MEET THE TEAM
Dave Desmarais (B.A., M.B.A.) Founder and Chief Executive Office
Dave has spent most of his career in the for-profit sector providing visual communications solutions to the construction, office, store and restaurant markets. Some time ago, while researching potential markets for a new product group, he came upon the concept of biophilia and how forward-thinking commercial and healthcare organizations had begun incorporating evidence-based biophilic design principles into their respective facilities.
A few years prior, Dave’s mother had spent 6 years in a senior’s residence before passing away. Dave never forgot how bleak and depressing the facility looked and felt. At the time, he couldn’t put his finger on what was missing. The furniture was old but clean, the walls were painted using neutral colors and where there was art on the walls, it was probably art that was donated by local artists. It was years later -- when he learned about the healing powers of biophilia -- that it occurred to him that biophilic design elements such as Healing Art could have made a dramatic difference in the lives of the residents, their families and the hard working staff.
Though we now know about the benefits of biophilic design, very few have undertaken biophilic programs. After learning what he knows now, Dave decided that he wanted to contribute to improving the lives of the men, women and children living in our long term, palliative or hospice care facilities (or those receiving treatment in one of our nation’s healthcare facilities) -- one wall at a time.
Martha Piergiovanni (B.A., D.I.A.) President
Martha began her professional career as an educator, working with mentally challenged children and teens. She loved what she was doing because she loves helping others. She also had a passion and a knack for design and so when a position opened up at a start-up custom wall art and wall covering firm, she made the move to doing something else she loved.
She has spent the last several years working as an art and design consultant and has left a trail of delighted customers from Vancouver. B.C to St. John’s, Newfoundland. On several of her most recent projects where she has incorporated biophilic Healing Art elements, the results, and the feedback by all accounts have been fantastic.
It should come as no surprise that when offered the opportunity to get involved with this foundation, she didn’t hesitate. Providing biophilic art solutions to healthcare, senior care, palliative and hospice care facilities has allowed her to become involved in an effort to provide much needed help and relief for some of our society’s most vulnerable men, women and children.
