Can We Talk? Navigating Difficult Client Conversations

With 15 year career in Corporate America as a Registered Dietitian and Human Resources professional, Cheryl launched Dwell by Cheryl Interiors in 2012 seeking a creative outlet and an opportunity to explore her passion for design. After five years and a carefully executed strategic plan designed to help make the transition easier, she made the decision to leave corporate life behind.  Based in Charlotte, North Carolina, Cheryl and her team provide clients with a professional and seamless design experience creating homes that are classic, colorful, cultured and cozy that allow their clients to live their fullest lives.  

 In 2018, she launched her first licensed collection of furniture with Sylvester Alexander called Belle by Cheryl Luckett.  Her work has been published both locally and nationally appearing in Traditional Home, Country Living and Southern Home.   

John McClain is the award-winning principal designer of John McClain Design, with offices in Los Angeles and Orlando.  John’s work has been featured in numerous publications, including Elle Décor and Traditional Home, and he is a contributor to outlets such as Martha Stewart Living, Interior Design and The Wall Street Journal, among others. In addition, John shares his design advice on television programs from HGTV to NBC. In 2016, he launched his own furnishings collection, formerly known as Gilded Home, now John McClain Home. Aesthetically, John marries the luxe sophistication of Hollywood Regency and Art Deco with the simplicity of mid-century modern, all fused with a fresh and current elegance. With a degree in Business Management, John has developed a unique approach to the interior design business model and recently launched an educational platform to help other designers set up and successfully operate their own firms. 

Beth Diana Smith is the owner and principal designer of Beth Diana Smith Interior Design, a full-service interior design firm focused on the discerning client who desires a curated home with thoughtful details. She prides herself on her bold, eclectic style while creating a home’s story through renovation, curated pieces and customized design. Her goal for each client is to have them see another realm of possibility in how they can live.  

After Beth spent more than a decade in corporate accounting and finance, she decided to pursue interior design full time and obtained a degree from the New York School of Interior Design. She brought along a distinct set of skills such as budget management, presentation creation based on client needs and the ability to adapt quickly. These business skills allowed her to manage project/client budgets and the operation of her business, while focusing her design and creativity skills on for each project. Beth has been on NBC and HGTV and featured in various outlets including House Beautiful, Elle Decor, Real Simple, Lonny Magazine and Business of Home.  

Phyllis Harbinger, FASID, CID, is a professional interior designer, author, speaker, and educator.  Since 1993, she has successfully run her award-winning firm, Design Concepts/Interiors, LLC, serving commercial and residential clients worldwide.   

In 2014, Phyllis published The Interior Design Productivity Toolbox, which streamlines processes and systems for interior designers, and also launched her business strategy and coaching business, providing a unique set of tools for designers, architects, and others in the design/build community.   

Phyllis is a tenured adjunct assistant professor of Interior Design at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), teaching Design Studio and Professional Practice for the past twenty years. She is a resident guest host of The Chaise Lounge and The Student Lounge podcasts.