Description

Get ready to celebrate Pride Month with the much anticipated annual BEN Bash! We’re bringing together the power of all three BEN groups—Oak Lawn, Cedar Springs, and Plano—for one massive celebration of community and commerce. 

The BEN Bash! Breakdown: 

• The Power of Three: Don’t just network—hyper-network. With members from three distinct groups in one room, your reach just tripled. 
• Take the Mic: Refine your pitch and deliver your 30-second commercial to an audience of engaged, supportive professionals. 
• Fuel Your Growth: Gain fresh insights from our keynote speaker to help take your business or career to the next level. Speaker is TBA
• Celebrate with Purpose: Honor Pride Month by connecting with a vibrant, inclusive community of leaders who are driving local impact.

Our speaker:

Mike Yates is the Managing Director of Yates Desygn, where he leads the firm’s strategic growth, operations, and culture with a people first approach. With a background that bridges performance and production, Mike holds a BFA in Dance and Choreography and an MFA in Performance Design from Arizona State University, specializing in production and company management. Before entering the interior design industry, he spent more than two decades in performance, an experience that continues to inform his perspective on movement, storytelling, and collaboration.

A testament to the idea that there are no coincidences in life, Mike’s path to founding Yates Desygn began with an impromptu meeting in New York City in 2011, where he met his husband and creative partner, Bryan Yates. Together they launched Yates Desygn in 2016 with a vision to create spaces that feel as personal as they are refined.

At Yates Desygn, Mike oversees the business behind the brand, ensuring the firm’s growth is as intentional as its work. The studio is known for crafting unique, livable environments by capturing each client’s design language through bespoke interior architecture and design. Under his leadership, the firm has established Dallas as its home base, expanded its portfolio, participated in Kips Bay Decorator Show House Dallas (2021 and 2025), and launched its debut wallcovering collection, Ever x Yates, in 2023.

Mike’s leadership style is collaborative and transformative, focused on fostering an environment where creativity thrives within structure. He is deeply committed to building relationships with clients, collaborators, and his team all in the belief that meaningful connection is the foundation for both great design and lasting success.

Register to attend!