WithIt Honors Susan Inglis with 2022 Visionary Award and Announces WOW Award Nominee Finalists

Furniture World News Desk on 9/28/2022

WithIt, the women’s leadership development network for the home and furnishings industry,  announces the WOW Award nominee finalists — 23 years after the first WOW Award was presented. 

Each of the nominee finalists, as well as the recipient of the Visionary Award, will be honored at the WOW Awards gala, on Friday, October 21st in the IHFC International Ballroom. Individual tickets and sponsor tables are available to be purchased at withit.org. 

The annual awards, which are sponsored by International Market Centers, recognize business leaders nominated by their peers who have contributed to the success of the home and furnishings industry and have demonstrated significant impact on their companies and the industry. 

New York interior designer and owner of Casa Santi Interior Design, David Santiago will lead the décor committee to help WithIt host an over-the-top masked opera ball.

WithIt will present the Visionary Award to Susan Inglis, founding executive director of the Sustainable Furnishings Council and owner of From the Mountain, a sustainable production and sourcing company. The award is the highest recognition level bestowed by the organization, honoring a woman of achievement whose insight and actions have significantly impacted WithIt.

As a leader in the push for sustainability in the home and furnishings industry, Susan Inglis has taken the Sustainable Furnishings Council from an idea to a reality. She clung to the notion that businesses have the power to change the world and, in doing so, became a part of that change — speaking to one business at a time. 

“It's an honor to recognize Susan Inglis with the Visionary Award,” says Renee Loper-Boyd, WithIt President and vice president of marketing at International Market Centers. “Her inspiring passion for sustainability and the contributions that she and the Sustainable Furnishings Council have made will continue to have a positive impact on our industry for many years to come.”

Her career has been marked by a passionate, purposeful entrepreneurial spirit. And her connections place and people have guided her path the entire way. WithIt is thrilled to recognize Inglis as its 2022 Visionary Award recipient as well as a longtime WithIt member. 

In addition to honoring Inglis, WithIt will present WOW Awards in five additional categories: Education, Mentoring, Leadership, Future Leader and Sales Excellence. 

Each of the nominee finalists submitted packages supporting their nomination, which will be judged by a panel of industry leaders. Recipients will be announced in October prior to the gala.

The Education Award recognizes an individual who has put forth significant effort to educate associates, retailers and consumers about home and furnishings. This year’s nominees are Kaprice Crawford, Home Furnishings Association; Jane Dagmi, HPxD; and Deborah Hernandez, Fashion Institute of Technology.

The Mentoring Award honors a company or individual for their efforts to foster advocacy, development and promotion of women in their company and the industry. This year’s Mentoring Award nominees are Lisa Hawkins, Room to Room; Louise Traficanti, Eastern Accents; and JoAnne Wiley, J.B. Hunt Final Mile.

The Leadership Award recognizes the contributions of a woman who has demonstrated successful leadership in her company, WithIt and the home furnishings industry. Leadership Award nominees are Rebecca Colyn, Magnussen Home; Lisa Koskela, Lisa Koskela Design; and Amy Vernon, La-Z-Boy, Inc. 

The Future Leader Award honors a young woman in the industry who has demonstrated outstanding achievement and the potential to become an industry leader. The nominees for this award are Dorota Lopez, Dorota, Inc.; Erin Weir, Gail Doby Coaching and Consulting; and Shannon Williams, North American Home Furnishings Association.

The Sales Excellence Award recognizes a woman who is extraordinary in sales, demonstrates excellence in education and relationships with her customers, and exceptional commitment to the company she represents. The nominees are Jamie Gaston, Esquire Advertising; Jynne Harris, Kreber; and Kristin Olson, Covington Fabrics and Designs.

Sponsors of this celebration of women’s achievement in the industry include the International Market Center (event sponsor), Jola (program sponsor),  J.B. Hunt Transport (awards sponsor) and Furniture Today (media sponsor). 

For more information about the 2022 WOW Awards and other WithIt events, visit withit.org/events. 

About WithIt
WithIt, is a non-profit organization that was founded in 1997 on the core belief that women should play a major role in the growth and development of the retail and home furnishings industries. Expanding on the values and their initial mission, WithIt has grown to include international membership, whose supporters encompasses innovators, influencers, thought leaders and senior executives for leading retailer, home and furnishings brands. Building on their mission WithIt’s continues to grow and affirming their core values: integrity, responsibility, fairness, respect, transparency and community. Celebrating 25 Years, WithIt works to uplift, and help women to see the value in forging relationships, networking, encouraging and developing education, mentoring, and leadership opportunities. To create and build space for women leaders to empower young females entering our industry - as the future of retail, home and furnishings industries.