NEWH Annual Expo Breakfast: The Young Entrepreneurs Thursday • May 4, 2017 • 9:00 am • Islander Ballroom E HD’s past Wave of the Future honorees talk trends, recent projects, lessons learned, secrets of success, industry challenges and solutions, and what’s on the boards in an informal conversation. Audra Tuskes Jeremy Levitt Teddy Mayer Kevin O’Shea Vice President & Creative Principal Vice President of Design & Founder & Creative Director Director Parts and Labor Design Technical Services Salt Hotels Lightstone Virgin Hotels One of the largest and most diversified Jeremy is originally from Detroit where As Vice President of Design, Teddy will Graduating with his B.F.A. in Interior privately held real estate companies in his deep-rooted interest in the design oversee the vision and execution for Architecture from the prestigious Rhode the United States, Lightstone is active in and beauty of machinery has been how the Virgin Hotel brand comes to Island School of Design, Kevin pursued 24 states across the country, developing, a significant influence in a lot of his life in a hospitality environment. Teddy a career in corporate hotel design in New managing and investing in all sectors work. With a BFA from the College spent seven years as the senior director York City, working first for Starwood Hotels of the real estate market, including for Creative Studies of Detroit, Jeremy of design and development at Morgans and Resorts where he helped launch the residential, hospitality, commercial graduated with an interdisciplinary Hotel Group where he focused on the design initiatives for the newly-acquired and retail. As Creative Director, Audra degree; a major he helped to create which expansion of the Delano, Mondrian and Le Meridién brand in 2006. Kevin then heads design and brand experience is now a fully functioning component Hudson Hotel brands. On the agency side went on to join the corporate design team for Lightstone’s emergent stateside of the school’s curriculum, combining he began his design career at Skidmore at Morgans Hotel Group where he oversaw development of Marriott’s micro-format the most important aspects of Crafts Owings & Merrill in New York where he various aspects of interior design in the brand, Moxy. Audra’s expertise in the and Industrial Design. His specialty is focused on hospitality interiors projects existing portfolio as well as many new architectural, hospitality and residential furniture and lighting design, as well as for brands such as W Hotels and Resorts, projects during his tenure. development arenas brings a creative edge sculpture and architectural-installation Capella and The James to name a few. Kevin’s passion for the Morgans brand to Lightstone’s top-branded products, design. From Detroit, where he owned Most recently Teddy worked for Gensler and ability to make his own mark on these across all sectors. his first business of making custom in New York as the regional director of venerable hotels is evident in such projects furniture and lighting for clients, Jeremy hospitality interiors. He was responsible Previously with Commune Hotels and as the Sky Terrace at Hudson Hotel in New moved to New York City to grow as a for establish a hospitality interiors studio Resorts, Audra led all design-related York City and Agua Spas in Scottsdale, designer and entrepreneur. He began and developing the regional practice. aspects for the company’s growing Arizona and Los Angeles, California that he working for Gaetano Pesce as a designer Teddy has a Masters of Architecture, a portfolio of 50 hotels, including redesigned. After his tenure with Morgans, and fabricator, then became the Senior Bachelor of Architecture and a Bachelor Thompson Hotels, Joie de Vivre, tommie he went on to create his own firm, Kevin Industrial Designer/Project Manager of Fine Arts in Interior Design from the (from inception to realization) and the O’Shea Designs, LLC, a full service interior for Donghia Furniture. After Donghia University of Idaho. conceptual development of a new 5-star design studio specializing in hospitality and he became the Furniture and Lighting brand collection. With more than 15 years residential projects. Director for the Manhattan based of experience in the field, Audra’s past hospitality design firm AvroKO where he In 2011, Kevin O’Shea and his partner positions include Director of Design for developed hundreds of products for use David Bowd purchased a historic Starwood Hotels, and Associate Design in commercial and residential projects. 15-bedroom inn located in the heart Professor at Pratt Institute. She currently Now, as one of the Principals of Parts of Provincetown, Massachusetts. The serves on the Editorial Advisory Board and Labor Design he creates all custom dated property provided a blank canvas for Hospitality Design Magazine. Audra high end furniture and lighting, as well to showcase Kevin’s design expertise holds a Master of Architecture from as the surrounding architectural spaces transforming the outmoded guesthouse Columbia University. alongside Andrew Cohen. into the town’s most stylish hostelry with its own original take on traditional colonial aesthetics. Since opening, the property has received numerous accolades. If you would like to purchase a ticket to the Young Entrepreneurs Breakfast, click here to purchase a ticket..