The American Society of Interior Designers - Illinois Chapter (ASID-IL) announces its new Board of Directors for the 2010-2011 fiscal year, which began Oct. 1. The eight-member volunteer board comprises ASID-IL professional, allied and student members and industry partners.

The 2010-2011 ASID Illinois Chapter Board Members arePresident:Michelle Banks Watt, ASID, LEED AP Michelle Banks Interiors of Naperville, Ill.;President-elect:Jessica Henn-Suh, ASID Crusiét Corporation of Chicago;Financial Director:Christine Waechter, Allied Member ASID Constantine Carpets of Chicago;Director-at-Large:Sarah Kastenholz, Allied Member ASID Chicago;Membership Director:Ashleigh Lessard,  Allied Member ASID Chicago;Professional Development Director:Patricia Mackey, Allied Member ASID Key Interiors, Inc. of New Lenox, Ill.;Communication Director:Kelley Myers, Industry Partner Representative FCA Design Center of Naperville, Ill.;Student Representative to the Board:Laurie Handelman, Student Member ASID Handelman lives in Naperville, Ill., and attends the College of DuPage;Past President:Joan Kaufman, ASID, LEED AP Interior Planning & Design, Inc. of Naperville, Ill.; andAdministrator:Elizabeth Boaden of Chicago.

“Our volunteers have tripled over the last three years and we want to keep that enthusiasm growing,” she said. “This year, we are placing heavy emphasis on our ‘emerging professionals’ program, which focuses on designers who have been in the workforce for fewer than five years.”

Enhancements to the “emerging professionals” program include job-hunting fairs, educational seminars that get to the heart of finding jobs by outlining the best resume-building techniques, key training and ways to leverage networking opportunities. In addition, the chapter has started a peer group for the budding interior designers as a forum to discuss mutual issues they face.

“Many of the up-and-coming designers have found jobs because of the opportunities our chapter presents. Our goal is to keep this momentum going strong,” Banks Watt noted.

For more information about ASID-IL, visitwww.asidillinois.com, or call the ASID Illinois Chapter headquarters at (312) 467-5080.