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HFA to Honor Industry Leaders with 2025 Awards at High Point Market

Furniture World News Desk on 3/17/2025


The Home Furnishings Association (HFA) will present the 2025 Trailblazer Award to Todd Wanek, CEO Ashley Furniture Industries, LLC, the Manufacturer of the Year Award to Surya Inc and Partner of the Year Award to Synchrony in three different award celebrations at the upcoming Spring High Point Furniture Market. The HFA cordially invites industry press representatives to attend the award celebrations.

These Home Furnishings Association Awards is an annual recognition of the home furnishings industry’s highest achievers. Nominated by the industry and judged by a panel of peers, these awards honor industry professionals.

Todd Wanek Wins HFA’s 2025 Trailblazer Award

HFA CEO Shannon Williams will present the HFA 2025 Trailblazer award to Todd Wanek, CEO of Ashley Furniture Industries, LLC, in an award celebration on Saturday, April 26 at 3:00 pm EST in the Ashley Furniture Showroom located at IHFC - H900, Hamilton, Floor 9.

"I am deeply honored to receive the HFA Trailblazer of the Year award. This honor reflects the incredible work of our entire Ashley team across the globe. For 80 years, Ashley has been committed to delivering the world's best home furnishing values, selection and service, and we continue to innovate and evolve to meet the changing needs of our customers. This award isn't just about looking back at what we've accomplished; it's about our ongoing commitment to moving the furniture industry forward through technology, continuous improvement and customer-focused solutions. We are deeply grateful to the Home Furnishings Association for this honor as it fuels our passion to continue pioneering innovations that will shape the future of home furnishings."

Surya Inc Wins HFA 2025 Manufacturer of the Year

HFA CEO Shannon Williams will present the HFA 2025 Manufacturer of the Year award to Satya Tiwari, President of Surya Inc. in an award celebration on Saturday, April 26 at 10:00 am EST in the Surya Inc Furniture Showroom located at Showplace - 4100, Floor 4.

“Winning the HFA’s 2025 Manufacturer of the Year award is a true honor and a reflection of the strong partnerships that drive us forward. At Surya, we are committed to delivering exceptional products and service, working hand in hand with our customers and industry partners to create meaningful, lasting beauty and value. This recognition is a testament to the passion and dedication of our team, and it inspires us to continue raising the bar for innovation, quality, and collaboration in the home furnishings industry.”

Synchrony Wins HFA 2025 Partner of the Year

HFA CEO Shannon Williams will present the HFA 2025 Partner of the Year award to Tony Foster, SVP, Synchrony’s Home & Auto, in an awards celebration on Sunday, April 27 at 10:00 am EST in the Home Furnishings Association Resource Center at Plaza Suites, first floor, I-527.

“At Synchrony, we believe in equipping retailers with the innovative tools and resources they need to stay competitive in a dynamic marketplace,” said Curtis Howse, EVP and CEO, Synchrony’s Home & Auto platform. “Being named the Home Furnishings Association’s 2025 Partner of the Year is a tremendous honor and underscores our deep commitment to providing innovative and flexible financing solutions that empower businesses, drive sales and enhance the customer experience. We are incredibly grateful to HFA for this distinction and look forward to continuing our work with its members to shape the future of home retail financing.”

 


 

Ashley Furniture Industries, LLC
 
Ashley Furniture Industries, LLC (Ashley) feels that every person deserves more value for their money. Established in 1945, Ashley is the largest manufacturer of home furnishings in the world and was named one of America’s Most Trustworthy Companies by Newsweek in 2023. From design through fulfillment, Ashley is committed to delivering the world’s best home furnishing values, selection, and service and earning the loyalty and trust of its customers every day. Visit Ashley online at www.ashleyglobal.com and “like” Ashley Furniture Industries on Facebook.

Surya Inc
 
Surya Inc. is an innovative home furnishings brand catering to a variety of lifestyles. Surya’s thoughtfully curated design-forward furniture, rugs, textiles, lighting, and wall decor are available worldwide through leading retailers, interior designers, and online stores. The Surya Inc. family of brands includes Surya, Global Views, Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams, Livabliss, and RST Brands.

About Synchrony
 
Synchrony (NYSE: SYF) is a premier consumer financial services company delivering one of the industry’s most complete digitally-enabled product suites. Our experience, expertise and scale encompass a broad spectrum of industries including digital, health and wellness, retail, telecommunications, home, auto, outdoor, pet and more. We have an established and diverse group of national and regional retailers, local merchants, manufacturers, buying groups, industry associations and healthcare service providers, which we refer to as our “partners.” We connect our partners and consumers through our dynamic financial ecosystem and provide them with a diverse set of financing solutions and innovative digital capabilities to address their specific needs and deliver seamless, omnichannel experiences. We offer the right financing products to the right customers in their channel of choice. For more information, visit www.synchrony.com.

About Home Furnishings Association
 
The Home Furnishings Association (HFA), with roots dating back to 1920, is North America’s largest organization devoted specifically to the needs and interests of home furnishings retailers, with more than 1,400 members representing more than 10,000 storefronts globally. HFA provides members with programs, resources, services, and a unified voice in government relations by collaborating with home furnishings industry suppliers, vendors, affiliates, and other organizations. For more information on the HFA, visit www.myhfa.org.