High Point x Design is a movement of change makers, intent upon reimagining High Point as a year-round center of design and creativity. Openness and inclusivity are central tenets. HPxD announced the completion of its thirteen-member board with the appointment of Marie Cloud, principal of Charlotte, NC-based Indigo Pruitt Design Studio, as Diversity and Inclusion Officer.
Commenting on her appointment and HPxD’s genesis, Marie Cloud notes, “As a Black interior designer and business owner, I’ve watched HPxD develop with interest. Regular access to showrooms is very relevant to my interior design practice. But more importantly, it’s increasingly clear that HPxD’s commitment to OPENING is about more than showroom doors. This gets my attention. True openness means seeing and celebrating the diversity of the design community and being intentional about inclusion. I believe High Point CAN be a true city of design and representation. The Diversity and Inclusion Chair formalizes HPxD’s commitment and makes it actionable. I’m excited to get to work.”
Tom Van Dessel, HPxD Chairman and owner of Splashworks notes, “Our team first knew Marie by reputation and via social media, and then had a chance to meet at the June Market. We so appreciated her enthusiasm for the HPxD cause, and also her pointed questions about our diversity and inclusion policy and plans. Together, we saw more is needed. Marie Cloud is a busy designer with a young family. When I asked her if she could even make time to join our board as Diversity and Inclusion Officer, she said, ‘I have time for what’s important.’ I’m delighted Marie said “yes.”
In addition to Van Dessel, the HPxD Board of Directors Executive Officers include Cass Key, Vice President (Woodbridge Furniture); Frank Leyon, Membership Director (Oly); Stancil Wilson, Secretary (Stancil Creative Group); and Jack Hendrix, Treasurer (Hendrix Barney & Co.)
Appointed officers include Tom Verellen (Verellen) and John Muldoon (Cohab.Space), both At-Large Officers, as well as Kathy Devereux, Communications Officer (Devereux Marketing); Sharon Savage, Events Officer (Lancaster); Don Ricardo Massenburg, Designer Officer (Design InKredible); Christen Wilson, Assistant Secretary (Stancil Creative Group), Dudley Moore, Community & Industry Relations Officer (Otto & Moore), and now, Marie Cloud Diversity Officer.
