WithIt accepting nominations for WOW Awards

Program recognizes achievements of home furnishings professionals

Furniture Today Staff -- Furniture Today, February 1, 2010

GREENSBORO, N.C. — WithIt, the women's leadership development network for home and furnishings professionals, is accepting nominations for its annual WOW Awards.

The recognition program honors the commitment, achievements, leadership potential and service of home and furnishings professionals and/or businesses, as nominated by their industry peers.

"WithIt is committed to recognizing, connecting, supporting and developing female leaders - a critical talent pool - in all segments of the home and furnishings industries," said WithIt President Stephanie Lowder. "As a sign of its commitment to leadership development, WithIt produces its annual WOW Awards to honor individuals and companies who have made significant contribution to the success of these industries and who embody our mission. Each year, the WOW recipients become benchmarks for leadership for the WithIt organization and the industry at large."

Categories for nomination are:

• 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.

• Future Leader Award, for a woman 40 or younger who has demonstrated outstanding achievement and the potential to become an industry leader.

To qualify for an award, nominees must have at least five years of industry experience and demonstrate a significant impact on his or her company and/or the industry.

Both WithIt members and non-members are encouraged to submit nominations, which are due April 1. A nomination form is located at WithIt.org. Nominees must consent to the nomination before the submission of a nominating form.

WOW Awards will be announced Aug. 18 at a dinner during WithIt's annual professional conference, which runs Aug. 17-19 in Charlotte, N.C.