guests explored curated product displays while engaging in discussions that extended beyond the panel sessions themselves.
“What IDC does for the design community and industry is genuinely incredible. So, to be invited to host such an important conversation and to be surrounded by such thoughtful, talented speakers and attendees made the experience even more meaningful. The insights shared, the conversations sparked, and the collective passion in the room were inspiring on every level. We’re grateful to have been part of it and even more excited for what these kinds of industry conversations continue to ignite.”
Giancarlo Colasanti, COO – Chief Operating Officer, Euro Tile & Stone
“ISPC meant a lot, and not just because of the conversations, but because of the people who made them happen. Every speaker was thoughtfully chosen, not only for their expertise, but for their willingness to show up and share it openly. That kind of generosity with time and insight is what makes a day like this land the way it did. Grateful for everyone who said yes, leaned in, and helped create something that felt bigger than just an event.”
Joanna Tiffin, Director of Sales, Euro Tile & Stone
IDC extends sincere thanks to Euro Tile & Stone for hosting this edition of ISPC Toronto and for supporting meaningful dialogue and connection across the industry.
To learn more about upcoming IDC events and programming, visit Interior Designers of Canada
Contact info@idcanada.org for more information.
