Student & Educator Coffee Break – Invite Only

Voices from the Industry is proud to feature Laura Kohler as keynote speaker for 2027. Laura Kohler is the Global Business Ambassador for Kohler Co., having previously served as Chief Sustainable Living Officer and in executive HR and communications roles. A Kohler Board Director since 1999, she serves on its Executive and Pension Investment Committees and chairs Kohler’s three Trusts: Clean Water, Arts and Education, and Preservation.

Beyond her corporate leadership, Laura is the Chair of the African Wildlife Foundation, Chair-Elect of the National Housing Endowment, and a Global Ambassador for Outward Bound International. She also currently serves on the boards of the John Michael Kohler Arts Center, Kohler Foundation, 50L Home Coalition, and the KB Home Sustainability Advisory Board. Her previous board service includes Bank First National and a 12-year tenure with Outward Bound USA, where she served as both Board Chair and Safety Chair.

Please note that space is limited for all of these special events, and seating is available exclusively to VFTI registrants on a first-come, first-served basis.

The demand for luxury in interiors has moved beyond aspiration. It is now a client expectation across budgets. From dramatic natural stone feature walls and book-matched marble countertops to dimensional tile, specialty porcelains, intricate mosaics, custom cabinetry, statement hardware, technology, custom storage, and highly personalized details, today’s clients want spaces that feel distinctive, elevated, and emotionally connected to how they live.

This dynamic panel brings together acclaimed designers for a coast-to-coast conversation on what defines luxury now and what clients are requesting in today’s interiors, and what’s emerging next. This panel offers a unique opportunity to hear what is being used in active luxury design projects as well as what is being seen nationally from an editorial point of view. Jeanne and Alena will discuss how they use surfaces, textures, patterns, finishes, storage, lighting, technology, and custom detailing to create impact, whether working on a modest remodel or a high-end residence, while Chelsie will share the materials, products, and design directions she is seeing across the kitchen and bath industry. The panel will also address where to splurge, where to save, and how thoughtful material selections can stretch a budget without sacrificing the feeling of luxury.