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Lisa Hanly, Editor                                                                                January 2013 

IN THIS ISSUE


Critical Success Factors - Do you know yours?

2013 Board of Directors

And the Winner Is....

The WOW Awards

UPCOMING EVENTS 

 
WOW Awards 
Sunday, Jan. 27, 2013
6:30pm - 9:30pm
Beginning with cocktails on the SkyView Terrace at World Market Center Las Vegas.
Dinner tickets - $150 each
Table of 10 - $1500
 
 

Critical Success Factors for Women Leaders   

Thursday, Feb. 28, 2013
9:00am - 5:00pm
Greensboro-High Point Marriott Airport

$295 WithIt Members
$325 Guests - open to all professional women

Register today  

 

NY Design Tour  

May 18-20, 2013
 

WithIt Professional Conference 

August 12-14, 2013

Raleigh, NC

"The Vision of the Modern Renaissance Woman"

+ Learn more 

 

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS

Cheryl Beachy Stauffer

Principal

Crimson Design Group

Columbus, OH

 

Julie Blacutt

Senior Manager

Specified Components Company

Greensboro, NC

 

Gina Hicks

Student

Randolph Community College

Greensboro, NC

 

Lisa Mende

Principal

Lisa Mende Design

Charlotte, NC

 

Pencie Rumley

President/Owner

Bookkeeping & Small Business Consulting Services, LLC

Madison, NC

 

Jessica Tubman

Director of Business Development

Circle Furniture

Acton, MA 

 

Shannon Willey

Interior Designer/Retailer

Sea Green Designs, LLC

Southampton, NY

 

We also welcome  

our new Corporate Member Companies

 

Furniture First

Valdese Weavers

Wright Global Graphic Solutions 

 

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 First 

Furniture/Today 

HB2 Resources  

HGTV HOME   

Hansgrohe  

High Point Market Authority 

Home Furnishings Business 

Howell Communications 

IHFC  

IMRE  

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 

red egg 

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

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successLEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE

Critical Success Factors - Do you know yours?

Sara King will be facilitating WithIt's second Leadership Development Institute, February 28, 2013 at the Greensboro-High Point Airport Marriott.  To get some insight on why attending this meeting is a critical investment in your future, we sat down with Sara to talk.

 

WithIt:   Why is 2013 the year that women should invest in themselves and their leadership skills?

 

King: Given the work I do, I believe women should be investing in themselves all the time. And, I do believe that 2013 is an important year because more organizations are discussing the value that women bring to the workplace. I'm seeing strong momentum for work in women's leadership. My organization has had more proposals in the last two years about women's leadership even though we have been doing this since 1986. The recognition of women in leadership is rapidly expanding. Outside the furniture industry, this is a big deal.  So women inside this industry really need to ride the wings of the external environment and create this here. The time is now for women to assess for themselves what they bring and be ready to highlight their value. 

   

WithIt: What will someone gain by attending the Leadership Institute?

 

King: At the end of the day, women will walk away with four important areas covered.

  • First, we will help women identify their signature strengths.
  • Second, we will help women get inklings toward obstacles that get in their way (examples could include: no P/L experience, rubbed someone wrong way, interpersonal skill to fix)
  • Third, data shows women tend to get focused on to-do lists and what's on our plate and not spend time building networks with key sponsors and creating a vision. So women will leave the session knowing what they need to develop.
  • And finally, women will create an action plan for promoting their strengths and working on their development areas. 

Your list might be very different from another woman's list, but you will walk away with your individual list. As well, you will be able to draw on other attendees' expertise. You will leave with an individual plan for you and a network of connections. Sometimes, to just get to talk about these things and know "I'm not crazy" can be a value too!

 

WithIt: How can you invigorate your career when the industry you are working in might not exactly be thriving?

 

King: You have to work even harder to show there are new ways of doing things, ways of capturing attention and demonstrating results. Often, women can bring ideas from other industries. Look at new ways to create value.

 

And what sometimes happens when there are fewer positions available, women become more competitive and don't help each other. Women may not recommend another opportunity to a woman because of this dynamic. That shoots us all in the foot!

 

WithIt: Are there are other industries where women are setting a good example of supporting each other and helping each other find great opportunities?

 

King: In the cable industry, the women's network is helping as much as the old boys network. Women in Cable Telecommunications (WICT) is based in Virginia. I have been working with them for the past 20 years. Now they have 8,000 members! WithIt is where they were years ago. WICT now has both men and women as part of their membership base. The younger generation in the cable industry is especially seeing access to leadership events and networking via WICT.

 

And I love that WithIt is on the same path. I've been able to see what WICT created in the cable industry. Women are now getting high level positions and there are so many success stories about women helping women.

 

WithIt: What are the first steps to creating an action plan to assure you are on the right career track in 2013?  

 

King: For women in the workplace, much of the research has shown that we are good at adapting to organizations in order to be accepted. When we adapt so much, we may be giving up the real value we bring. Understanding what strengths you bring to your organization that are different from other managers or leaders and compliments your company's leadership makes you realize, "I add value." So a first step to invest in you is to attend this conference.

 

You also have to understand 'what are the right experiences you need if you want to get ahead?' It helps to look at the leaders who have been successful in the industry, what led them to where they are. Traditionally, women often go into a staff role and stay 10-15 years and get really good at it, but we don't have the broad set of experiences which will position us for more senior positions. This happens to men as well, but it happens to women more often. The reason is that often we don't have the sponsors who will help guide our careers and advocate for us to move and grow. Research has also proven that women have mentors and men have sponsors. The difference leads to women not getting opportunities at more senior levels.  

 

WithIt: So if our readers aren't yet convinced they need to attend the Leadership Institute, can you give us another thought on why this is critical for future success?

 

King: One of the most valuable things that women report from a program like this is the opportunity to learn from other women in the industry and to build their network. They now have more names of women to access outside their organization for help. So the value of this program lasts more than just the one day investment.

 

The all-day program is available to WithIt members for $295; the cost for non-members and other Piedmont Triad-based professionals is $325. To reserve your place at this important leadership development opportunity, visit www.WithIt.org.
 
 
boardBOARD OF DIRECTORS

Betty Lyn Eller
Eller is 2013 WithIt President

Our 2013 Board of Directors was announced this month. Betty Lyn Eller, vice president, home division of IMRE, a marketing agency, takes the helm as 2013's WithIt president. "Being involved in WithIt is an investment in your success and your professional future," Eller said. "This is your organization and it's up to you to get involved and see the return on your investment."

The WithIt board is made up of an executive committee, vice presidents who lead committees, vice presidents who represent industry functions and vice presidents who represent geographic regions. Serving in 2013 in addition to Eller are:

* Chairman, board of governors, Mary Leigh Howell, principal, Howell Communications
* Chairman, WithIt, Julia Rosien, chief idea officer, Social North
* Vice President/President Elect, Violette Forman, general manager, Havertys Furniture
* Secretary, Cindy Williams, vice president, sales, Wright Global Graphic Solutions
* Treasurer, Peg Whitehurst, vice president, finance, Norwalk Furniture

 

Vice presidents and committee chairs are:
* Education: Pat Bowling, vice president of communications, American Home Furnishings Alliance
* Marketing: Amanda Williams, public relations account supervisor, Wray Ward
* Media: Lisa Hanly, vice president, corporate communications/public relations, Furniture Brands
* Membership: Kim Grubb, vice president, sales, Wright Global Graphic Solutions
* Mentoring: Amy Schmidt, vice president of merchandising communications, FurnitureDealer.net
* Networking: Margi Kyle, owner and interior designer, The Designing Doctor
* Social Networking: Dana Helms, social media community manager, Social North

 

Vice president at large officers, serving as representatives of industry functions, are:
* Manufacturing, Carol Gregg, president, Red Egg
* Youth Outreach, Victoria Valentinas, visual merchandising coordinator, Bassett Furniture
* Supplier/Design, Libby Langdon, president, Libby Interiors Inc.

Regional vice presidents are tasked with building membership and developing events in their regions. These 2013 officers are:
* Virginias/Carolinas, Trisha Kemerly, president, WhipSmart Creative
* International, Donna Bartlett, president, ViewIt Technologies 
 

raffleWITHIT FALL RAFFLE

Laura Redd
And the winner is...

Drum roll please!  Laura Redd of Laura Redd Interiors was the lucky winner for the trip to New York and a day with Libby Langdon.   Congratulations, Laura and thanks to all who bought raffle tickets. Every ticket sold was a donation to WithIt and we so appreciate your contributions.

WOWNATIONAL EVENTS

The WOW Awards

January will now be known as the month for great awards shows...like the Golden Globes and WithIt's WOW Awards, honoring exemplary home furnishings professionals and businesses.

 

The prestigious WOW Awards have moved from their past August timing to now be awarded on January 27, 2013 at World Market Center Las Vegas. The awards honor the commitment, achievement, leadership potential and service of home furnishings leaders. A total of six awards will be bestowed, plus the highly anticipated President's Award.

 

Don't miss your chance for a spectacular evening honoring:

Legacy Award - Kathy Ireland, Kathy Ireland Worldwide

Lifetime Achievement/Founder's Award - Peggy Traub, Adesso, Inc.

Leadership Award - Kim Knopf, Innovative Mattress Solutions

Education Award - Cheminne Taylor-Smith, High Point Market Authority

Mentoring Award - Ron Wright, Greg Wright and Don Wright of Wright Global Graphic Solutions

Future Leader Award - Kiersten Hathcock, Mod Mom Furniture

 

Sunday, January 27, 2013

SkyView Terrace, Building B
World Market Center - Las Vegas

 

Individual tickets are $150; a table of 10 is $1,500. Tickets are available for purchase through January 20th at www.withit.org.

The program for the evening includes: 
6:30pm - Cocktail Reception
7pm - Dinner, featuring a menu by Todd Clore

8pm - Awards Presentation
Have a story idea for an upcoming e-newsletter? Submit your idea to Lisa Hanly 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