Education environment designers consider modular and stacking seating, cafe tables, and tech-based solutions as Best of NeoCon jurors
May 25, 2025 — by Eileen McMorrow — NeoCon, the world’s premier fair for commercial design, is pleased to announce a powerhouse jury for the 2025 Best of NeoCon Awards. The competition includes these categories for the team of jurors of specialize in education environments: Furniture for modular and stacking seating, cafe tables, task lighting, technology accessories and support devices, and technology-integrated solutions.
Now in its 35th year, the industry-leading competition features an on-site panel of top architects, designers, facility managers and business media who will conduct an in-depth review of the latest solutions shaping contract environments. The program brings together multidisciplinary professionals across workplace, healthcare, education, retail and hospitality sectors to evaluate 40 plus categories — from furnishings and architectural products to surface materials and more.
With specialized knowledge of design for college, university and K-12 educational environments, the 2025 roster includes these professionals:
Toni Gock Wyre, owner/principal, DesignWyre Studio, Conway, Arkansas, and the director of the interior design program at the University of Central Arkansas, serving over 100 students and 10-12 faculty. She designs professionally for her own company, DesignWyre Studio where she has achieved award-winning work for Frito Lay Corporation. She recently completed a public library installation and is working on a court house/justice center. Her career spans over 25 years across all sectors of design, with an emphasis on corporate/workplace, education and healthcare interiors. Toni served as the Chair of the National Board of Directors for ASID in 2022-23 and became a Fellow of the organization in 2021. She currently serves as a concept advisor for the International WELL Building Institute.
“I have served previously as a NeoCon juror and have been a long-time attendee of the show since 2002. I appreciate seeing the products from the perspective of a juror. I’ve had such a long career and have specified well over $100 million in furnishings over the past two decades, working across all sectors of design. I’m happy to share the benefit of my experiences with various product and furniture vendors as well as learn from fellow jurors and manufacturer representatives. I believe many people would be surprised at the high caliber of projects we are able to work on in Arkansas, and this is also an important viewpoint that is often underserved. As both a LEED AP and WELL AP, I find value in contributing to solutions that create net benefit for planet and people – serving as a juror also allows me to weigh on on these aspects of design where appropriate and indicated.”
Merrilee Hertlein, principal, Mackey Mitchell Architects, St. Louis, has an extensive background in interior design and space planning, finding innovative solutions to create award-winning student life spaces that are both inviting and infused with identity, while always maintaining awareness of the client’s budget, schedule, and need for functionality, durability, and ease of maintenance. She builds strong relationships with clients that result not only in well-informed decisions to achieve project goals, but friendships that continue long after the project has ended. Merrilee is a regular presenter with both colleagues and clients at national industry conferences, including the Association of College & University Housing Officers-International (ACUHO-I).
“I participated in the Best of NeoCon in 2019 and found the experience inspiring. As a senior design professional, interacting with the other design professionals (both jurors and entrants) was a valuable progression of my NeoCon experience and inspired me to continue to mentor other young designers in my firm. Judging again will continue to enhance and spark my creativity and desire to mentor other young designers on their journey through the profession.”
Hertlein will also serve as an emcee for the Best of NeoCon Awards presentation on Monday, June 9 in THE MART Presentation Studio.
Alaina Penn, interior designer, Praxis3, Atlanta, work with clients from programming to project concept, schematic design and design development, to furniture and finishes, with visualization through 3D renderings. In addition to creating the interior architecture and design of spaces, she ensures they come to life through construction documentation and administration. Penn also connects with the Praxis3 architecture and environmental graphics teams to provide full-service projects to clients with efficiency and cohesion from the inside out.
“I absolutely love NeoCon! It’s honestly an experience I look forward to every year, due to my love of furniture and finishes! After serving as a 2024 Juror, I got to experience NeoCon in a new way that not only increases my love for it, but expands my knowledge. Venturing out to new product categories and gaining the insights and back stories on the product processes and procurements as a juror was so fascinating, adding an extra layer to appreciating the final product. I’m eager to continue learning, staying relevant with the latest and greatest, and being able to share that knowledge with others. Serving as a juror is a great way to do so. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my experience thus far and look forward to returning!”
Emily Perrotta, senior project designer, associate, Ballinger, Philadelphia, has 20 years of experience and has designed award-winning interiors with Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects and Ballinger. A graduate of Drexel University, her design creativity and extensive knowledge of materials and furniture has contributed to cultural landmarks including the Barnes, the Hood Museum of Art at Dartmouth College, and the Obama Presidential Center. Emily has served previously as a juror for the Best of NeoCon, and is a member of the International Interior Design Association (IIDA), certified by the Council of Interior Design Qualifications (CIDQ), and a U.S. Green Building Council LEED Accredited-professional. She will serve as the Best of NeoCon education team leader.
“The Best of NeoCon experience is rewarding and a great way to give back to the industry I love,” Perrotta shares.. I have made great professional connections and expanded my knowledge of product offerings to share with our design firm.”
Jinmin Rhee, associate partner, Pei Cobb Freed and Partners, New York, holds degrees in both Architecture and Interior Design and is an active member of AIA, IIDA, as well as a LEED BD+C and WELL-accredited professional with over 20 years of experience. She has a strong focus on educational environments, bridging design innovation with practical functionality, shaping spaces that inspire learning, collaboration, and new ways of working. She has successfully led diverse projects spanning higher education, corporate offices, cultural spaces, and medical facilities, combining a deep understanding of form and function with a passion for timeless design. Rhee excels in seamlessly integrating architecture and interiors to create cohesive, engaging environments, working closely with clients to transform their visions into reality, with a strong focus on quality and innovation.
“Serving as a NeoCon juror is a chance to contribute to design excellence, evaluate innovation firsthand, and stay connected to where the industry is heading. I love having the chance to see new products up close and compare them side by side—it’s a rare opportunity to really evaluate what’s working, what’s innovative, and what truly supports the kinds of spaces we design, especially in education,” says Rhee. “With demand for furniture that shapes adaptable, high-performing spaces on the rise, it’s more important than ever to recognize products that truly support the new ways we learn, work, and connect.”
Brad Robichaux, global practice director, Education Interiors, HKS, Dallas, leads the strategic vision and direction, working closely with regional and studio leaders to guide planning, staffing, innovation, and client engagement across diverse K-12, higher education, and student housing environments. His role bridges creative leadership and business strategy—ensuring design quality, integration of firmwide expertise, and sustained client relationships. A champion professional development, equity, and design excellence, Robichaux aligns the HKS global team to deliver impactful learning spaces that support student success and community well-being.
“I’m passionate about the impact that well-designed environments—and the products that support them—can have on learning, wellness, and human connection. Participating as a Best of NeoCon juror offers a unique opportunity to engage with the forefront of commercial design innovation and contribute to recognizing products that push our industry forward. I bring a cross-sector perspective, a deep understanding of how products perform in real-world environments, and a strong commitment to design excellence. I’m excited by the chance to exchange ideas with peers from diverse backgrounds and to help spotlight solutions that truly enhance the built environment.”
Jurors will engage in an immersive evaluation of every Best of NeoCon entry — allowing for careful deliberation, meaningful dialogue with manufacturers, and product testing. This face-to-face exchange, paired with the jury’s thorough onsite assessment, upholds the Best of NeoCon program’s reputation as the most trusted industry benchmark for design excellence.
“Each year, we select a jury with a keen understanding of how products influence the built environment,” remarks Eileen McMorrow, Director of the Best of NeoCon Program. “Their expertise — from both the interior design perspective and the facility manager and end-user experience — is invaluable in recognizing solutions that push the industry forward.”
The jury will evaluate each entry in-person at THE MART in Chicago on June 6 and 7, before the show opens. Winners will be unveiled during a high-energy ceremony on Monday, June 9, at 7:30 a.m., kicking off the 56th edition of NeoCon.
Awards are given for Gold, Silver, Innovation and Sustainability, and the singular Best of Competition honor. The Business Impact Awards will also return, recognizing products that drive organizational performance through smarter workflows, cost savings, space optimization and other strategic outcomes. Business Impact finalists will advance to a second round of on-site review by a panel of business journalists from The New York Times T Magazine, Forbes, Newsweek, Vogue Business and Morning Brew, among other notable publications.
This year, NeoCon attendees will also be able to weigh in on innovations through the inaugural People’s Choice Awards. This peer-to-peer recognition allows industry professionals to vote for their favorite Best of NeoCon-winning products via QR codes displayed in award recipients’ booths and showrooms throughout THE MART, during the show. The winners will be revealed on Wednesday, June 11.
NeoCon 2025 is open to trade, C-suite executives, and other industry-related professionals, and registration is free for all attendees. Register here.