Spark Exchange

Spark Exchange Poster
Idaho to Igloo
Programmed By Pirie Associates

Every year at Pirie, we set a theme to direct our focus.  2017 is our year of connection.  In alignment with this theme, we decided to host an event to bring together a few creative organizations whose work we admire - to learn what drives them to do what they do. 

We’ve invited three of our excellent collaborators to join us in sharing their stories.  Each of these organizations is fiercely mission-driven, all serving their clients and communities in different ways.  We’ve invited them to talk about what they do - not in the typical elevator-speech sort of way - PechaKucha-style with 20 slides at 20 seconds apiece.  We’ve given them the theme of “Idaho to Igloo,” asking that a word between these two inspires the content of their presentation to encourage a unique and intimate spin. 

For us, it’s inspiring to look outside of our industry to see how others meet their challenges, which in turn leads us to innovate in our own work. We invite you to join us, engage in this fun, informal, and inspiring format and see what new ideas are sparked in your imagination!

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A Pecha Whaa?

PechaKucha
PechaKucha, A Presentation Format Designed to Spark Ideas

Why Idaho to igloo?

Krissy Velardi was Pirie Associates' awesome intern who spent a good portion of her summer helping to conceptulize and plan this event. She developed the theme.

"I had been reading The Sirens of Titan by Kurt Vonnegut, in which a character, Beatrice Rumfoord, has a collection of poems. Between Timid and Timbuktu...because all of the words between deal with time."

Krissy then selected the book-ending words Idaho and Igloo for our event because the words between them deal with ideas...and there are other fun words in the bunch too.

Meet the Speakers

LAURA PIRIE
PRINCIPAL
Laura Pirie founded Pirie Associates Architects in 2002. The award-winning design firm specializes in transformational environments that assist clients in taking what they do to the next level through solutions that are known for a high degree of craft, sensitivity to occupant well-being, and a spiritual-like connection to place and materials. Throughout her 30 year career, Laura has both practiced and taught. Teaching highlights include design-thinking courses for high school students, her on-going appointment as a Lecturer in Architecture at the Yale School of Architecture, and Conscious Pioneer, a personal growth organization she co-founded, which uses ancient wisdom to spur contemporary creativity and leadership development.
KENT SCHWENDY
PRESIDENT/CEO
Kent Schwendy wants to live in a world where everyone has choices, where the half-million bees he keeps never sting, and where The Elements of Style are always utilized. As the President/CEO of CIL, a nonprofit real estate development company, Kent has over 27 years of experience providing his teammates the resources they need to succeed, while also tearing down obstacles that block the path to success.
JEN GRACE BARON
CO-FOUNDER
Jen is an Organization Development leader with a 20-year track record of producing business growth in companies such as eBay, Hewlett Packard and Johnson & Johnson. She is a founding partner of an organization development firm called InspireCorps. Jen enjoys asking new questions and connecting ideas in novel ways about how individuals, teams and organizations can grow faster and be stronger.  Jen holds a B.A. in Industrial Psychology and a Masters in Applied Positive Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania. She has logged over 3000 hours of coaching, earning her the International Coaching Federation Professional Certified Coach (PCC) distinction.
BEN YOUNG
CO-FOUNDER
Ben co-founded Hugo & Hoby during his first year of his MBA with his Yale School of Management roommate, Fred Kukelhaus. Inspired by their grandfathers, Hugo Kukelhaus and Hoby Young, who were designers, crafters, and environmentalists, Ben and Fred set out to make modern, handcrafted furnishings that would last a lifetime. Hugo & Hoby is a furniture company that partners with a network of East Coast craftspeople, from Maine to Appalachia, to make custom, sustainable, and locally crafted furniture more widely accessible for commercial clients. 
This could be you! Want to participate in the fun? We'll be assembling an ad-lib group presentation at the end of the evening. We understand it may take a little extra libation for you to muster up the courage to participate - so if you do - you'll be rewarded with an extra drink on us! When registering, just select the ticket option for "the brave among us" and Becky will be in touch to coordinate your participation.

I'm in!

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