Show notes
Today with Chana-Rivka Thierman & Faigy Chaskelson:
Are you attending industry events by wandering the expo floor, visiting the same vendors you already know, collecting business cards, and hoping something valuable comes from the day? There’s a more intentional way to do it.
Today, I’m joined by commercial interior designer Faigy Chaskelson and architect Chana-Rivka Thierman to talk about how they use industry events to build relationships, discover resources, meet peers, and connect with professionals outside their immediate circles. And Faigy truly practices what she preaches. Years ago, she drove more than an hour each way to attend a Window Works Lunch and Learn because she wanted to meet me. That introduction grew into a relationship, and ultimately Faigy was the person who suggested I speak at the Design X Architecture Summit, DXAS. That relationship is also part of the reason the three of us are having this conversation today.
We talk about going into an event with a plan, being selective about whom you want to meet, approaching conversations with genuine curiosity, and following up afterward so a promising introduction has the opportunity to become a real relationship. We also talk about why your relationships with other designers, architects, vendors, builders, and industry professionals can become an important resource for your business.
And, of course, we talk about DXAS, happening December 1st at American Dream in East Rutherford, New Jersey. I attended last year, I’ll be speaking this year, and I genuinely enjoyed the environment they created for learning, sourcing, and actually spending time with people.
If you’re investing a day away from your business to attend a conference, market, or trade show, this conversation will help you make that day count.
The first 100 A Well-Designed Business listeners can attend DXAS for $24.99 with code LUANN26.
More about Chana-Rivka Thierman & Faigy Chaskelson
CHANA-RIVKA THIERMAN
Founder & CEO, THIERMAN Design & Consulting
Chana-Rivka Thierman is a French-registered architect and founder of THIERMAN Design & Consulting, an interior design studio based in the USA. She has international experience across France, Russia, and the United States, with a career spanning architecture, design, workplace strategy, BIM, and construction.
In France, she worked within Bouygues, one of the country’s largest construction groups, including on the construction of the Paris Courthouse designed by Renzo Piano Building Workshop. Working within a large-scale construction environment shaped her understanding of how design connects to execution, coordination, decision-making, and the broader business of building.
Today, she brings that cross-disciplinary perspective to her own design practice and to her involvement in helping shape the programming for DXAS 2026, bringing together perspectives across design, architecture, development, construction, technology, and industry.
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Faigy Chaskelson is an entrepreneur, commercial interior designer, and co-founder of The Artify Group, where she leads business development and builds strategic relationships across the design and architecture community.
She is also the founder and CEO of Styles Design Interiors, a commercial interior design and procurement firm serving senior living, healthcare, multifamily, and public-sector projects.
With experience on both the design and business-development sides of the industry, Faigy has built her career around connecting people, resources, and opportunities. She believes some of the strongest business growth happens when professionals stop simply networking and start intentionally building relationships that create value for everyone at the table.
Connect with Chana-Rivka Thierman & Faigy Chaskelson:
DXAS 2026 - Register here!
Chana’s Website
Faigy’s Website
Chana’s Instagram
Faigy’s Intagram
Chana’s LinkedIn
Faigy’s LinkedIn
Aha Moments with Chana-Rivka Thierman & Faigy Chaskelson:
"I can guarantee that seventy-five percent of the people feel the way you feel. Even if you're in the room with people that you know in the industry, most of the people are afraid... you just have to go over and say hi." -Faigy
"Imagine you're at the event and you're standing by yourself and someone walks up and says, Hi, I'm Luann. Are you a designer too? Do you think any person is gonna be like, How dare you walk up to me at a networking event and say hello to me?" -LuAnn
"You need to be smart also because you won't be able to meet everyone. So you really also need to be selective at the beginning and then things can happen." -Chana
"You should come with a plan. Who do you want to meet? How many of those type of people you want to meet? Because you know there's architects... vendors, if you need a specific source, most likely there's going to be a person in that room for you." -Faigy
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