Industry Forecaster And Expert, Ellen Gefen, Selected As 2013 IFDA Luminary

Furniture World News Desk on 10/21/2013

Ellen Gefen, 2013 recipient, IFDA Luminary Award

The 2013 Luminary Award, given annually to a home furnishings industry icon whose innovative work has significantly furthered or promoted the home or décor industries, will be presented to Ellen Gefen, co-founder of Gefen Productions, at the Night of Luminaries, an awards celebration dinner, Wednesday, November 6, 2013. The award is presented by the Carolinas Chapter of the International Furnishings and Design Association (IFDA). Also honored at the Night of Luminaries are the industry’s Rising Stars, senior-level undergraduates selected by their colleges or universities as their most outstanding home furnishings/design student. Rising Stars will have their works displayed at a special cocktail reception held in their honor just prior to the awards dinner.

A trusted source for insightful and in-depth coverage of product and design trends, Gefen has been reporting on the International Home Furnishings Market in High Point, NC, for over 29 years. Ellen has guided and pioneered The Home Fashion Information Network by managing a collection of print, video and Web-based programs centered on the home fashion industry.

As host and producer of her own ground-breaking television show, “Home Fashion Report,” she has interviewed a “Who’s Who” of high-profile designers and celebrities over the years, from Oscar de la Renta and Bob Mackie to Jaclyn Smith, Martha Stewart and Ty Pennington, as well as hundreds of other top designers, manufacturers and retailers across the country.

Ellen’s insider knowledge of the home fashions business, uncanny ability to predict trends and her well-honed fashion sense have also made her a respected guest on the CBS Morning News, NBC’s Weekend Today, Canadian radio, and has been quoted by editors of national and regional magazines and local newspapers.

In addition to the Luminary Award, Ellen has been honored by WithIt (Women in the Home Industries Today), with the coveted WOW Award for Education and the prestigious Women in Business Award from “Triad Business News.”

Numerous awards for achievement in the field of video and film production also line the walls of Gefen Productions, the media production studio launched by Ellen and her husband, Mark Caudill in the early ‘80s. The High Point-based firm specializes in producing television commercials, corporate videos and Web content for companies both inside and outside the home fashion arena.

Ellen’s instincts is what made her successful not only in the home fashion industry, but in business as well. Her uncanny gut feeling is what led her to become a pioneer in finding new avenues to bring home fashion and design to consumers, and the decision to purchase the rights to TheHome.com, a website that gives consumers and the industry insight to emerging trends in the home and furniture.

Ellen has been involved in IFDA (International Furnishings & Design Association), WITHIT (Women in the Home Industries Today), Triad Leadership Network and Piedmont Entrepreneurs Network. She has also been active in her children’s school PTA’s and activities, is a past chair of ARC (Association for Retarded Citizens), and has also served on numerous committees for the United Way of Greater High Point and the High Point Chamber’s Challenge: High Point.

In addition to her many professional associations, Ellen is active in her community and gives freely of her time and talent to worthy organizations. She considers her greatest success to be her son and daughter, Jacob and Ehren.

The Night of Luminaries celebration dinner will be held at High Point Country Club, beginning with the Rising Star cocktail reception at 5PM. Reservations are required and can be made by emailing the Carolinas Chapter IFDA at CarolinasIFDA@northstate.net or through the organization’s Facebook page, Facebook.com/CarolinasIFDA. Cost is $35 per person.