President's Letter

Dear ASID San Diego Chapter Members,

Last week, we celebrated our incredible ASID San Diego community at our Volunteer Appreciation & Board Installation Dinner. The evening was filled with positive energy, warmth, and a little bit of magic, the kind that happens when a great community comes together.

Thank you to everyone who volunteered their time and talents this past year, and to all of you who show up, participate, and make our chapter stronger. A special thank you to our outgoing board members—Kirsten Recce, Kendra Araujo, Julia Porretta, Nicole Gesli and Theresa Staine. It was truly a pleasure working with you this past year.

I’m also excited to welcome our new and returning leadership team. 

It is an honor to serve as your Chapter President. My own interior design career began here in San Diego, and ASID played an important role in helping me build my business, my professional network, and my value as a designer.

After more than a decade away from San Diego, and having rebuilt my professional network in both San Francisco and Berlin, I have a new appreciation for the value of our ASID community. The connections we make with fellow designers, vendors, trades, mentors, and industry partners are an important resource, whether we’re just starting out or have been practicing for years.

As we look ahead, our focus for the year is: EDUCATE. CONNECT. INSPIRE.

We want your ASID membership to provide real value through education, shared knowledge, meaningful connections, and experiences that inspire us as designers.

ASID Peer Groups Are Coming Back!
We’re working to relaunch our Peer Group Program, creating small groups of designers who can meet regularly to share ideas and help one another navigate everything from sourcing and contracts to fees, invoicing, business challenges, and more.

I know firsthand how valuable this can be. When I started my business, fellow ASID San Diego member Anne Kellett was always there to answer questions, offer support, and even collaborate on projects. Those relationships, and the opportunity to help one another grow, are what make this community special.

Our volunteers are working hard to bring you meaningful, relevant, and inspiring programs throughout the year. I hope you’ll join us, get involved, meet someone new, and make the most of your ASID community. See you there! 

Here’s to a great year of educating, connecting, and inspiring one another!

Warmly,
Kristy Kropat
President, ASID San Diego Chapter