Spring 2025 Coffee + Convo Mentors

SPD is excited to announce the Spring Coffee + Convo cohort of 2025, a 3-month mentorship program exclusively for SPD Professional Members.

This is a unique opportunity for junior to mid-level professionals to have meaningful conversations that support career enhancement. Some benefits include:

  • Improved professional development

  • Enhanced leadership skills

  • Better work dynamics

  • Stronger professional confidence

  • Increased career satisfaction

  • Expanded professional network

Want a mentor?  Here’s what you do…

Step 1 – Login to your SPD Professional Membership account and fill out the application. Not a member yet? Join SPD today!
Step 2 – Select top 2 mentor preferences.
Step 3 – We will contact you if we have a match.

Space is limited and we can’t guarantee everyone will be matched this time around. But don’t fret! There will be future opportunities.

Choose from the following highly knowledgeable Mentors offering expertise from various disciplines:

  • Brian Gross Deputy Design Director, The Washington Post

  • Robert Generette III (Rob Zilla III), Illustrator

  • Deena So'Oteh, Illustrator/Educator, SVA

  • Emil Lendof, Lead Photo Editor, The Wall Street Journal

  • Kareem Black, Photographer, Kareem Black Photo

  • Megan Paetzhold, Senior Visuals Editor, Bon Appetit

  • Brian Lutz, Illustrator/Adjunct Professor, University of Hartford

We do our best to match you with your mentor preference, so the mentor-mentee relationship is meaningful and constructive.

DEADLINE TO APPLY: Thursday, April 10th at 11:59PM ET

You must be an active SPD Professional Member to participate. Join/renew here.

Past Coffee + Convo Mentors

 

Spring 2021

  • Lan Yin Bachelis, Creative Director, Consultant

  • Emem Offong, VP, User Experience Design Lead, JPMorgan Chase & Co.

  • Sarah Rozen, Contributing Photo Director

  • Jeanne Graves, Director of Photography, Fast Company

  • Robert Newman, Creative Director, This Old House Ventures

 

Spring 2023

  • Meg Reinhardt, Photo Director, Programming (at Roku)

  • Syndi Becker, Design/Art Director

  • Tim Leong, Creative Director

  • Rachel Lasserre, Creative Director, Consultant

Fall 2023

  • Jeff Glendenning, Creative Director, Washingtonian and MICA

  • Christine Reilly, Global Brand Producer, Wayfair

  • Frances Baca, Principal, Creative Director, Frances Baca Design and Consulting

  • Kyla Paolucci, Designer and Educator, St John’s University

Spring 2024

  • Frank Augugliaro, Design Director, Opinion, The New York Times

  • Eric Capossela, Creative Director, Metaleap Creative

  • Brittany Conerly, Food and Beverage Photographer, Beyond The Bayou Creative

  • Agnethe Glatved, Creative Director

  • Samantha Jane, Fashion, Beauty & Product Photographer

  • Emil Lendof, Lead Photo Editor, The Wall Street Journal

  • Sophia Little, Senior Graphic Designer, ESSENCE Ventures

  • Sarasvati Muñoz, Associate Art Director, Tatcha

  • Imani Nuñez, Freelance Multimedia Designer/Art Director

  • Tramaine Townsend, Filmmaker & Photographer

Fall/Winter 2024

  • Nelson Anderson, Senior VP, Penske Media

  • Korena Bolding, Art Director, Virtuoso, The Magazine

  • Kory Kennedy, Creative Director, Foundry 360

  • Alicia Stepp, Photographer, Alicia Stepp Photography