Hosted by the South Central Chapter of ASID

A Conversation with Amanda Reviere about the history of the South Central Chapter of ASID

In this episode, host Ana Clark sits down with Amanda Reviere, Chapter Administrator for the South Central Chapter of ASID. Amanda shares her fascinating career journey from licensed interior designer to marketing and business management, and her decades-long role as the backbone of the South Central chapter. The conversation dives deep into the history of ASID, the evolution of the South Central chapter, and what makes this community so unique.

In this episode, we discuss:

Amanda's Background – From interior design in South Louisiana (residential, remodeling, specialty flooring) to business management, website copywriting, and marketing

Her ASID Journey – Chapter membership chair, president-elect, president, National Chapter Support Team (now Chapter Leadership Team), and chapter administrator

History of ASID – Founded in 1975 from the merger of the American Institute of Decorators (est. 1931) and the National Society of Interior Designers (est. 1957); started with ~13,000 members

History of the South Central Chapter – Originally the Louisiana District Chapter (first recorded president in 1978), encompassing Louisiana, Mississippi, and Arkansas; renamed South Central in 2002

Hurricane Katrina's Impact (2005) – How the chapter rallied to support displaced members, relocated the annual conference to Little Rock, secured fee waivers from national, and kept the NCIDQ prep program alive

Growth & Evolution of the Chapter – Design communities (formerly associations, then districts), the Excellence in Design Competition's evolution from physical binders to CDs to fully digital, and how CEU programming shifted to meet members' changing needs

What the South Central Chapter Is Known For – A reputation for being organized, collaborative, and collegial; the concept of "collaboration without competition"

Legacy & Looking Ahead – The chapter's pathway from local to national involvement; members winning national awards; the upcoming ASID Gather conference in Dallas

Encouragement to Get Involved – Why every stage of your career benefits from ASID involvement, and how to take that first step

Family in the Chapter – A fun look at the surprising number of family connections (mother-daughter pairs, twins, even spouses!) that have formed through chapter membership

Resources & Links

ASID South Central Chapter – Learn more and get involved

ASID Gather Conference – Coming up in Dallas

NCIDQ Certification – www.cidq.org

Connect with the Podcast

Design Impacts is a podcast hosted by the South Central Chapter of ASID — elevating, celebrating, and educating our design community.

If you have questions, comments, or want to get involved with the chapter — locally, regionally, or nationally — please reach out. Your voice shapes the chapter!

Hosted by the South Central Chapter of ASID

A conversation with Rachel McNeil & Emily Hill on being twins and working in the interior design industry together.

In this episode, Ana sits down with twin sisters Rachel McNeil (Director of Design, L&M Office Furniture) and Emily Hill (Interior Designer, Taggart Architects) to talk about their parallel journeys in the interior design industry — from growing up creatively inclined to building successful commercial design careers on opposite sides of the industry.

In this episode we discuss:

Growing up creative – How Rachel and Emily knew from a young age they wanted to pursue design, and the childhood moments that hinted at where they’d each end up.

Finding their path in college – Attending Harding University, discovering their strengths in commercial design, and the professors who shaped them.

Entering the workforce in 2013 – Navigating a tough job market post-recession, landing first jobs, and the side hustle (Coaches’ Daughters calligraphy & signs) that kept them connected when they were nine hours apart.

Different sides of the same industry – Rachel’s path through furniture dealerships and Emily’s journey from a Haworth dealership to an A&D firm, and how those experiences built skills neither expected.

Advice for students and emerging professionals:

Keep an open mind — your first job won’t always be your last or your best fit

Don’t wait to reach out to professionals; shadow days and internships are invaluable

Get involved in ASID early — it sets you apart in interviews

Sales reps are a major networking resource, even if you don’t plan to stay in your current market

Collaborating as sisters – Working on award-winning projects together including ASU Newport Campus and the SAU Tech Fire Training Academy dormitory; how their complementary tools (CET + Revit) streamline the A&D and furniture dealership relationship.

Being moms in the industry – Setting boundaries, managing two full-time jobs, and finding employers who support family-first flexibility.

Projects they’re most proud of:

Emily: The Dr. Marian G. Lacey K–8 Academy — a six-year project that won the ASID Ovation Award for Best Commercial Design

Rachel: Recurring work with Practice Plus clinics and Simmons Bank, plus a gold award-winning family clinic in North Little Rock; the Searcy library project with Tony Wyre

Design Impacts is a podcast by the South Central Chapter of ASID — elevating, celebrating, and educating our design community.

If you have questions, comments, or want to get involved with the chapter — locally, regionally, or nationally — please reach out. Your voice shapes the chapter!

Hosted by the South Central Chapter of ASID

"A Conversation with Mikayla Rea, President-Elect"

In this inaugural episode, host Ana Clark sits down with Mikayla Rea, South Central Chapter President-Elect, for a candid conversation about their shared passion for interior design, professional development, and the ASID community.

In this episode, we discuss:

Mikayla and Ana's design backgrounds and how they got involved with ASID.

What it's like to serve on the South Central Chapter board — from Student Rep to President-Elect.

How the chapter is structured and what each board role does.

What sets the South Central Chapter (Arkansas, Louisiana & Mississippi) apart from other ASID chapters.

How the chapter has evolved post-COVID and what it means to meet members where they are.

Mikayla's vision for her upcoming presidency.

Why the podcast is called Design Impacts — inspired by ASID's mission that Design Impacts Lives.

How to get involved with ASID at the local, regional, and national level.

About the Guests:

Ana Clark – Current South Central Chapter President, Harding University graduate, adjunct instructor at UCA, and host of Design Impacts.

Mikayla Rea – South Central Chapter President-Elect, UCA graduate, currently working at an architectural firm and teaching as an adjunct at UCA.

Connect with Us:We want to hear from you! Share your feedback, ideas, and thoughts on the chapter's direction. Reach out to Ana and Mikayla at the emails listed below.

Ana Clark: president@sc.asid.org

Mikayla Rea: president-elect@sc.asid.org

Design Impacts is a podcast by the South Central Chapter of ASID — elevating, celebrating, and educating our design community.

If you have questions, comments, or want to get involved with the chapter — locally, regionally, or nationally — please reach out. Your voice shapes the chapter!