WithIt Announces Keynote Speakers For Furniture Educational Conference

Furniture World Magazine

Keynote speakers on self-motivation and future life stage trends will highlight the annual WithIt Educational Conference, scheduled for August 29 – 31 at the Renaissance Charlotte Suites Hotel in Charlotte, N.C. Dedicated to the support and development of female professionals in the home industries, the organization has created a two-day program designed to promote both professional and personal development. Donna Rae Smith kicks off the series of seminars with “Emotional Fortitude: Inspire Yourself” at 9:15 a.m. on Wednesday, August 30. Smith, principal of Bright Side, Inc., pioneered the dynamic and energizing leadership development workshop after a successful career as an executive in the machine tool industry. And following Thursday’s lunch, closing speaker James Joseph Pirkl explores future life stage trends and the connection to home furnishings in “The Transgenerational House: Design for all Ages and Abilities.” The FIDSA-certified professor emeritus of industrial design, and past chairman of the department of design at Syracuse University, has written two books on the subject and was described as a “key figure in universal design” by the Smithsonian’s Cooper –Hewitt Design Museum. Pirkl is the principal of James Joseph Pirkl/Transgenerational Design. The annual event opens on Tuesday, August 29, with a reception sponsored by Aspenhome from 7-9 p.m. In addition to the educational program, attendees will participate in WithIt’s annual WOW Awards reception and dinner, recognizing exceptional home industry professionals, on Wednesday. The dinner is open to non-conference attendees for a fee $60 per person or $1,000 for a sponsor table of 10. Hour-long break-out sessions throughout Wednesday and Thursday include DiSC® Profile Assessment Results; Technology: Present and Emerging Impact; Market U 101 – Extreme Makeover; Rebooting your Creativity; Customer Inspired Design: Understanding the Consumer; Getting to the Table: What Tools Does it Take?; Emotional Intelligence; The Secret to Ultimate Communication: The Audience of One; So You’ve Been Promoted…Now What?; and Financial Wellness: Creating a Personal Financial Strategy. Conference sponsors include Magnussen Home, Furniture Today, Aspenhome, Stanley Furniture, Four Hands, Sealy, American Leather, Universal Furniture, Garden City Furniture, Berkline, Cramco, Frank About Women, FFDM, Havertys Furniture, Horich, Parks, Lebow Advertising, and Ronin Wireless. Attendees are eligible to receive a free gift for early registration by July 15. The conference registration deadline is July 28. For additional conference details or to register, go to www.withit.org or contact WithIt executive director Sara Lyke at director@withit.org.