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Our Team
Rue Sakayama
Executive Director
rue@designxri.com
Rue Sakayama (she/her) is a photographer, artist, and all-around plant enthusiast. When she’s not working with the team at DESIGNxRI or capturing moments behind the lens, you can catch her concocting potions with medicinal plants, gliding gracefully on roller skates through the streets of Providence, and embarking on gluten-free food adventures in the scrumptious food oasis that is Rhode Island.
Reba Mitchell
Programs Director and Grants Manager
reba@designxri.com
Reba Mitchell (she/her) is a musician, midwesterner, and gender theory aficionado. Prior to joining DESIGNxRI Reba designed events with Machines With Magnets, The Downtown Providence Parks Conservancy, and multitudinous artists. Recipient of a coveted Earphones Award, she has narrated over 300 audiobooks. A former resident of the Dirt Palace and longtime board member of RIOT RI (née Girls Rock! Rhode Island), Reba spends her down time practicing rudiments on her electronic drum kit, opening tabs from Bon Appetit, pursuing an MA in English, and composing vocal music.
Devanshi Ved
Programs and Events Manager
devanshi@designxri.com
Devanshi Ved is a lover of nature, community spaces, art, and big ideas. She loves to travel, go on adventures, and learn new things!
Prior to joining DESIGNxRI, Devanshi has worked in events and public programming for 7 years with 195 District Park, WaterFire Providence, and many other local event projects, after getting a specialized degree in Sports, Entertainment, and Event Management from Johnson & Wales University.
Devanshi is so excited to learn more about the Design Community in Rhode Island, and continue engaging in her love for creating community spaces!
Anna Brinkhuis
Marketing and Graphics Creator
anna@designxri.com
Anna Brinkhuis (she/her) is a graphic designer, wanna-be interior decorator, and recent Brown graduate in Religious Studies and International and Public Affairs. At college, she served as Design Editor for the Indy and Design Chair for the Muslim Students’ Association. When she’s not starting a new crafting project for the third time this month, Anna can be found in the pool, at Nostalgia buying more mugs for her already excessive collection, or scouring estate sales for mid-century modern aquisitions that her friends still fail to appreciate. Her very practical talents include driving stick and still fitting into kids’ shoe sizes.
Our Board
Nick Scappaticci, Managing Director and Founder, BIG DREAMS – President
Scott Lyons, AVP of Global Leadership Development Advisor – FM Global – Vice President
Manan Narang, Founder, Indo-made – Treasurer
Moises Valcarcel Gonzalez, Job Captain at DBVW Architects, Co-founder of Rhode Island Minorities in Architecture & Design (RIMIAD) – Secretary
Jo Lee, Founder, Pop-Up Rhody
Sophie Weston Chien, Designer-Activist, Harvard GSD MLA ‘23
Wendy MoMa Michel, NeuroArts specialist, Founder of MINDART, Creative Wellness Research Lab
Sasha Azbel, Founder, Sashoonya
Tuni Schartner, RI’s Economic Gardener | TS Consulting | Co-founder & Director of The Hive RI
Lara Salamano, Providence Chamber as Chief Strategy Officer