The 2025 27th Annual PAVE GALA celebrated the Next Design Talent Generation on Thursday, December 11, 2025.
On that date, the PAVE Global community came together at Guastavino’s Event Venue in New York City for the 27th edition of the PAVE Gala, when educators, industry leaders, students, brand representatives, and design firms gathered for a great evening of philanthropy, awards, and networking.
To understand more of what PAVE Global is all about, check out the following video highlighting Nicholas Alexis, a Marketing Communications and Advertising student from The Fashion Institute of Technology:
Focus on Design
The Annual PAVE GALA focuses on design, connecting the next generation of design talent and professionals with industry professionals. The 28th 2026 PAVE GALA will also be at Guastavinos’ in New York on December 10, 2026.
At the 2025 event, Frank DiLella, On Stage on Spectrum News NY1 host, kicked off the night, emphasizing the clear line between retail design and theater.
Joe Bear, PAVE Global President, then welcomed everyone and reflected that, in 2025, PAVE reached educators and students at over 400 schools in 50 countries, providing more than $160,000 in financial support through mentorships, scholarships, student aid, and educational experiences.
PAVE Student Visionary Award
The PAVE awards program continued with a presentation by Project Coordinator Nikki Naar and PAVE Executive Director Dash Nagel titled “Inspired by Design: PAVE Student Visionary Award,” honoring students whose projects show originality, clear thinking, and a well-rounded view of how the public experiences design.
In 2025, the awarded visionaries were Leilianni Hubbard (Kean University), Phoebe Nguyen (Illinois State University), and Shambhavi Sanjay (New York School of Interior Design). Each of these students received $10,000 to support next projects.
These visionaries are expected to have bright futures as innovative and creative business leaders in the world of retail design., and becoming successful leaders, they will also have to learn to ask for and take advice, a key trait of effective leaders.
As the PAVE GALA progressed, more scholarships were awarded and student experiences highlighted to underscore the strength and meaningfulness of PAVE partnerships with industry leaders who understand and are willing to explain to future design professionals core industry principles, such as the 80/20 rule, one of the key elements in any aspects of business and life in general.
Barb Pohner (Knovo Partner and President) awarded, for example, Christie Chirinos (Virginia Commonwealth University) with the inaugural “Knovo Technology in Design Innovation” scholarship.
Ken Park (Fashion Institute of Technology) was honored with the ChangeUp Scholarship & Experience by Marty McCauley (ChangeUp Creative Director), and Emmy Saltzman (Appalachian State University) was recognized by Jerry Fox (Bish Creative President) for her outstanding approach to in-store design.
Later, the “euro-a-go-go Retail Design Experience Award” was presented by Deborah Toffoli (euro-a-go-go) and Mardi Najafi (SDI Design and euro-a-go-go creative director) to Jenny-Bae Huggon (Sheridan College) recognizing her research-driven artistic work focused on sensory design influences and how the public experiences retail spaces.
Focus on Professional Excellence
Following a wonderful dinner, the the program focused on professional excellence and innovation in retail design. Carly Hagedon (VMSD) and Eric Feigenbaum (VMSD and PAVE Global) awarded the “VMSD Excellence in Visual Merchandising” honors to Longchamps, Printemps, and Brooks Brothers, recognizing their engaging, thoughtfully designed retail environments.
Nick Travelstead (Travelstead President) and Carly Hagedon presented the “PAVE & VMSD New York Window Award” recognizing the most outstanding holiday retail windows in New York City, and the Specialty Store award went to House of Dior followed by the LEGO Store (Rockefeller Center). The Department Store winner was Bergdorf Goodman, while Saks Fifth Avenue came in as runner-up.
PAVE Rising Star Award
Later that evening, the next generation of design talent took center stage. Andrew Cooper and Michael O’Connor (ASI | Architectural Systems) awarded the “PAVE Rising Star Award” to promising, young design professionals that made an impact across the industry. Alongside Catherine Keywan (Bergmeyer), the honors went to Olivia Van Deusen (ChangeUp) and Jacob Tyler (Arcadis).
Next came the “PAVE Educator of the Year” Award, presented by Cindi Kato (Emeritus PAVE President and Principal at Arcadis) and Lauren Chipman (PAVE Board Member and Chipman Design Architecture CEO). This year, the prestigious award honored Elgin Cleckley (University of Virginia Professor of Architecture and Empathic Design Director), recognizing his dedication to valuation of support staff, mentorship, design education, and leadership.
PAVE Student Design Competition
Then it was time for the Hershey Company-sponsored “PAVE Student Design Competition,” where students had to design a snacking location within a grocery store, creating an immersive and fun experience highlighting the Hershey’s family of brands while using innovative technology, dynamic lighting, sensory design, and interaction.
Tiffany Pieja (Permanent Merchandising) and Steve Calhoun (Retail Design Manager at The Hershey Company), supported by Anne Farniok (Educator at the University of Minnesota and PAVE Global Board Member) honored Emmy Saltzman (Appalachian State University) Makayla Hall (Fanshawe College) and Natalie Opdebeeck (Fanshawe College) for their creative and innovative designs for the Hershey challenge.
Throughout the evening, all PAVE GALA guests were stimulated to support PAVE’s initiatives through fundraising, initiated by a wonderful and generous donation by Bunzl Retail Services, and thanks to the financial support of sponsors, attendees, and table hosts, the PAVE GALA proceeds exceeded the $30,000 fundraising goal!
The 2025 27th Annual PAVE GALA ended with a great after-party (hosted by IA), finishing a wonderful night at New York’s Guastavino’s that united the entire PAVE Global community around creative design, design education, and the next generation of design professionals.