Lebanon, Ohio — July 2026 — Ghent, a leading U.S. manufacturer of visual communication solutions, now has two members who hold leadership roles with the IIDA Ohio Kentucky Chapter as part of the organization’s incoming 2026–2027 board. Anna Hayes, Senior Marketing Specialist, has been appointed Vice President of Communications, and Ryan Castle, Product Designer, continues his service as Vice President of Benefactors, a role he has held for the past year.

The IIDA Ohio Kentucky Chapter is part of the International Interior Design Association, the leading commercial interior design association with global reach. The chapter’s volunteer board drives professional development, advocacy, networking, and community engagement for design professionals across Ohio and Kentucky throughout the year.

In her new role as VP of Communications, Hayes will lead outreach and communications strategy for the chapter, helping shape how the organization connects with designers, industry partners, and market leaders across the region. She brings to the role a marketing background developed through her work at Ghent, where she leads brand and marketing initiatives for one of the most recognized names in the commercial interiors industry, specializing in visual communication and collaboration solutions.

“My time with Ghent has shown me that design has the power to shape how people experience the world around them,” Hayes said. “Getting to work alongside so many talented designers and see firsthand the thought and intention that goes into every project has been inspiring. Joining the IIDA Ohio Kentucky board feels like a natural extension of that as an opportunity to help strengthen the connections and conversations that make this community so valuable, and to give back to the profession that has shaped so much of how I think about my own work.”

Castle, who has championed Ghent’s involvement with the chapter over the past year, welcomed Hayes’s appointment. “My experience serving as VP of Benefactors for IIDA Ohio Kentucky has been an incredible opportunity to grow as a leader while developing new professional skills at the chapter level,” he noted. “I’m excited to see Anna join the chapter leadership team as VP of Communications. It’s a role that allows her to apply the expertise she uses every day while building meaningful relationships with designers, industry partners, and market leaders across our region.”

In addition to continuing as VP of Benefactors, Castle has been named 2025 Member of the Year for the IIDA Cincinnati Dayton City Center, a recognition that reflects the relationships and contributions he has built through a year of active chapter involvement. For Castle, the recognition underscores a belief that showing up for the design community is as important as the products Ghent brings to market.

Together, Hayes and Castle bring complementary perspectives to the 2026–2027 IIDA Ohio Kentucky Board. Their shared presence in chapter leadership reflects Ghent’s commitment to the design community not as a sponsor from the sidelines, but as an active, invested partner in the profession’s future.

For more information on Ghent, please visit ghent.com.