Dierdre Jimenez is joining the Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturers Association at an interesting time.

The COVID-19 pandemic has the office furniture industry reeling from plummeting sales, a falloff in new orders and questions over the sector’s role going forward given the dramatic global shift to working from home.

Jimenez, the incoming BIFMA president and CEO who will lead the nonprofit trade group as long-time Executive Director Tom Reardon retires, stressed hat this giant roadblock facing the $16.6 billion North american industry won’t stop the organization fro addressing its long-term goals or agenda. Instead, she acknowledges the present remains an exciting time for the industry in terms of innovation, style and functionality.

Jimenez, who officially takes her post July 7, comes to the position with a background in architecture and interior design. She spent more than 25 years serving in executive and ownership roles in corporate real estate and architecture and engineering consulting.