American Home Furnishings Hall of Fame to Honor Five Emerging Leaders

Furniture World News Desk on 3/12/2025

Pictured Clockwise from top left: Aaron Fenske, Scott Kahan, Jill Johnson, Zoe Wong and Jay Anna Mize.

Five rising stars within the home furnishings industry will be recognized with the prestigious Paul Broyhill Leader Award during a reception on Thursday, April 24, at the spring High Point Market. The award is given by the American Home Furnishings Hall of Fame to: Aaron Fenske, Vice President of Sourcing for Ashley Furniture Inds.; Jill Johnson, Vice President of Tempur-Pedic Brand Management; Scott Kahan, Director of Product for Regal Fabrics; Jay Anna Mize, Vice President of Advisory + Partnerships for Fashion Snoops; and Zoe Wong, Executive Director, General Manager of International Markets for Manwah Holdings.

“At our core, the Hall of Fame is about inspiring and mentoring the next generation. The Paul Broyhill Leader Award is one of the key ways that we do this, says Satya Tiwari, president of the Board of Directors.  “Each of the five emerging leaders well deserves this industry recognition and encouragement. They are making a mark on their companies through the excellence and achievement needed to move to the next level.” 

The Paul Broyhill Leaders Award is given annually to five emerging leaders by his son, Hunt Broyhill. Named after one of the industry’s leading families and a company that long focused on executive training, the award symbolizes the passing of leadership to new generations. 

Each honoree is under 40 years of age and selected for their leadership, personal growth, communications skills and commitment to the greater home furnishings industry. Hosted by AndMore and open to the industry, the ceremony is at 5:30 pm at the Hall of Fame, 311 S. Hamilton. Recipients will receive an engraved crystal bowl, framed certificate, the published “Oral History of Paul Hunt Broyhill” and membership in the Leaders Circle of the Hall of Fame.

Following the presentation, the Paul Broyhill Leaders participate in an inspiring discussion led by Furniture Today Founder Steve Pond over dinner, bringing together the honorees with five inducted members of the Hall of Fame. It is a master’s class setting designed to foster a genuine exchange of new perspectives balanced by the wisdom and experience of those who have received the industry’s most prestigious honor.

This year’s Paul Broyhill Leaders are:

• Aaron Fenske, Vice President of Sourcing for Ashley Furniture Inds., oversees global sourcing operations across eight Southeast Asian countries.  This includes the strategic implementation of the company’s Sourcing Blueprint for strong supplier partnerships, capabilities enhancement and ongoing recruitment of new talent. Fenske began his career with Ashley in 2012 in Asia, where he worked as project manager before quickly advancing through multiple leadership positions.  He has established global standards for sourcing, unifying operations and aligning strategies to ensure consistent quality and organizational excellence. 83

• Jill Johnson, Vice President of Tempur-Pedic Brand Management, is responsible for defining and executing brand strategy, guiding profit-and-loss results via pricing and promotions, and leading product strategy, visual identity and merchandising. She joined Tempur 14 years ago as a junior engineer before becoming Brand Manager of Sealy and then  Director of the Stearns & Foster and Tempur-Pedic brands. During her tenure, Tempur-Pedic has been awarded ten J.D. Power awards for top mattress brand — making it the most awarded brand in J.D. Power history.  83

• Scott Kahan, Director of Product for Regal Fabrics, leads product development, works with key customers and specialty retailers, and manages international vendor relationships. He also has directed the implementation of a new digital printing initiative, played a key role in the acquisition of Diversitex Home, and developed Kindred, a new line focused on sustainable fabrics. A former software sales executive, Kahan has introduced and implemented technologies to streamline the product development process and to reach beyond its traditional customer base. 

• Jay Anna Mize, Vice President of Advisory + Partnerships for Fashion Snoops, is an innovative strategist and brand developer. She built the Home + Lifestyle division for the global fashion trend forecasting company and shaped product development forecasts across 15 market categories, with a focus on furniture, soft goods and décor. Known for her mastery of consumer behavior and the ability to narrate the “why” behind changes in the design landscape, Mize is a pivotal force in identifying and driving key fashion trends.  83

• Zoe Wong, Executive Director, General Manager of International Markets for Manwah Holdings, is responsible for the export business by directing strategy, operations and growth which generates more than $1 billion in sales annually. She started working in the family retail business as a teenager and was appointed to the Manwah Holdings board of directors in 2015 at the age of 28. A skilled communicator, Wong has a deep passion for the home furnishings industry and the role it plays in improving people’s lives.

About The American Home Furnishings Hall of Fame Foundation, Inc.
The American Home Furnishings Hall of Fame Foundation, Inc., is an industry-wide organization founded to preserve its history, to celebrate exceptional individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to the U.S. home furnishings industry, to inspire the next generation of innovative leaders and to engage the community with the world of home furnishings. Our new home, which opened in April 2023, is a symbol of the Home Furnishings Capital of the World™ where the industry gathers, where we honor our leaders and tell our stories, and where we learn through exhibits, seminars and speakers. As a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, funds support our history and leadership programming. The organization is based in High Point, North Carolina, at 311 S. Hamilton St., and can be reached at 336.882.5900 or by visiting www.homefurnishingshalloffame.com.