Kellie Sirna, principal of Studio 11 Design, judge of the 2016 Wave of the Future Award, and gold-level winner of the American Business Awards Woman of the Year 2016, has spent nearly 15 years in the hospitality design industry developing her client-focused approach and ultimately creating a firm that is talented, nimble and energetic. Now, Kellie’s hospitality projects can be found around the world—from Dallas where Studio 11 is based, to east and west coasts of the U.S. in California and Massachusetts, to international markets like Turks and Caicos and Haiti.

Kellie helms the business development arm of Studio 11 and strategically launched two new services to differentiate her boutique firm from competitors: Brand Society, a brand identity component, and Lou Verne by Studio 11 Design, an in-house creative team specializing in art installations.

Kellie draws from experiences at the University of North Texas, where she studied Interior Design and Merchandising; global hospitality design firm DESIGN Duncan Miller Ullmann, where she managed design work, business development and PR initiatives; and months spent traveling in Europe learning about the design and architecture styles abroad. She finds inspiration in mentorship—Kellie is involved in NEWH, the Dallas Women in Business Enterprise, and Young Leaders in Hospitality. She is also a member of the Hospitality Design Magazine board and participated as a product design juror at the 2016 HD Awards. In her spare time, Kellie is involved with Delete Blood Cancer DKMS, the world’s largest bone marrow donor center.