Judges

Vanessa Tantalo, ARIDO

Vanessa Tantalo is the Owner and Principal of Tanolo Tech Integration Inc., a Building Code and Accessibility Consulting Firm. As a Registered Interior Designer with 18 years of experience in various sectors including Corporate, Seniors Living, Multi-Family Residential, Retail, Commercial, Industrial, Municipal, etc. Vanessa leverages her expertise and project understanding as a designer in combination with her technical expertise in building code and accessibility to support Interior Designers and Architects. Vanessa is an active member of ARIDO, IDC, CIDQ and APN and holds BCIN Large Building Certification through the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing. Vanessa works as part-time faculty with Humber College’s Bachelor of Interior Design Program, which provides her with an opportunity to educate the next generation of Interior Designers in Ontario. Driving her passion for accessibility , Vanessa is always leading with an inclusive lens as an RHFAC Professional and also sits on the City of Brampton Accessibility Advisory Committee as a volunteer member.

Joe Persia, ARIDO

Known for creating fresh and memorable environments, Joe is a seasoned designer and creative leader with nearly two decades of industry experience. His career propelled when he co-founded Green Tangerine Design, an award-winning interior design and architecture studio specializing in hospitality, retail, and commercial environments. In 2020, Joe shifted gears to broaden his expertise and joined one of Canada’s leading architectural firms, where he managed their interior design studio. Currently, he leads design and architectural direction for a top-tier residential and mid-rise developer.

Beyond his professional pursuits, Joe’s intellectual curiosity drives him to be a lifelong learner, guest speaker, active industry volunteer, and dedicated mentor to the next generation of designers.

Erin Neufeglise, ARIDO

Erin Neufeglise is a Registered Interior Designer with over a decade of experience bringing commercial spaces to life. After graduating from Sheridan College, she has specialized in retail interiors and has held increasingly senior roles at leading design firms, as well as on the client-side. Throughout her career, Erin has crafted innovative and impactful retail, hospitality and workplace environments, overseeing the design process and advocating for the needs of users with passion. As a Senior Manager of Design at a leading financial institution, she manages the design of major projects across Canada in addition to leading the concept development for multiple pilot programs and initiatives, aligning business strategies with physical design solutions. Erin’s work has been recognized with multiple awards, highlighting her commitment to design excellence and innovation.

Jeremy Mendonca, ARIDO

Jeremy Mendonca is a practising Interior Designer based in Toronto. His career has led him to work with leading interior design firms in the city where he has been involved with award winning and critically acclaimed projects locally, nationally and internationally, and with typologies ranging from retail to hospitality, high- rise and single family residential, to institutional and educational facilities. In addition to recent work with BAIDA! (Black Architects and Interior Designers Association Canada), and involvement with the ARIDO STAR Leadership Mentorship 2024 Program, he continues to support the next generation of designers by lecturing, coaching and providing class critiques at numerous local and regional schools of interior design, He is currently focused on the growth and development of his practice- JMStudio- which is a full service ID consultancy in the commercial, residential and custom furnishings sectors.