The Planning and Visual Education Partnership (PAVE), founded in 1992, has grown into the retail design, planning, and visual merchandising industry’s premier educational foundation, and a recognized advocate for design students. These students are the future of the industry—PAVE’s mission is to help them gain exposures and funds to further their educations, as well as their careers.
Educators, retailers, and industry suppliers support PAVE through active participation in the organization and generous financial contributions.Ruth Mellergaard then president of the ISP (Institute of Store Planners) Richard Stolls then President of the NADI (National Association of Display Industries) Janet Groeber then editor of VM+SD Magazine Cecil Besselleau of Belk Stores Steven Bergquist of Federated Department Stores Wayne E. Visbeen founder of architectural design firm, Visbeen Associates Martin Pegler Senior Visual Merchandiser Eric Feigenbaum then Sterns Department Store/division of Federated Department Stores Larry Israel Walker Group/CNI
PAVE, THE ORIGINS
These individuals and organizations, with one goal in mind, chose the name PAVE for the new foundation. It began as a statement, "Paving the way for the future students," and later became the Planning and Visual Education Partnership. The first logo was developed by Visbeen Associates and was later updated by GMG Design Inc. The first officers of the organization were:
Brian Davies PAVE Vice President of Education, University of Cincinnati Eric Feigenbaum PAVE Emeritus Board Member, Embrace Design Larry Israel Walker Group/CNI John Kandalaft SASD, University of Bridgeport Mark Looper Collective Brands Inc. Timothy Opsomer MGM Mirage Retail Christian Davies PAVE Board Member, FITCH Cynthia Patino FIDM/Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising Veronica Romano FIT Anne Tobe The Art Institute of Ohio-Cincinnati Lyn Tobman FIDM/Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising Marjorie Lee Woo LIM College Rachel Zsembery Bergmeyer Associates Inc