Judges

Amy A Wittenbach

Amy is the Director of Interiors at STG Design. A registered Interior Designer with 20 years of experience, she has been involved in multiple project types working with a diverse group of clients. Her understanding of the powerful intersections of consumer experiences and interior design provides her with unique perspectives to the Donna Figg Design team. Her awards include:

2016 Boardroom Golden Fork (Colonial Country Club Dining Room & Bar, Ft. Worth, TX)
2018 IIDA Excellence Award (Shore Lodge Resort, McCall, ID)
2019 Boardroom Magazine Clubhouse Architect of the Year – Interior Design (Lakeside Country Club Dining Rooms & Bars, Houston, TX)
2019 Golf Inc. Clubhouse of the Year Remodel (Montecito Country Club, Santa Barbara, CA)

Gary Jay Paul

Gary opened his studio upon receiving his Master of Architecture from Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design and his Bachelor of Architecture from the Boston Architectural Center’s School of Architecture. His extensive body of work ranges from new residential construction and renovations, interior and landscape design, as well as commercial design projects. Based in New York City, Gary’s projects have included sites across the United States and in the Caribbean. Gary taught Architecture and Interior Design at Parsons School of Design, NYU, NYIT and at Altos de Chavon, in the Dominican Republic. Gary has been a guest critic at Harvard, Yale, University of Illinois in Chicago and City College of New York, Schools of Architecture. His awards include:

Illinois AIA award for the design of a Residence in Evanston, IL.
2^nd Prize for the design of a “Connecticut Country House”, Washington Ridge, CT.
Design for a Camera Obscura was unanimously selected for construction by the Village Selectmen of the Town of Greenport, New York
House Beautiful selected Gary Paul as one of the 10 best designers for his Park Ridge Showhouse room, in Wilmette, IL
Jenn-Air selected the kitchen in House Beautiful’s Makeover Showhouse, Glencoe, IL as the best showhouse kitchen.

Sharon L. Sherman, CKD, ASID, NCIDQ, CID

Sharon is a Founder and Principal of Thyme & Place Design and is an award winning designer who has been practicing luxury kitchen, bath, and interior design for the past two decades. Her focus is on creating interior environments for her clients that combine health, wellness, function, beauty, and comfort. A former past President of the New Jersey chapter of the American Society of Interior Designers, Sharon is also a member of Kitchen & Bath Business Magazine’s Editorial Advisory Board, a KBB Magazine’s Praiseworthy Pick in 2022 and Kitchen Bath Design News Innovator of the Year award recipient in 2022. Her Award-winning designs and editorial comments have been featured in Forbes, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Design Milk, Furniture Lighting & Décor, Designers Today, and more.

Sandra Diaz-Velasco

Sandra Diaz-Velasco is an internationally recognized architect and interior designer and the founder of the award-winning design firm, Eolo A&I Design in Miami, Florida. She is AIA, ASID, and LEED BD+C certified, with extensive experience in high end residential, commercial, and hospitality projects across the United States and Latin America. Sandra’s designs have been showcased by Architectural Digest, Florida Design, Modern Luxury, Haute Living and Luxe magazines, among others. Her numerous personal awards, career as a speaker at national design events, and role as a judge in competitions have positioned her as a leading visionary in South Florida’s design community. Several of the honors that she has received include:

AIA Miami’s 2017 and 2021 Merit Award for Interior Architecture
Five-year winner of the ASID Design Excellence Award
IIDA Bragg Award for Interior Architecture and Design
Luxe 2019 and 2023 Gold List Honoree

Julie Cavanaugh, CID, ASID

Julie is the Founder and Principal of Design Matters an interior design firm that defines their style and approach as “Livable Luxury”. Born in the Midwest and raised on the East Coast, Julie’s exposure to multiple regional environments created an early passion for homes, architecture, and design, leading to a long and storied career in interior design. Julie completed her education in Interior Design in 1998 and achieved CID licensure and ASID membership in 2002. Shortly thereafter she moved from sole proprietorship and launched her first showroom venue. Today, Design Matters has showrooms in five locations: Menlo Park, Los Gatos, Morgan Hill, CA and Jackson Hole, WY, and Heber Valley, UT. Julie is dedicated to the pursuit of great design and is a thought leader and trusted guide in the interior design community. Design Matters has received many awards and has been featured in several local and national design magazines and a speaker on radio, television, online forums, and colleges/universities. Julie’s style reflects a unique and unparalleled design sensibility, combining form, function, and beauty.

Jennifer M Peterson, NCIDQ

Jennifer is the founder and owner of J. Peterson Design, LLC, a kitchen, bath and interior design firm. She has a Bachelors degree in Interior Design from Michigan State University, is a member of NCIDQ and also has passed the CKD exam. Jenn brings over 30 years of experience and a refined eye for detail to a wide range of residential projects. Known for her strengths in space planning and project management, she has worked with a diverse client base, including professional athletes. Jenn has successfully led her own business for 17 years, serving clients in the Chicago area, southwest Michigan, and Atlanta, GA. Jenn has deep expertise in design and uses it in combination with her commitment to functionality and aesthetics. Outside of work, she enjoys reading, gardening, and cooking— pursuits that inspire her designs and enrich her life.