WithIt 2017 WOW Awards Honored Industry Leaders
Furniture World News Desk on
4/26/2017
Pictured above (l-r): Founders Award: Kimberley Wray, Kimberley Wray Marketing & Communications; Emcee: Connie Post, Affordable Design Solutions by Connie Post; Mentoring Award Recipient: Dana Helms, MicroD; Leadership Award Recipient: Randy Rubin, Crypton; Education Award Recipient: Laura Holland, Heritage Home Group; Future Leader Award Recipient: Megan Barrett, Sherrill Furniture
Legacy Award Recipient: Caroline Hipple, Norwalk Furniture
WithIt presented its 2017 WOW Awards during a gala dinner event with record attendance on Friday, April 21 in High Point. WithIt, the women’s leadership development network, is also celebrating its 20th Anniversary. The annual WOW Awards honor the achievements of home and furnishings professionals and businesses that embody the organization's mission.
WithIt’s WOW Awards is the only industry-wide program dedicated to the specific accomplishments of women and the companies that support women in home and furnishings industries. Honorees recognized at the event were:
FOUNDERS AWARD: Kimberley Wray, Kimberley Wray Marketing & Communications
Kimberley Wary was presented the Founders Award in honor of WithIt’s 20th Anniversary and her integral part in founding and building WithIt.
LEGACY AWARD: Caroline Hipple, Norwalk Furniture: Caroline Hipple was presented the Legacy Award, celebrating Hipples’s lifetime contributions to WithIt and the home and furnishings industry.
MENTORING AWARD: Dana Helms, MicroD: Dana Helms of MicroD was presented the Mentoring Award for her efforts to foster mentoring, development and promotion of women in her company and the industry.
FUTURE LEADER AWARD: Megan Barrett, Sherrill Furniture: Megan Barrett of Sherrill Furniture was awarded the Future Leader Award, which is bestowed upon a young woman who has demonstrated outstanding achievement and the potential to become an industry leader.
LEADERSHIP AWARD: Randy Rubin, Crypton®: Randy Rubin of Crypton received the Leadership Award in recognition of her contributions and successful leadership in her company and the home furnishings industry.
EDUCATION AWARD: Laura Holland, Heritage Home Group: Laura Holland of Heritage Home Group received the Education Award for her efforts to educate associates, retailers and consumers about home furnishings.
The 2017 WOW Awards were made possible through the generous support of International Market Centers and sponsors Palliser, 220 Elm, FurnitureDealer.net and Wright Global Graphics. The awards were presented during a gala event in IHFC’s International Ballroom, which had been transformed into an Asian garden by interior designer Natalie Reddell principal of Interiors by Natalie in Raleigh, N.C. Students from WithIt’s chapter at the North Carolina State College of Textiles assisted with decorating and attended the dinner.
About WithIt: WithIt, a women’s leadership development network, celebrates its 20th year building programs for women in the home and furnishings industries in order to support their multi-dimensional career paths. The non-profit network is based in North Carolina and supported by leading companies across the industry including their platinum sponsors International Market Centers and Heritage Home Group. WithIt’s purpose is to encourage and develop leadership, mentoring, education and networking opportunities for professional women in the home and furnishings industries. For more information visit
http://www.withit.org