WITHIT Hosting Day Of Mentoring At Market

Furniture World Magazine

More than 60 college students from North Carolina and Virginia will get an insider’s view of the International Home Furnishings Market this spring as guests of Women in the Home Industries Today (WithIt). The Virginias/Carolinas Chapter of WithIt is hosting a Day of Mentoring that will pair college students with professionals in the industry for a morning at market on April 23. The event is sponsored by Stanley Furniture Company. "We want to work with the students in a way that speaks to our mission; mentoring is one of the reasons WithIt exists," said Mary Leigh Wallace, vice president of the Virginias/Carolinas Chapter. "Not only will these students be able to meet professionals in their fields of interest, but they also will be able to gain an insider’s perspective on how the industry operates, something no textbook or classroom lecture can provide." Following their market visits, students and their mentors will gather in the International Home Furnishings Market Media Center for a luncheon. WithIt President Kimberley Wray will speak. Students selected for the mentoring program were able to choose an area of interest, such as product design, interior design, marketing/communications, manufacturing or sales. They will be matched with mentors in their area of interest. More than 30 WithIt members have signed up to serve as mentors. Schools invited to participate in the mentoring program are Appalachian State University, Boone, N.C.; High Point University, High Point; N.C. State University, Raleigh; Randolph Community College, Asheboro; Patrick Henry Community College, Martinsville, Va.; Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.; the University of North Carolina at Greensboro; and Catawba Valley Community College, Hickory. "The response from the schools has been overwhelming. We wish we could accommodate more students," said Wallace. A second WithIt Day of Mentoring is scheduled for later this year. On that day, WithIt members will be paired with other professionals in the industry. "WithIt recognizes that many early or mid-career women in the industry would love to learn new skills from a seasoned executive," said Wallace. "This program will allow them to do just that through a day of mentoring." Areas of interest for that program include management, product design, interior design, changing careers, finance, manufacturing, balancing work/family, sales, marketing and public relations. For more information, call the WithIt office in High Point, 336/884-1122.WithIt, founded in 1997, encourages and develops leadership, mentoring, education and career opportunities for women in the home furnishings industry. Membership is open to all women in the industry.