A look at our past Luxury Conference in Chicago, IL.
Wednesday, November 5, 2025
Hosted by The Merchandise Mart & JennAir
The Chicago Luxury Conference was incredible, as always.
There were a number of new faces this year, which brought a fresh energy to the room. The marketing panel definitely created a buzz—moderated by Pamela McNally—and it continued to be a topic of conversation well after the session wrapped. It was honest, relevant, and reflective of what many are navigating right now.
The progressive breakfast was a strong addition this year, and the lunch roundtable breakout groups created space to actually get to know people on a deeper level. It didn’t feel rushed or surface-level.
Jenn Zella spoke on The Open Blueprint: Designing for Possibility, Not Constraint, and it was one of those sessions that stayed with you. She was direct, encouraging, and clear in her message, pushing people to think differently and take action.
The panels carried that same level of depth throughout the day. Agents of Change focused on what’s actively shifting in luxury real estate and why it matters. Open Horizons leaned into expansion and what it actually looks like to grow into new markets. And the Realtor and Financial Experts panel grounded everything with a clear look at the data, trends, and economic realities shaping where things are headed.
It was the kind of day where the conversations didn’t just stay in the room.
Conference SOLD-OUT
AfterGLOW Party Tickets Still Available!
November 5, 2025
Conference Schedule
Central Time Zone
8:30 am – 09:50 am
Progressive Breakfast
Speaker Facilitator: Deborah Flate, CEO & Founder, Dialogue Consulting
09:50 am – 10:15 am
Check-In, Photo & Video Opportunity
Step onto the PowerHouse stage for your professional photos and video
moments at the step-and-repeat with Core5Creative and Darren Joshua Photography.
10:15 am – 11:00 am
Open Minds, Open Markets
Embracing an open mindset leads to transformative collaborations,
new opportunities, and market expansion.
Speaker: Wendy Cohen, CEO, PowerHouse Recruiting/PowerHouse SMART & Luxury Conferences
Recognizing Emerging Leaders
Honorees:
Terese Poulos , Principal Designer, Relic Design
Adam Max, Team Lead /Managing Broker & 2026 NSBAR Secretary/Treasurer, Advisors North at Compass
11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Keynote Speaker
The Open Blueprint: Designing for Possibility, Not Constraint
Explore how openness fuels creativity, adaptability, and innovation
in the luxury design and development world.
Speaker: Jenn Zella, Cofounding Principal + Chief Visionary Officer, CID Design Group
12:00 pm – 1:15 pm
Lunch Roundtable Breakout Groups
The Power of Open: Shaping the Future Through Mindset & Collaboration, Sponsored by Scott Byron & Co.
Expert Moderators:
Jacob Rimatzki, Principal, JR Interior Design
Seth Romig, Principal, Seth Romig Architect
Marla Cloos, Founder, Construct My Future
Daniel Baigelman, Principal/Architect, Full Circle Architects
Steve Melnick, Owner, Heartstone Custom Builders
Elizabeth Cohen, Principal, EC Consulting
George Markoutsas, CEO, Ablaze Design Group
Mark Benner, Founder, Mark Eric Benner -Architects, Ltd.
Wesley Crocket, Co-Owner/General Manager, Mahogany Builders
Lauren Coburn, Principal Designer, Lauren Coburn LLC
Adrienne Frazier, Vice President Business Strategy, Frazier Homes
Jasmin Reese, Owner & Principal, Jasmin Reese Interiors
Pipa Bradbury, Founder Creative Director, Pipa Bradbury Design
Amy Storm, Principal Designer, Amy Storm & Company
Michael Menn, Principal Architect & Owner, MM LTD.
Raad Ghantous, Owner & Principal Designer, Raad Ghantous & Associates
Nancy Jacobson, Principal/Owner, Kitchen Design Partners
1:30 pm – 2:00 pm
Open Market: Agents of Change, The Power Moves Shaping Luxury Living
Agents of Change brings top brokers to the table to reveal who’s moving,
why it matters, and how tech and lifestyle trends are reshaping luxury real estate.
Expect insights, bold predictions, and what’s next for high-end living.
Speaker Panel: Realtors & Financial Experts deliver a data-driven deep dive into economic
trends, real estate movements, and financial insights shaping the luxury market’s future.
Speakers:
Carrie McCormick, Broker, @properties | Christie’s Int. RE
Connie Antoniou, Sr VP, Jameson Sotheby’s International Realty
Brian Jessen, Sr Mortgage Loan Professional, Wintrust Mortgage
2:00 pm – 2:35 pm
Open Horizons: Expanding Your Brand into New Luxury Markets
A strategic discussion on breaking into new regions, navigating emerging opportunities, and
scaling luxury design, architecture, and development businesses.
Speakers:
Claire Staszak, Owner & Principal Designer, Centered by Design
Nathan Kipnis, FAIA, LEED BD+C, Founder & Principal, Kipnis Architecture + Planning
Gary Kraemer, Founder & Chairman of the Board, John Kraemer & Sons
Moderator:
Elizabeth Cohen, Principal, EC Consulting
2:35 pm – 2:45 pm
Ten-Minute Break
2:45 pm – 3:20 pm
Open Lens: Capturing Design Excellence in Print
A behind-the-scenes look at the journey from concept to publication—how a photographer
and top design visionaries brought their work to life in a coffee table book.
Speakers:
Ryan Hainey, Founder & Owner, RH Photography
Amy Carman, Owner & Principal, Amy Carmen Design
Kelly Brainerd, Founder/Creative Director, KMB Design/Consulting
Philip Sassano, Principal & Design Lead, The Design Coach, LLC
3:20 pm – 3:30 pm
Ten-Minute Break
3:30 pm – 4:45 pm
Open Influence: The New Rules of Photography,
Social Media & Public Relations
An expert-led session on leveraging luxury industry marketing, photography,
public relations, influencer marketing, and social media to showcase your
work, connect with ideal clients and stay relevant in a competitive industry.
Speakers:
Jennifer McGraw, Owner, Jennifer McGraw PR
Lynn Walsh, Owner, Walsh Communications
Eric Nelson, Owner, Core5Creativ Marketing
Darren Leonardi, Owner, Darren Joshua Photography
Leanne Reichhoff, Owner + CEO, Re3Creative
Moderator:
Pamela McNally, Head of Field Marketing + Market Development, HOUZZ
4:45 pm – 5:30 pm
Connections That Count: Building Business With Purpose
The Power Connector Challenge: Who Will Wear the Crown?
Compete to Build the Most Meaningful Connections in the Room
A lively challenge to see who can forge the most authentic connections to elevate yourself, your teams and your community. Move, mingle, and collect meaningful exchanges — and you just might be crowned the ultimate Power Connector of the conference.
Speaker Facilitators:
Rebecca Pogonitz, GOGO Design Group
Darrell Katz, Impact Training Solutions
5:30 pm – 7:30 pm
AfterGLOW Cocktail Party & Luxury Raffle
Benefitting Designs for Dignity, hosted by Calia Stone
“A Final Toast Together & Luxury Raffle Giving Back”
Raise a glass to new connections and ideas at the final networking event of the day.
Celebrate raffle winners while giving back to the PowerHouse philanthropic mission.
Raffle Winners Selected; Winners must be present.
Toast Master, Gordon Held, Co-President/Owner, Scott Byron & Co