Anne Joyce, Judge: 2025 Connect to the Best

Written by Kayla Schmidt

Pleasantville Anne Joyce is the president and founder of A. Joyce Design Inc., is a long-time Pleasantville resident who is just as passionate about local businesses as she is about design.

Why did you want to be a judge?

I have known Justin for a long time, so when he brought up the idea of doing real awards for people who really earned them and not just paid for them, I said, ‘That’s the best thing I’ve ever heard.’ He asked if I’d like to be a judge, and I told him I’d love to. I’m honored to be a judge.

What’s your professional background?

I worked in advertising for many years, and when I left, I went to work for an interior designer in Greenwich. I then went off on my own and have had my own design business for 18 years.

What perspective did you bring as a judge?

My life experience. Because I’m older, I’ve been in several businesses, and I’m pretty knowledgeable about the businesses around our community. We all shop, and I shop a lot.

What did you expect as a judge?

I really didn’t know, because it was the first time they did this, and obviously the first time I was a judge for this. I trusted both Gia and Justin because I think that they’re just so genuinely caring about making everything right for everybody, and I knew it was going to be fun.

What kind of judge are you?

I am a very opinionated person in general, but I was not super critical about this because I think everybody who was nominated deserved to be there.

Which famous judge best matches your personality?

Jenny McCarthy, I guess. She and I are pretty much total opposites, but she’s the only person that came to mind.

Last question: Who would make a better judge, your best friend from high school or your first boss?

My best friend from high school, Dee. She was your then-typical blonde teen more interested in boys and movie stars than studying but had an innate sense of people. If Dee were a judge, she would sincerely look every candidate in the eye, ask them their favorite color and “read” their value. My first boss, on the other hand, was your typical uber male who thought women only had specific roles, and they were lacking in all of them. Mr. McArdle would have judged everyone by gender (a.k.a. “worth”) while looking down his long and uninteresting nose at them.

This article was published in the January/February 2025 edition of Connect to Northern Westchester.