1994 – Los Angeles, California
Barbera Thornhill’s career has followed a philosophical path paralleling the free enterprise international perspective and the business/arts relationship of Northwood University. Progressive steps in the establishment of her business presence were similar to the creativity in the progression of growth of an entrepreneur. As a student, Ms. Thornhill started importing grasscloth and silk wall covering from Asia, evolving globally through the years to the eventual formation of her commercial and residential architectural design company, Impact Design Inc. Her design projects have ranged from hotels (the five star Halcyon Hotel in London) to private clubs (Washington’s Georgetown Club), airline interiors, Walt Disney Company (Newport Vacation Resort, Newport Beach, CA and Disney Wedding Chapel, Orlando, Florida) and residential and commercial buildings in an international marketplace, including the United Kingdom, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Egypt. An avid gardener, Barbera shares her love of artistic creativity in the garden with her husband Gary Wilson, Co-chairman of Northwest Airlines. Born in Raleigh, North Carolina and educated in mathematics at North Carolina University and psychology at George Washington University, she is a member of the Junior League and Women’s Museum Foundation of Washington, D.C., Show Coalition of Los Angeles, American Film Institute Associates and SHARE (organization of women for the good of orphaned children).
