Hosts Peter Sallick, Keith Granet and Meg Touborg founded the Design Leadership Summit in 2003 to create a community for design leaders, an entirely unique need in the marketplace for high end design. They have held four conferences to date, most recent in New Orleans April 1-3, 2009. Prior events were held in Aspen, Montecito, and Charleston. This is an invitation only event where architects, designers, product company leaders and other resources come to meet to learn, share ideas and improve business. Speakers included: Diane Von Furstenberg, Stephen M.R. Covey, Coveylink Worldwide, Kermit Baker, Senior Research Fellow at Harvard University’s Joint Center for Housing Studies & Keith Granet.

Over two days of speakers, panels, sessions and meals to inform and stimulate on topics of current interest such as people leadership, future of on line media, direction of housing market,  architecture and art of the locale where the event is held, and business tools. 

Approximately 120 architects and designers attend this invitation-only event from across the country. Each year has many returning guest and speakers, and also welcomes new participants. In addition, the event attracts up to 30 thought-leaders as speakers and industry leaders as speakers into its community.

Sponsors included: Waterworks,  1stDibs.com, Albertini, Astec, Architectural Digest, Christopher Peacock Cabinetry, The Institute of Classical Architecture & Classical America, Fortuny, Holly Hunt, The I-Grace Company, John Brooks Incorporated, Project Solutions LLC, Rose Tarlow Melrose House, Twill Textiles.