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Julie Vincenti, Editor                                                                        August 2012 

IN THIS ISSUE

WOW Awards Nominations Extended

High Point Market Education Breakfast

Top Scholars

Professional Conference: Top Takeaways and Memorable Moments

Photos from Conference

Leadership by the Numbers

Las Vegas Gala Wrapup

Photos from Gala

Design Camp A-Z
 

UPCOMING EVENTS 

Virginias/Carolinas
End of Summer Soiree 
Wednesday, Sept. 12
6pm - 8pm
Hosted by Mary Leigh Howell 
Bring a dish to pass. We have lots to talk about and share. Hope to see you there. www.withit.org
RSVP: [email protected] 

NY Metro/Northeast 
Saturday, Sept. 22nd
6pm - 9pm
Pink Sunset Picnic, Cocktails and Water Lily Concert
Monet's Giverny at the NY Botanical Garden 
$25 per person
Bring a French inspired dish or bonbons to share.
www.withit.org
RSVP by Sept. 5
[email protected]

High Point Market Events

Drinks with the Prez
Friday, Oct. 12
6pm
red egg Showroom

415 W. High Street (one block behind Lee Industries)Join us for a cocktail on the veranda to kick off High Point Market
RSVP @ withit.org

   

WithIt Education Breakfast
Sunday, Oct. 14
7:30am-9:00am
IHFC Green Wing, 11th Floor, Int'l Ballroom A

"Bootstrapping your Brand"
Guests
Angelo Surmelis and Kathy Ireland

Must RSVP: Leigh Chastain - [email protected]

 

Competitive Intelligence/Trends Forecast
Monday, Oct. 15
6:00pm - 8:15pm
Cresent Fine Furniture
Hamilton Square, 204

 

"Why is Old Still New?" 

Retailers are showcasing ripped burlap upholstery. High Point, the world headquarters of new furnishings, just added a large antiques center. What gives? Why the resurgence of antiquity? Is it just "comfort food" for the consumers' soul, or is there something more?

 

Join our panel of esteemed antiques experts including Kathryn Greeley, Kathryn Greeley Designs, for a discussion of why it's here and where it's going.

 

 

WithIt International Membership Day 

Friday, Nov. 2

Watch the website for more information 

 

WithIt WOW Awards

January 27, 2013

Las Vegas

 

newmembersWELCOME NEW MEMBERS


Jill Abelman

Principal

Inside Style 

Las Vegas, NV

 

Jodi Allen

Chief Marketing Officer

Sealy, Inc.

Trinity, NC

 

Rachel Atkinson

Student

Meredith College

Raleigh, NC

 

Pamela Banks

National Account Manager

Springs Global

Plano, TX

 

Dawn Barrett

Sales Rep

Four Hands

Phoenix, AZ

 

Lisa Bernath

CEO/Founder

Gotcha Covered

Burbank, CA

 

Myra Brown

President

License to Sleep, LLC

Atlanta, GA

 

Tina Brumm

Student

Philadelphia University

Bala Cynwyd, PA

 

Alicia Connolly

Owner

Alicia Connolly Design

New York, NY

 

Caroline Cooper

Student

Mississippi State University

Mississippi State, MS

 

Kristine Edwards

Student

High Point University

High Point, NC

 

Sara Englehart

Student

North Carolina State University

Raleigh, NC

 

Kristi Griggs

President

G-Force Marketing Solutions Inc.

Greensboro, NC

 

Jack Hicks

Attorney

Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice LLP

Greensboro, NC

 

Jerri Hobdy

Student

Savannah College of Art & Design

Savannah, GA

 

Cindy Hodnett

Upholstery/Style Editor

Furniture Today

Greensboro, NC

 

Hope Hoffman

Owner/Designer

Perennial Interiors

Paoli, PA

 

Carole Hollowell

Owner

Carole Hollowell Interior Design

Chapel Hill, NC

 

Susan Jones

Regional Sales Manager

Furniture Today

Greensboro, NC

 

Denise Keniston

President

Web4Retail

Westford, MA

 

Sarah Gene Kilpatrick

Student

Mississippi State University

Mathiston, MS

 

Amber Knight

Student

North Carolina State University

Raleigh, NC

 

Carolyn Kusse

Marketing Manager

Sealy, Inc.

Trinity, NC

 

Charlotte Lambert

Student

Auburn University

Marietta, GA

 

Erica Lang

Student

High Point University

High Point, NC

 

Stefanie Lugar

Sales

Home Furnishings Business

Roanoke, VA

 

Kimberly Muroff

Senior Director of Business Development for Shabby Chic Brands and DwellStudio

Brand Sense Partners 

Culver City, CA

 

Angela Owen

Sleep Diva

Suite Sleep

Boulder, CO

 

Abbey Reynolds

Student

Appalachian State University

Boone, NC

 

Theresa Riley

VP Sales - Team Leader

Springs Global

Fort Mill, SC

 

Lane Risdon

Student

Kendall College of Art and Design

Grand Rapids, MI

 

Julia Ross

Student

Meredith College

Raleigh, NC

 

Kimberly Small

Student

Winthrop University

Kershaw, SC

 

Lindsey Spencer

Marketing & PR Assistant

Twin-Star International

Delray Beach, FL

 

Carmen Waite

Sr.VP Marketing and Product Development

Perfect Fit

Charlotte, NC

 

Elizabeth Warlop

Student 

Rhode Island School of Design

Providence, RI

 

   

WITHIT'S SPONSORS 

220 Elm 

Adesso, Inc. 

American Home Furnishings Alliance 

American Leather  

AmericasMart Atlanta  

BDI 

Bernice Bienenstock Furniture Library  

 Braxton Culler 

Brown Jordan 

Circle Furniture 

Cohen Tauber Spievack & Wagner 

Copeland Furniture   

Cory 1st Choice Home Delivery  

Cresent Fine Furniture  

Dallas Market Center 

Ekornes 

Ergo Bedroom  

E. S. Kluft & Company LLC 

Four Hands 

Frinier Atelier - Richard Frinier Collection 

Furniture Brands International 

FurnitureDealer.net 

Furniture/Today 

HB2 Resources  

HGTV HOME   

Hansgrohe  

High Point Market Authority 

Home Furnishings Business 

Howell Communications 

IHFC  

IMRE  

Info Retail 

International Market Centers 

Jena Hall Designs

Judy George Int'l

L. & J.G. Stickley 

La-Z-Boy  

Las Vegas Design Center 

Leggett & Platt 

Lexington Home Brands  

Liz O'Brien  

Massood Logistics  

MicroD, Inc. 

Norwalk Furniture 

Palliser Furniture 

PROFITsystems 

Rowe Furniture  

Seasonal Living   

Simmons  

Smith Leonard PLLC 

Stir Creative Group 

Sunbrella 

The Media Matters, Inc. 

Tempur-Pedic 

Thomasville Home Furnishings of NJ 

Twin-Star International 

Valdese Weavers    

Vaughan-Bassett Furniture Company 

ViewIt Technologies  

Woolrich, Inc. 

Wray Ward 

Wright Global Graphic Solutions  

 

Join Our List

Join Our Mailing List
WOWdeadlineDEADLINE EXTENDED

WOW Awards
WOW Awards Nominations

It's time to give well-deserved WOW to your most respected peers. Nominations for the 2013 WOW Awards, to be held Sunday, Jan. 27, 2013, at World Market Center Las Vegas, are due Thursday, Oct. 18. Both WithIt members and non-members can nominate an industry professional or business for the following awards:

 

LEGACY AWARD: For a woman of achievement who has made significant lifetime contributions to the home furnishings industry.

 

MENTORING AWARD: For an executive or organization that has fostered advocacy, development or promotion of women in their company.

 

EDUCATION AWARD: For an executive or company that has developed programs to educate associates, retailers or consumers about home furnishings.

 

LEADERSHIP AWARD: For a woman 40 or older who has demonstrated successful leadership in her company, WithIt and/or the home furnishings industry.

 

FUTURE LEADER AWARD: For a woman 40 or younger who has demonstrated outstanding achievement and the potential to become an industry leader.

 

For specifics about the WOW Awards process, including the form you must complete for each nomination, visit www.withit.org.

 

marketHIGH POINT MARKET

Angelo Surmelis
Angelo Surmelis
By The Bootstraps

It might be his likeable smile and friendly disposition. It could be his unintimidating, grounded design advice. Or, maybe it's the ubiquitous woven fedora. No matter what attracts you to Angelo Surmelis, the ever-lidded mastermind behind the angelo:HOME brand, you'll be taken with his bootstrap brand-building tips.

 

Surmelis and home furnishings branding whiz Kathy Ireland will be the featured speakers at WithIt's High Point Market Educational Breakfast, which begins at 7:30 a.m. on Sunday, Oct. 14, in the IHFC Green Wing, 11th Floor, International Ballroom A. In "Bootstrapping Your Brand in a Challenged Economy," WithIt 2012 President Julia Rosien, SocialNorth.com, will moderate as Surmelis and Ireland discuss how to forecast from the bottom up, focus on each battle instead of the whole war, and forget the proven team and work with start-up minded people.

 

Surmelis is the mastermind behind the angelo:HOME brand, which spans many product categories and styles, and aims to make decorating one's home effortless, full of style and affordable. It's a pursuit that started when he was five years old.

 

"Growing up, my family had very little ... and designing our home was not at the top of the grocery list," he explained. "I wanted to get into design to help people realize their own dream home without sacrificing anything else. Making your space the best it can be should never feel overwhelming, or like it's a luxury."

 

Surmelis' Daily Tips for home, garden and entertaining underscore his easy-going and attainable approach to fulfilling one's decorating dreams:

 

August 26: Know your lifestyle before your style. How you live informs your design choices.

 

August 12: Using acrylic tableware is practical and essential in outdoor entertaining.

 

August 4: A dry, rich, smooth chardonnay is the perfect summer partner to an antipasto pasta salad.

 

July 22: Changing out your lampshades is a simple way to experiment with color, pattern, or texture. Maybe all three!

 

July 15: Everything in your kitchen doesn't have to say KITCHEN! Bring in a mirror, photographs or a painting.

 

June 24: Use cork inside closet door panels and create a simple message center

 

June 13: For an empty wall, simple hooks and your collection of hats make for your own personal art installation!

 

For more of Surmelis' Daily Tips, visit http://www.angelohome.com/daily_tips/. To meet the man beneath the fedora, be sure to RSVP to the WithIt breakfast.

 

studentsSTUDENT MEMBERSHIP

Top Scholars

The future leaders of home furnishings are an impressive set, and WithIt offered prime polish for several of these gleaming stars. Through the generous sponsorship of Brown Jordan, Sunbrella and Catherine and Richard Frinier, WithIt was able to host 20 students at its recent professional conference in Raleigh, NC. Students were able to learn from keynote speakers, engage in timely roundtable discussions and network with fellow attendees.

 

"We had a stellar group of young women participate in the conference, all chosen by their university faculty as outstanding students with interest in pursuing careers in the home furnishings industries," said WithIt Professional Conference Chair Jackie Hirschhaut, American Home Furnishings Alliance.

 

According to Amber Knight, a student at North Carolina State University, being a WithIt Student Scholar was an eye-opening experience. "I met so many amazing members and speakers," she said. "I made connections that I had never thought possible when I was first invited to attend. The women at WithIt shocked me with their power, confidence and inspiration."

 

WithIt's 2012 Student Scholars represented 13 universities or colleges: Krystin Glass, Abbey Reynolds and Elizabeth Terrell, Appalachian State University; Charlotte Lambert, Auburn University; Kristine Edwards and Erica Lang, High Point University; Liz Moore and Lane Risdon, Kendall College of Art and Design; Rachel Atkinson and Julia Ross, Meredith College; Caroline Cooper and Sarah Gene Kilpatrick, Mississippi University; Sara Englehart and Amber Knight, North Carolina State University; Tina Brumm, Philadelphia University; Elizabeth Warlop, Rhode Island School of Design; Jerri Hobdy, Savannah College of Art & Design; Julia Staley, UNC - Charlotte; Felicia Dean, University of North Carolina at Greensboro; and Kimberly Small, Winthrop University.

 

Moore of Kendall College of Art & Design and Small from Winthrop University are WithIt's 2012 Jena and Stephen R. Hall Scholarship winners and were recognized during Wednesday evening's Member Appreciation Dinner; Dean of University of North Carolina at Greensboro led a roundtable discussion during the conference.

 

To support WithIt's mission of recognizing and nurturing the academic endeavors of future home and furnishings leaders, visit www.withit.org to make a donation.

 

 

conferencePROFESSIONAL CONFERENCE

Grace Killelea
Grace Killelea
Top Takeaways and Memorable Moments

WithIt gives good professional conference--just ask attendees from the 2012 event:

 

One of my most uplifting and lasting takeaways was from the keynote by Grace [Killelea, former senior vice president of talent and leadership initiatives for Comcast Cable]. She offered a great reminder and mantra: Do whatever you need to do to get yourself to the top of the skydiving airplane door (of life), face forward, push off, and tell yourself and the world: "Here. Comes. Something!" Prep it, point it, do it. Pamela Castillo, co-founder of Market Publique, offered a refresher: Don't know how to do everything? Fabulous! Don't know everything about starting a business? Well, who does? Just take your skills, do it, hire smarter people and learn as you go--but be sure to have a good attorney to advise you upfront (and do check his references).

- Stephanie Lowder, WithIt 2012 Chairman Board of Governors, and President and Creative Director of Rare Bird Creative

 

Besides being blown away by Stephanie Lowder, who asked me, "What is your goal for the conference? I want to help you achieve it," just 15 minutes into the conference, a quote by Grace Killelea is still ringing in my ears: "Stress is what happens when YOUR needs are not met!"

- Lisa Ferguson, Decor Mentor and founder of Lisa Ferguson Interior Design


Just to be able to spend two days with successful, positive and fun women is an incredible experience in itself.

-Margi Kyle, WithIt Vice President of Networking, and owner of The Designing Doctor

 

I learned so much, not only from the very educational round tables, but from the great speakers. I also learned a lot about myself and where I am at this time of my life. One of the most important things I learned was that you need to create a network, the friends you can call at 3 o'clock in the morning. I would not miss the professional conference for the world.

-Yolanda Obando, International Marketing & Services Manager, International Market Centers

 

I was reminded to: Update My Vision, Evaluate My Defining Moments, Live My Life of Purpose on Purpose. And, oh yes, to find my Power Song! We had some inspiring Business Coach/Speakers this year who really focused on putting words and ideas into actions.

-Carol Gregg, WithIt Vice President of Manufacturing, and President of red egg

  

Check out all the photos from the conference on Facebook at WithitWomen or here.

 

leadershipDID YOU KNOW?

Leadership By The Numbers

Fast facts about leadership and the workplace:

 

$12 billion = The amount U.S. companies spent on leadership development in 2009.

 

64 = The percentage of executives who left a company on Fortune's Most Admired Companies ranking for a company not on the ranking.

 

60 = Percentage of companies that face leadership talent shortages.

 

1,000,000 = The number of copies sold of each of these John C. Maxwell books: The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership, Developing the Leader Within You and The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader.

 

14.1 = Percentage of women who held executive officer positions at Fortune 500 companies in 2011, which is down .3 percent from 2010.

 

56.5 = Percentage of all mothers with children age 1 or younger in the labor force.

 

36.8, 34.5 = Percentage of MBAs earned by women in the United States and Canada respectively in 2010/2011.

 

4 = The number of essential components in the 4 Capabilities Leadership Framework developed by MIT Sloan Management. They are: Sensemaking (making sense of the world around us, coming to understand the context in which we are operating); Relating (developing key relationships within and across organizations); Visioning (creating a compelling picture of the future); and Inventing (designing new ways of working together to realize the vision).

 

2 = The number of female members recently invited to join the exclusive (and previously male-only) Augusta National Golf Club.

 

Sources: Harvard Business Review; IE Business School; Harvard Business Review; The John Maxwell Co.; 2011 Catalyst Census: Fortune 500 Women Executive Officers and Top Earners; Bureau of Labor Statistics; The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (2011); MIT Sloan Management; August National Golf Club.

 

galaLAS VEGAS GALA

Left to right: WithIt co-founder Jena Hall, Jena Hall Designs; Kathi Cunningham, Independent Sales Rep; WithIt co-founder Connie Post, Connie Post Affordable Design Solutions; and Kathy Bovey, AmericasMart Atlanta celebrated WithIt's 15th anniversary at a black-tie affair held at the Parisian Palace in Las Vegas.
The inaugural recipients of the Las Vegas Women's Leadership Achievement Awards were presented during the WithIt's 15th Anniversary Gala. Left to right: Beth Schwartz, editor, Luxury Las Vegas magazine; Andrea Thomas, owner of Thomas Design Source and scholarship director for NEWH The Hospitality Industry Network; and Dana Andrew, vice president of marketing, International Market Centers, earned the honors.
Lori Dennis (left), Lori Dennis, Inc., and WithIt Regional Vice President Kassie Smith, Kassie Smith Lifestyle Group greeted guests to
 WithIt's 15th Anniversary Gala, which was held July 28 in Las Vegas
Check out all the photos from the Gala on Facebook at WithitWomen or here.

camp 
Have a story idea for an upcoming e-newsletter? Submit your idea to Julie Smith Vincenti, Vice President-Media.

 

WithIt, Inc.

PO Box 16264, High Point, NC 27261

Office: 2125 Eastchester Drive Suite 103, High Point, NC 27265

www.withit.org