ASID Names 4 to Leadership Team

April 1, 2015  by in Designer Weekly   

The positions include a vice president of government and public affairs; vice president of research and knowledge management; director of industry partnerships and director of chapter program development.

Jim Brewer is the organization’s vice president of government and public affairs.

Most recently Brewer spent five years as chief lobbyist for the International Union of Painters & Allied Trades (IUPAT). His work on and off Capitol Hill during this time has been instrumental in passing federal and state legislation to guarantee the safety of the general public through training and certification requirements for construction contractors and their workforces. In addition, he has worked extensively on commercial real estate tax reform, lead paint law regulations, and labor practices. 

David Krantz has been named vice president of research and knowledge management. Krantz joined the association in January. He is responsible for setting the research agenda, best practices in research design and that ASID’s stakeholders have the information needed to make informed business decisions.

Krantz has spent the last 17 years working in both the public and private sectors, specializing in industry research, corporate responsibility, and the built environment. Most recently, he was program director of the Center for Responsible Travel (CREST), a partnership with the tourism industry and Stanford University. CREST’s focus includes social responsibility and sustainability practices. Earlier, Krantz led corporate responsibility initiatives with the cruise industry as part of Conservation International’s Center for Environmental Leadership in Business.

DJ Johnson has been named director of industry partnerships. In his position, Johnson is responsible for building the group’s 48 chapters with enhanced programs as well as looking for additional opportunities for chapter expansion.

Johnson has worked for both large and small associations in various capacities, including membership management, volunteer-board relations, and conference development. He is a Certified Association Executive (CAE). Prior to joining ASID, Johnson was the senior membership manager for the Drug Information Association (DIA). His proven success in developing member recruitment and retention initiatives, along with increasing member engagement, provide an excellent background for this newly created ASID position.

Olda Odeide has been named director of industry partnerships. Odeide works closely with ASID’s vice president of membership and industry development to redefine the group’s partnership program. She is responsible for managing ASID relationships with its manufacturer and supplier partners, trade shows, and other design associations, and creating mutually beneficial partnerships that advance the industry and profession.

Odeide has a background as a 20-year sales and marketing veteran in the engineering industry and as a LEED certified interior design professional. Prior to joining ASID in December as director of Industry Partnerships, Odeide served as a business development advisor for several design and architecture firms and as a practicing interior designer. Her ability to blend design and creativity with strong business and organizational skills are keys to her success.

“The last three years have been critical ones for ASID. The Society has undergone a rigorous assessment of its vision, operations, and goals to better communicate the ability of interior design to transform lives,” said ASID CEO Randy Fiser. “As a result, we’ve hired several new staff members and created new positions to better serve our members, industry partners, and the design community as a whole. Jim, David, DJ, and Olga each bring experience and leadership skills in key areas including advocacy, research, partnerships, and chapter development.”