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UPCOMING EVENTS
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FALL 2013
HIGH POINT MARKET
Drinks with the President
Friday, Oct. 18
Watch the website for more information
WithIt Education Breakfast
Sunday, Oct. 20
IMC's IHFC Building Green Wing, 11th Floor
International Ballroom A
Speaker: Wendy Bellissimo
Must RSVP: Leigh Chastain
Competitive Intelligence/ Trends Panel
Monday, Oct. 21
Design9 Showroom,
220 ELM - 311
6-8pm
Hosted by 220 Elm, Design9 Inc., TemaHome and Lumintonic
Register at www.withit.org
WithIt Student Mentoring
Wednesday, Oct. 23
8am-1pm
Volunteer to mentor
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WELCOME NEW MEMBERS
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Britta Bielak Student Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond, VA Olivia Cochran Student Elon University Elon, NC Robin Coleman Owner Carolina Decorating and Redesign, LLC Raleigh, NC Sheila Corlis Director of Merchandising Innovative Mattress Solutions Winfield, WV Karel Czanderna President/CEO Flexsteel Industries, Inc. Dubuque, IA Suzanne Dawkins President Design One, Inc. Asheville, NC Robbin Dewese Color Specialist Designing Dream Interiors Cornelius, NC Katy Garrett CEO Connexionsoft Asheville, NC Summer Gavaghan Student Appalachian State University Boone, NC Tori Hart Student Appalachian State University Boone, NC Amanda Hedrick Textile Designer Valdese Weavers Hickory, NC Nicole Howley Marketing Gefen Productions High Point, NC Sarah Kakol Student High Point University High Point, NC Sara King Principal Optimum Insights, Inc. Amanda Kinney Owner Antique & Design Center of High Point Greensboro, NC Joyce Kuo Marketing Director South Sea Rattan Collections Greensboro, NC Alicia McKinnon Student Auburn University Dothan, AL Victoria Melvin Student Meredith College Raleigh, NC Karen Luisana Owner Antique & Design Center of High Point Greensboro, NC Suzanne Nelson Student Savannah College of Art & Design Savannah, GA Andrea Ottey Student Bauder College Hampton, GA Virginia Perkin Retail Experience Manager Tempur Pedic Nashville, TN Jennie Reeb Student Appalachian State University Boone, NC Rebecca Rowan Student High Point University High Point, NC Debbie Spofford Student Philadelphia University Philadelphia, PA Pam Stallings Manufacturer's Rep Winston Salem, NC Andie Stuber Student Meredith College Raleigh, NC Katie Waivers Student North Carolina State University Raleigh, NC Kara Walker Student North Carolina State University Raleigh, NC Ashley Ward Student Appalachian State University Boone, NC Lorrin Webb Student Mississippi State University Starkville, MS Lisa Wilkie Director of Trimmings and Drapery Hardware Kravet New York, NY Chandra Young Showroom Manager Antique & Design Center of High Point Greensboro, NC |
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 What Happened in Raleigh, Won't Stay in Raleigh | |  What you missed and more...
By Betty Lyn Eller, 2013 WithIt President As we left the Renaissance Hotel in Raleigh, NC, we left behind the annual WithIt Professional Conference feeling WithIt STRONG. In the words of closing speaker Mary Knackstedt, we all got a "virus that we should spread." The "virus" was the excitement for our industry, our work and the opportunity to network with others. Much networking, learning and supporting and sharing was had for more than 150 participants during the conference. Attendees had opportunities to be inspired by impressive and thought provoking general session speakers, engage in roundtable sessions on topics of their choice, meet new friends and reconnect with old.
A giant thank you goes out to Carol Gregg, Conference Chairwoman and her "wing chick" Pat Bowling, for planning and executing this year's conference. Multiple conference committees of volunteers were diligent in their commitment to providing a conference experience that was flawless in execution - THANK YOU. It is important to recognize our roster of conference sponsors, without their commitment to and confidence in the values of WithIt, programming content at the level of this year's conference would not be possible.
But you may not have realized that there were also other activities going on during this important week: STRATEGIC PLANNING SESSION Your 2013 Board of Directors held two key meetings in Raleigh before the conference. Saturday and Sunday, a majority of board members, including Executive Director, Sara Lyke and WithIt Administrator, Amy Van Dorp, participated in an intensive three-year Strategic Planning Session with particular emphasis on the next 16 months. Our workshop was moderated by The Latitude Group to keep us focused on building a SMART (specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, time bound) strategic plan mapped to the needs of our membership through an organizational structure that provides financial stability, a strong connected community and successful growth. Our strategic plan will be unwavering in the requirement that everything WithIt does supports our mission to encourage and develop leadership, mentoring, education and networking opportunities for professionals in the home décor and furnishings industries. After all, we are a women's leadership development network. The Board paid for their own travel and hotel expenses for this session and workshop was paid for within the working WithIt budget. MONTHLY BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING The monthly WithIt Board of Directors meeting took place on closing day of the conference. We meet monthly and it was a joy to do this with most of the Board sitting together in person (usually this meeting is a conference call with the Board spread across North America!). EXECUTIVE FORUM Since 2009, the executive forum has been offered before the conference for C-suite executive members of WithIt and invited guests. This invitation only group meets the day the conference opens for workshops, led by an outside facilitator. Invitations are sent to a list of industry leaders, both members and non- members, generated by the executive director and president. Qualifications for the leaders to be invited are: being a member of a C-Suite or consult to a C-Suite at companies $10 million+ with responsibility to bottom line. Attendees pay an additional fee to attend this session. My closing thought and challenge:
We left the conference confident in the knowledge that we can choose to be a Modern Renaissance Woman - one who is in charge of having her all, to achieve a balanced life as she sees it, not anyone else. As a WithIt Modern Renaissance Woman, I challenge all attendees to share their conference knowledge, networking, aha moments and laughs with members who could not attend. That is leadership development and the basis for nurturing our connected WithIt community!
Mark your calendar for 2014's conference, the second week of August, in Atlanta, GA!
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MARK YOUR CALENDARS: OCTOBER #HPMKT
| |  It's closer than you think
October High Point Market is quickly approaching. It's time to mark your calendar for great upcoming events: DRINKS WITH THE PRESIDENT Friday, October 18 Time/Location TBD  WITHIT BREAKFAST Sunday, October 20 7:30-9:00 am IMC's IHFC Building Green Wing, 11th Floor
International Ballroom A Speaker: Wendy Bellissimo Widely known as a stylemaker in baby and kids design, Wendy Bellissimo has been creating environments for families since 1998. A favorite of celebrity moms like Brooke Shields, Kelly Ripa and Denise Richards, Wendy's creations have appeared in countless publications and she is a lifestyle expert for America's leading design shows. The founder and chief designer of her product line, which includes Nursery Decor, Apparel, Bags, Baby Gear and more, Wendy works from home where she can be close to her four young daughters. Wendy is introducing her new line of children's furniture with Legacy Classic. COMPETITIVE INTELLIGENCE/ TRENDS PANEL Monday, October 21 6:00-8:00 pm Design9 Showroom (formerly OuterLimits) 220 Elm, showroom 311 Hosted by 220 Elm, Design9, Lumitonic and TemaHome STUDENT MENTORING Wednesday, October 23 8:00 am - 1:00pm Volunteer to mentor. |
2013 RISING LEADER STUDENT SCHOLARS
| | Once again, WithIt was able to bring 20 students to the Professional Conference due to the generous sponsorship of Frinier Atelier, Brown Jordan and Sunbrella. The scholarship included the conference registration, travel and hotel accommodations. They also receive a WithIt student membership. Thanks to our sponsors!
Back row:
Morgan Green, North Carolina State University; Andie Stuber, Meredith College; Jennie Reeb, Appalachian State University; Andrea Ottey, Bauder College; Summer Gavaghan, High Point University; Ashley Ward, Appalachian State University; Sarah Kakol, High Point University; Kara Walker, North Carolina State University; Linsay Bittinger, North Carolina State University; Niki McNeill, Meredith College; Victoria Melvin, Meredith College; Becca Rowan, High Point University; Deb Spofford, Philadelphia University.
Seated:
Alicia McKinnon, Auburn University; Lorrin Webb, Mississippi State University; Olivia Cochran, Elon University; Suzanne Nelson, Savannah College of Art and Design; Felicia Dean, University of North Carolina at Greensboro; Tori Hart, Appalachian State University; Britta Bielak, Virginia Commonwealth University. |
PHOTOS FROM THE CONFERENCE
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 | | 2013 Conference Chair Carol Gregg, president of red egg, kicks off the conference with the theme: The Modern Renaissance Woman. |
  | Bill Hartman, Furniture First, wins a t-shirt from speaker Arlene Blum
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 | | Felicia Dean, UNCG and Leyla Gans, Classical Elements |
 | | Sara King, Optimum Insights, Kim Grubb, Wright Global Graphic Solutions, and Cathy McLaughlin, Screen Gems Furniture Accessories |
 | | Cathy Lloyd, The Media Matters, Maria Killam, Maria Killam Colour & Design, and Barbara Miller, YES Spaces |
 | | Caroline Hipple, HB2 Resources and Dana Hughens, Clairemont Communications |
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Pat Bowling, AHFA, Vicki Payne, Cutters Productions and Lisa Hanly, Furniture Brands Int'l
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See more conference pictures at www.withit.org
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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 |
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