Interior Design
San Francisco Design Center: I have been a member of the San Francisco Design Center since 2002. And, I am also a past member of the Design Studio Team at the SF Design Center.
ASID: I am a student member of the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID). Through my enrollment in the master’s program at Academy of Art University, I may take advantage of this vast network of more than 40,000 members through a network of 48 chapters throughout the US & Canada. This is a community of people that through education, knowledge sharing, advocacy, community building and outreach strive to advance the interior design profession.
Kitchen and Bath Association: I became a member of The National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) in March 2015. It is the premiere association for kitchen and bath professionals. Fifty years after its inception, the NKBA has a membership of more than 60,000 members and is the proud owner of the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS). They also offer continuing education classes which I plan to take part in to further my design and planning skills.
Home Advisor Pro: Leeza Designs has received the Home Advisor Pro seal of approval. She is considered one of their trusted resources for home design, staging and decorating. This site connects homeowners that have a specific project with pre-screened and approved professionals.
IDDP: International Design and Decorating Professionals (IDDP) is a group of design and decorating professionals dedicated to upholding the highest standards of quality and professionalism in its work. I continue to take classes through Quality of Course to enhance my knowledge base.
Social Responsibility
El Cerrito Rotary Club: I am a past member of the El Cerrito Rotary Club since 2002. And, I have had a long association with Rotary, as my father joined the San Leandro Rotary Club, when I was just 3 years old. Later as a teenager, I had the opportunity to visit Ishiki, Japan through a Rotary Exchange program. A few years back, I invited a friend, Carl Pennypacker who is an astrophysicist, to speak to our club, and now our club sponsors a joint high school astronomy program in Nairobi, Kenya and El Cerrito, CA.
I have received the following recognition from activities involved with the Rotary Club over the past few years:
– March 2007: Received recognition for participating in the productivity enhancement program for contributing to the Russian Architect Delegation
– 2005-2006: Received Rotarian of the Year Award for guidance on the Chamber of Commerce Remodeling Project
– 2003-2004: Received Recognition for work on Club Public Relations
KIVA: Kiva’s mission is to connect people, through lending, for the sake of alleviating poverty.
Kiva empowers individuals to lend to an entrepreneur across the globe. By combining micro-finance with the internet, Kiva is creating a global community of people connected through lending. Currently, Leeza Designs has funded loans to Carmen Margarita in Peru, Theary Mao in Cambodia and Salazar Osorio in Nicaragua. These women have requested loans for things like an iron, wood, nails, and roofing to make a better life for their families.
Education & Career
Academy of Art University, San Francisco: I am currently working on my Master’s in Interior Design. I embrace learning and have found continuing my education to be an invaluable tool.
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UC Berkeley: I have taken continuing education classes in Interior Design and in Home Staging.
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IDDP: I have taken continuing education classes in Interior Design and in Home Staging.
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CSU-Sacramento: I have a B.S. in Business Administration, a Marketing Concentration and a minor in Communications
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Prior to launching Leeza Designs, I worked at Hal Riney & Partners and Goodby, Silverstein & Partners. I worked in Advertising for 8 years prior to joining Albie Johnston Designs in Mill Valley.