VIRTUAL ADVOCACY SPEAKER SERIES

Emily Kelly

Director of Advocacy, Public Policy, and Legislative Affairs, IIDA
The Commercial Interior Design Association

Emily Kelly joined the International Interior Design Association (IIDA) in December 2013 as Director of Advocacy, Public Policy, and Legislative Affairs.  Emily works directly with members of IIDA to effectively advocate for the interior design profession in statehouses around the country on issues ranging from occupational licensure to sustainability and tax policy.  Since joining IIDA, Emily has implemented many new programs and resources for designers including a modern grassroots advocacy online system and, in 2015, she launched the annual IIDA Advocacy Symposium, a yearly program where designers can learn about advocacy from top experts in the political field.

Prior to joining IIDA, Emily served as a legislative aide for the House of Representatives in Illinois and worked on numerous state and local campaigns throughout the Chicagoland area. Emily received her bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Dominican University in 2006 and her master’s degree in Public Policy and Administration from Northwestern University in 2012.

Bryan J. Soukup, Esq.

VP, Government & Public Affairs
American Society of Interior Designers

As Vice President of Government and Public Affairs for the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID), Bryan J. Soukup, Esq. leads the Society’s strategic efforts to advocate for the interior design profession from a legislative, regulatory, and policy perspective before the federal and state governments. He is the Society’s sole registered federal lobbyist and chief advocate at the state and local levels.

He holds a B.A. in Political Science from Vanderbilt University (Nashville, Tennessee) and a Juris Doctor from the University of Richmond School of Law (Richmond, Virginia), where he graduated cum laude.

Mr. Soukup is a licensed attorney in the District of Columbia and in the Commonwealth of Virginia, where he currently resides.

Kerri A. Burke

Senior Vice President Government Relations
McGuireWoods Consulting LLC

Kerri serves as a senior vice president in the State Government Relations group in the firm’s Raleigh office. In addition to her government relations experience, she possesses extensive communications and grassroots experience from her time with the North Carolina Chamber of Commerce.

Kerri was most recently communications director for the North Carolina Chamber. In that capacity she managed media relations, events marketing and electronic communications; oversaw development and management of the group’s website; produced collateral materials; and assisted the vice president of Government Affairs with the Chamber’s branding, communications and public relations efforts to support its advocacy mission and policy goals. Prior to joining the Chamber, Kerri worked as a registered lobbyist and legislative intern.

Wendy Gates Corbett

President and Chief Presentation Officer
Refresher Training, LLC

Wendy Gates Corbett, CPTD is an experienced international presenter, award-winning presentation consultant, and certified trainer who works with professional athletes, executives, and business leaders who want to become more clear, impactful presenters.

Wendy’s mission is building belonging within people and workplaces. She wants every human being to experience the power and freedom that comes from knowing they belong. She guides organizations in taking the necessary steps to create embracive workplaces (she’ll explain what ‘embracive’ means).

Wendy is the President and Chief Presentation Officer of Refresher Training, LLC. She is a leader in the training industry. She is a past member of the international board of directors for the Association for Talent Development (think ‘IIDA for corporate training’). Wendy speaks all over the world about building confidence, clarity, and powerful presence. She’s designed or delivered more than 2000 presentations in her 20+-year career, including serving as the Slide Designer for TEDx Raleigh.