WithIt opens WOW Awards nominations

Organization announces new Leadership Award

Casual Living Staff -- Casual Living, 2/11/2011 9:56:16 AM

GREENSBORO, N.C. — WithIt, the women's leadership development network for home and furnishings professionals, is accepting nominations for this year's WOW Awards.

The organization also announced the new Leadership Award, which will recognize a woman over age 40 who has demonstrated successful leadership in her company, in WithIt and/or the home furnishings industry.

As with all of the WOW Awards, nominees for the Leadership Award can be submitted by anyone in the home furnishings industry. Nomination forms are available at www.withit.org.

"The central tenet of WithIt has always been to recognize, connect, support and help to develop female leaders in the home furnishings industry," said WithIt President Mary Leigh Howell. "The WOW Awards honor companies and individuals who support that goal, and who have made strong strides in contributing to the success of this industry and the women in the home and furnishings field."

In addition to the Leadership Award, the categories for nomination are:

Legacy Award: For a woman of achievement who has made significant lifetime contributions to the home furnishings industry.

Mentoring Award: For an executive or organization that has fostered advocacy, development or promotion of women in their company.

Education Award: For an executive or company that has developed programs to educate associates, retailers or consumers about home furnishings.

Future Leader Award: For a woman 40 or under who has demonstrated outstanding achievement and the potential to become an industry leader.

To qualify for an award, nominees must have at least five years of industry experience and demonstrate a significant impact on his or her company and/or the industry. Both WithIt members and non-members are encouraged to submit nominations by April 15. Nominees must consent to the nomination prior to the submission of a nominating form.

WOW Awards will be announced Aug. 24 at a dinner during WithIt's annual professional conference, which runs Aug. 23-25 in Raleigh, N.C.