WithIt presents honors at gala

WOW Awards go to four

Heath Combs -- Furniture Today, August 13, 2009

Leslie Carothers	Kelly Peterson
Jessica Koster	Manoj Nigam
Lillian August	Susan Inglis

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Women in the Home Industries Today, WithIt, presented its 2009 President's Award on Wednesday to The Kaleidoscope Partnership principal Leslie Carothers.

The award was among several presented at an evening gala here in conjunction with WithIt's annual Education Conference.

The organization develops leadership, mentoring, education and career opportunities for women in the home furnishings industry. The President's Award is given to a member whose leadership, willingness and passion for WithIt and the furniture industry is instrumental to the success of both, a WithIt press release said.

Four recipients were honored with the organization's annual WOW Awards:

• Jessica Koster, marketing manager for soy-based cushion product supplier Cargill's BiOH Polyols, was given The Future Leader Award, for someone under 40 years old whose has demonstrated potential to become an industry leader. Others nominated in the category were Renee Loper of Aspenhome and Monica Hill of Simmons Co.

• Manoj Nigam, CEO and president of software supplier MicroD, received WithIt's Mentoring Award, given to an executive or organization that has fostered the development of women in their company. Other nominees were Catherine Morsell of the International Textile Market Assn. and Karen Tucker of Furniture Transport Group.

• Susan Inglis, executive director of the Sustainable Furnishings Council, received the Education Award. The award is given for the creation of programs to educate associates, retailers or consumers about home furnishings. Sharron Bradley of the Western Home Furnishings Assn. and Jerry Epperson of Mann, Armistead & Epperson also were nominated.

• Lillian August, director of design licensing for her company, Lillian August Designs, won the Legacy Award, given to a woman who has made significant lifetime contributions to the home furnishings industries.

WithIt also recognized Kelly Peterson, group advertising director for Hearst Corp., for her years of service on the board of directors.

Alix Marissa Bulleit, a student at the University of Texas at Austin School of Architecture, was recognized as the 2009 Jena and Stephen Hall Scholarship recipient.