PURCHASE TICKETS

2021 SPEAKERS

RAY BOOTH

INTERIOR DESIGNER
​Nashville, TN

An alumnus of Auburn University’s School of Architecture, Ray Booth began his career at McALPINE, a residential architecture and interior design firm. The first phase of his career took him to New York where he had successful tenures in the offices of such distinguished design talents as John Saladino.

A decade later, reuniting with Bobby McAlpine, his former professor, Ray returned to McALPINE as a partner in its interior design firm. These days, Ray divides his time between the firm’s Nashville office and its expanded New York office, which allows him to keep one foot in the city and other in his native south.

Ray is the author of Evocative Interiors, his bestselling first book published by Rizzoli.  Ray’s work has received significant recognition from the nation’s most prestigious publications.

In 2019, Ray launched his inaugural furniture collection with Hickory Chair as well as a lighting and accessory collection with Arteriors.
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BOBBY MCALPINE

ARCHITECT
Atlanta, GA

Born in an Alabama sawmill town, Bobby McAlpine designed his first house at the age of five and hasn’t stopped since. Architect, romantic, poet, and entrepreneur, he envisions home as a timeless, graceful, and emotionally evocative place. From the time he founded his design firm in 1983, he has realized this ideal in a diverse array of traditional styles and regional vernaculars.

Today, his firm McALPINE embraces a brilliant and eclectic family of architects and interior designers with offices in Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia and New York. Their designs include hundreds of residences, restaurants, private chapels, hotels, a school, and a family compound on a private island in the Caribbean. Their extensive portfolio has been widely published in several books and lifestyle publications. Bobby’s popular furniture line with LEE Industries is available nationwide.

Bobby is the author of The Home Within Us, co-author of Art of the House, and his third critically acclaimed book, Poetry of Place, quickly became and remains a Rizzoli bestseller.

LAURA DOWLING

FLORAL DESIGNER
Washington, D.C.

After studying French floral art in Paris with extended training in Germany, Laura Dowling established a successful floral design business in Washington, D.C. before taking on the role of Chief Floral Designer for the White House from 2009 until 2015. As creative director for flowers and décor, she managed White House floral design for thousands of official and private events as well as large-scale installations such as the Fourth of July and the iconic White House Christmas. Her floral creations also graced Camp David and the Presidential private residence. 

Laura is an annual presenter at the Philadelphia Flower Show, the nation’s oldest and largest flower expo. Her designs have been featured in magazines and on HGTV. Laura was commissioned by the U.S. Postal Service to design a collection of holiday wreath stamps that were launched nationwide on October 25, 2019. She is the author of Floral Diplomacy at the White House, A White House Christmas and Wreaths. Her newest book Bouquets was released earlier this year. ​


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KEITH WILLIAMS

LANDSCAPE DESIGNER
Palm Beach, FL

Keith Williams is partner and lead designer at Nievera Williams, a landscaping architecture firm who plans and develops landscape projects for residential estates, civic and community parks and corporate and institutional campuses, as well as resorts and hotels. Keith has had an integral role in a wide range of residential and commercial landscape projects throughout Palm Beach, the Northeastern United States, Bahamas, Miami Beach and Shanghai, China. 

Born and raised in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, Williams discovered his passion for design at a young age. He is also inspired by the work of Thomas Church and Beatrix Ferrand. 

Williams is currently working on the restoration and renovation for a significant landmarked Palm Beach residence designed by noted architect, Mario Sims Wyeth, in the late 1920’s. Current commercial work includes design for the new landscape and site improvements for the Design Center of the Americas in Dania Beach, Florida (DCOTA). 

Williams’ work has been featured in several design publications. He is the author of The Graphic Garden released May 2020.


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MARGOT SHAW

FLOWER MAGAZINE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Birmingham, AL

Margot Shaw is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Flower Magazine. Now in its 12th year, the magazine has grown to include features on homes, gardens, entertaining, and lifestyle. Margot is a sought-after speaker at antique & garden shows, museums, botanical gardens, interior design centers, and more. She is the author of the newly released book, Living Floral: Entertaining and Decorating with Flowers, published by Rizzoli.


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