Home furnishings leaders to watch in 2025
Welcome to Home Accent Today‘s 2025 People to Watch. Chosen by our editors, these are industry members who, through their decision-making, creative vision, strategic planning, leadership ability or willingness to take a chance on something new, stand to significantly impact the home furnishings industry in the coming year.
Many of them are seasoned executives who, by chance or choice, find themselves in a new role or facing new challenges or opportunities. Others may not be new to their jobs but are finding new ways to move business forward. They are change-makers — keep an eye on them. — The editors
Malene Barnett
Multidisciplinary ceramics, textiles and mixed media artist
Malene Barnett said her art, which has been exhibited at galleries and museums throughout the U.S., draws on her African Caribbean heritage, exploring cultural identity through ceramics, textiles and mixed media, often using traditional techniques to bridge past and present. “I am also excited to begin work on a public art project—a site-specific ceramic mural for a new community center in Greensboro, N.C.,” she said. “This mural will celebrate the local community while reflecting Black diasporic experiences, creating a space for recognition and connection.” Barnett earned an MFA in ceramics from the Tyler School of Art and Architecture and undergraduate degrees in fashion illustration and textile surface design from the Fashion Institute of Technology. She also received a Fulbright Award to travel to Jamaica in 2022–23 as the visiting artist at Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts in Kingston. In addition, Barnett founded the Black Artists + Designers Guild in 2018 to create a platform for Black artists and designers globally to connect, collaborate, and thrive. Drawing on her African Caribbean heritage, her work explores cultural identity and often uses mark-making and traditional techniques to bridge past and present. Barnett has also been traveling the country to share her debut book, Crafted Kinship: Inside the Creative Practice of Contemporary Black Caribbean Makers. – Anne Flynn Wear
Renata Bokalo
Show Director
Shoppe Object
Renata Bokalo officially debuted as show director of Shoppe Object last month, but she’s been working behind the scenes in that capacity for several months, and, as show founder Jesse James’ right-hand, she is ready to take the reins. Bokalo was on the founding team of Shoppe Object, which debuted in 2018, and has been part of the decision-making, brand selection and sales operations for the show since then. “It’s great to get to a place where that transition can take place, and we are both excited about all the things on the horizon,” said James, who remains with the Shoppe Object brand as president. Bokalo is tasked with executing James’ vision for Shoppe, which includes sustaining its level of quality and curation, increasing international attendance and creating new events in and outside New York. “My whole career has culminated in this [transition], because I’ve worked on all sides of the coin,” said Bokalo, who also worked with James at the wholesale rep firm Aesthetic Movement and previously owned a gift and décor store in Manhattan called Auto. “I’ve been a retailer, I’ve worked with buyers, I know makers and designers and brands, and all of that has come together in this position. I have a lot of love for this industry, so it is very exciting.”— Allison Zisko
Sheila Bridges
Interior Designer and Creative Director
Sheila Bridges Design
Sheila Bridges, who opened her design practice in 1993, has been named America’s Best Interior Designer by Time Magazine and CNN and is known for her classic yet versatile design aesthetic and critical eye. Bridges has solved difficult design problems and created beautiful residents and spaces for a diverse group of clients, including Harlem offices for former President Bill Clinton, and more recently, the redecoration of the official residence of former Vice President Kamala Harris and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff. Bridges’ Harlem Toile de Juoy is an iconic and culturally rich design that combines historical French motifs with African American narratives. Bridges created it in 2005 after feeling unseen and unrepresented in mainstream design. It has made its mark in multiple home product categories and collaborations, including partnerships with Williams-Sonoma & Williams-Sonoma Home, Le Creuset, Wedgwood, The Shade Store and The Inside. Bridges’ experience extends well beyond her 30-year-tenure in interior design. She has hosted four seasons of Sheila Bridges: Designer Living on the Fine Living Network. It’s a lifestyle show where she introduces viewers to new locales, design professionals and trends each week. She has also been a regular contributor on NBC’s Today show, appeared on Oprah, and has been featured in many publications such as the Washington Post, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and House and Garden. — Lauren Roses
Doug Cofiell
CEO
Ivystone
In recent years, Ivystone, a rep group that accommodates both gift and home accents companies, has expanded its portfolio with the acquisitions of several other rep groups, most recently bringing OneCoast into the fold in late 2024. According to Ivystone CEO Doug Cofiell, the company’s success with these acquisitions is having built a foundation that allows each new rep group to operate independently as they have, but now with an infrastructure that provides stability and efficiency. “We let the businesses remain creative and entrepreneurial,” Cofiell said. “We support them with a solid financial and technological system.” Ivystone incorporates a mix of national and regional representation for its vendors, working to give its clients dedicated attention and insights that help them thrive. Part of Ivystone’s strategy is to have two divisions — gift and home accents/lifestyle — that help expand companies’ reach across a broader cross-section of retailers. As a result of this innovative and results-oriented approach to supporting the companies that benefit from Ivystone’s services, Cofiell was named Gift for Life’s 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award recipient at this year’s Retail Excellence Awards in Dallas. While Cofiell was honored to receive the award, he said it is a testament to the Ivystone team. “Our team is a robust group of individuals,” Cofiell said. “With everything we’re achieving, we’ve been really successful because of our team.” — Diane Falvey
Rebecca Cohen
Founder
Love Shack Fancy
Rebecca Hessel Cohen founded Love Shack Fancy in 2013 after leaving her job as fashion editor at Glamour Magazine. The idea of Love Shack Fancy came about after Cohen designed a bridesmaid dress for her own wedding and envisioned something that didn’t exist in the current market. Using her editorial background, Cohen created a brand that tells a story and is rooted in femininity. Love Shack Fancy is known for its lace, florals, soft pastels and vintage silhouettes and has created a cult following. Since 2013, the company has quickly expanded into a full lifestyle brand offering childrenswear, accessories and home goods, with collaborations with many well-known companies. To date, Love Shack Fancy has collaborated with brands such as Victoria Secret Pink, State Bags, Bloomingdales, Stanley, Pottery Barn Teen, Gap, Target, American Girl, Hunter and Hedley & Bennett. Cohen has hinted that the company may someday evolve into hospitality and lifestyle destinations and continues to actively explore extensions into home décor, women’s beauty and potentially completely new categories. According to the Wall Street Journal, the brand operates 17 retail locations, and its annual sales exceed $100 million and will continue to grow under Cohen’s stewardship. — Lauren Roses
Mac Cooper
President and CEO
Uttermost
Uttermost CEO Mac Cooper expects 2026 to be a strong growth year for the company, particularly in the outdoor category. Two accomplishments stand out this year for Cooper, who joined the family business in 1987 when it was a very small company manufacturing wall décor. The roots of Uttermost go back close to 70 years, manufacturing for companies like Barrett, Vaughn Bassett, Hooker, Stanley and Kincaid. “First was the accomplishment of 50 years in business,” Cooper said. “My parents founded Uttermost in 1975 and established our culture and principles that we still follow today. It was rewarding to celebrate at markets with our many customers, as well at our headquarters with over 500 of our Uttermost family and friends.” The company has grown organically since the 80s while adding product categories of furniture, lighting of all types and accessories. It has also added brands of Revelation, Salt & Light and recently, Uttermost outdoor. Its debut in the outdoor arena in all its product categories was the second biggest accomplishment of the year for Cooper. “We could not have been more pleased with the reception beginning in April, and more than a year of focused design and development,” he said. “We see tremendous potential for rapid growth in outdoor with customers.” —Lauren Roses
Nora Gomez
Founder
NG Growth
This year, Nora Gomez amassed her vast retail experience — Limited Brands, Pier 1, Nebraska Furniture Mart — into a consulting firm that helps businesses develop high-impact growth strategies. “After three decades in retail, it was time to grow my leadership beyond a box on an org chart,” Gomez said. “Fueled by an industry in transition, I wondered how I could help in a greater way.” Gomez launched Next Generation Growth in April. Starting with the home industry, Gomez has created a three-pronged coaching approach. The first pillar is a 12-week high-impact growth program designed to build on what a company has built with new growth strategies. “We’re focusing on executing the right priorities without disrupting what’s already working,” Gomez said. The second pillar helps senior female leaders become more effective. “I’ve put together a program to help women find the clarity, courage and strategy to lead in their roles,” Gomez said. And third, Gomez is leveraging her leadership and personal experience to help companies bridge the generation gap. “We have five working generations,” she noted. “We need to find the [generational] friction points and create a multi-generational commitment to shared priorities.” Next Generation Growth has already secured several clients and sees the potential to help others. “I’ve developed these systems based on my experience and success path, and the strategies I’ve seen work well in other organizations,” she said. — Diane Falvey
Aaron Mitchell Johnson
Global Views
SVP of product development
The career of Aaron Mitchell Johson, Global Views’ new senior vice president of product development, spans more than two decades in the luxury furnishings industry. Johnson oversees product development for Studio A Home and GV Design along with Global Views. In this new role, he said he plans to bring his refined design sensibility and multidisciplinary expertise to shape distinctive, design-driven collections that stand the test of time. “I am incredibly proud to have landed the Global Views gig,” Johnson said. “What an opportunity! I am now working on my debut 2027 collections for Global Views, Studio A and GV Design. It’s going to be a very busy time.” Johnson said his approach combines the sensibility of a fine artist with the discipline of a product merchant. His career includes extensive collaborations with leading brands across furniture, lighting and accessories, where he’s built standout collections that balance form, function and emotional resonance. “This opportunity feels like a natural extension of the work I’ve been building toward for years,” Johnson added. “Global Views has always stood for design integrity and global inspiration. I’m excited to help shape their next chapter by creating collections that feel both fresh and enduring — pieces that people will live with and love for years to come.” – Anne Flynn Wear
Alex Matisse
Founder and CEO
East Fork
East Fork pottery suffered a small setback when its Asheville, N.C. headquarters was flooded by Hurricane Helene last October, but it quickly got back on its feet — with tremendous support from the local community — and has been in growth mode ever since. Sales are up 35% over last year, said company founder and CEO Alex Matisse, and the company is excited for fourth quarter holiday sales and the launch of new products, including the limited-edition Guava colorway and its new Matisse line of decaled ceramics. Last fall, East Fork opened its third retail store, in Brooklyn, N.Y., and plans to open another by the end of 2026. Its location is still to be determined, but Matisse said he is looking at smaller markets like its Asheville location (its third store is in Atlanta) and is testing the waters with pop-up shops. In addition to its signature pottery, the stores feature items for kitchen, dining and adjacent rooms; the company’s fastest growing category outside pottery is glassware. Matisse said he’s still getting a feel for the retail side of business. “Our Asheville store is amazing from a volume perspective, and we’ve learned lessons in Atlanta. The Brooklyn store is very small, not big or showy. I don’t think we’ve cracked it yet.” In terms of advice for other prospective retailers, he said, “I’m still learning.” — Allison Zisko
Jon Melchi
CEO and President
American Lighting Association
Jon Melchi admits he has a big job ahead as he learns about lighting and assesses where the ALA can become more effective for its industry and retail members. “Being the hub for the lighting industry to connect through is our purpose,” Melchi noted. “As an association, we need to provide good value to our members, so their support is worth their contribution. We do that by being relevant to their businesses and to serve the broader industry.” While Melchi is new to lighting, his background covers the association side. He has leadership experience with the HVAC International Trade Association, and most recently, was the executive director of the Building Industry Association of Central Ohio. His previous experience should serve him well, as he focuses on streamlining the connection with ALA members and within the organization, elevating educational content and supporting the industry through changing government regulations and outside initiatives that affect the lighting industry. “It’s critical for us to do this together,” Melchi said. “Under the umbrella of the ALA, our footprint is more than one company. It impacts all different types of folks within this industry, from manufacturing to the person installing the lights.” With aggressive plans in the works to help the ALA evolve to meet its members’ needs, keep an eye on Melchi as he embraces the lighting industry. — Diane Falvey
Jaye Anna Mize
Vice President, Advisory + Partnerships
Future Snoops
After developing the home & lifestyle division at Future Snoops (previously Fashion Snoops), Jaye Anna Mize once again works across all verticals as Vice President, Advisory + Partnerships. “I work with clients on such things as high-touch advisory, future-planning workshops and strategic partnership development,” she said. “These projects are grounded in research but tailored to the moment a business is in and the future they want to reach.” While FS is known for its trend forecasting, it also advises on strategies that shape what companies bring to market and how they tell their stories. “My role puts me in the position to help connect cultural insight with business decisions,” Mize noted. “I get to work with teams while they are still asking the big questions. That’s when ideas are most open to transformation.” Home continues to be a passion. “Home is one of our most successful and influential verticals,” she said. “One of my favorite accomplishments has been creating the trend alliance between High Point Market Authority, Interwoven, the Home Furnishings Hall of Fame and now AndMore.” Mize added that FS gives her the room to bring these ideas to the table. “FS is a place where you can shape the culture around you, not just comment on it.” It will be interesting to see what Mize is shaping next. — Diane Falvey
Megan Molten
Founder and Chief Creative Officer
Megan Molten Design + Shop
Interior designer Megan Molten, founder and chief creative officer of Megan Molten Design + Shop, received an ARTs retail award this year as a first-time nominee. The award honored her ability to combine custom interior design services with a curated shop that offers both brick-and-mortar and online shopping options. Since founding her design business in 2018, Molten has also partnered on product collections such as lighting, mirrors and wallpaper with companies like Mitzi Lighting and Cooper Classics. This year, the company reached new milestones. “Our design work has elevated to a new level of luxury and Lowcountry living, now gaining international recognition. In the shop, our new website launch, concierge service and expanded reach have allowed us to serve clients beyond our local scope. Like many in the industry, we faced the lows of 2021–2022, and then the challenges of 2023, but those seasons forced us to get creative and set big goals,” Molten said. “Seeing those dreams become reality — and watching our team and business grow — has been the accomplishment I’m most proud of.” For 2026, Molten plans to go international. “We can’t wait to install furnishings on our very first boat project headed to the Bahamas as well as a family home. A personal dream has also been to attend the Paris market, and I am hopeful 2026 will be the year it finally happens.” — Lauren Roses
Tayo Onadein
CEO/President
Jacquard Design Consultancy Groups and Tayo Originals Decorative Fabrics
Tayo Onadein is a Nigerian-born textile designer who’s made a name for himself in the United States. A 1985 alum of Philadelphia College of Textiles and Science (now Jefferson University), Onadein’s designs have been featured in many high-end venues such as Harrods (London), upscale retail in Australia, Baker Furniture, Rooms To Go, Henredon and more. Since 2015, he has been the CEO/President of Jacquard Design Consultancy, responsible for the creative direction, product development and manufacturing with its mill partners in Hangzhou and Haining, China, for every product that he sells to its U.S. furniture manufacturers every season, twice a year. Onadein has been an equity partner for many companies throughout the years such as Silona Home Fashion in Burlington, N.C., Hometex Decorative Fabrics and JLA Home Fabrics. In 2026, Onadein plans to broaden his product line to include outdoor furniture fabrics and performance fabrics. Onadein has many accomplishments to celebrate, but one that stands out for him is his expanding business. “The accomplishment I am so proud of is that our customers are growing and our current customers keep growing their business with Tayo Originals and our brand is spreading faster than we can handle. Several mills in China, Turkey and India are requesting [my] design collaboration with them,” said Onadein. —Lauren Roses
Gerardo Ornelas
Vice President and General Manager
Joybird
Once online-only, Joybird has grown into an omnichannel home furnishings supplier, now with 14 brick-and-mortar retail stores and a wholesale division. Vice President and General Manager Gerardo Ornelas joined Joybird as director of finance — following the brand’s 2018 acquisition by LazyBoy — and was tasked with sharing the brand’s story, its value proposition and what differentiates it. “You could say I was a brand ambassador,” Ornelas said. “I was tasked with bringing new technology and strategies to get Joybird products in front of more customers.” Ornelas and his team have been able to build on collected consumer data to advance Joybird’s growth, understanding where and how its customers live, informing the company’s strategic retail locations. Joybird plans to boost its retail to 25 stores within the next year, Ornelas said. Joybird is also expanding into wholesale, providing other retailers with customizable upholstery pieces merchandised with the brand’s case goods and home decor. Ornelas credits technology with much of Joybird’s success. With his technology background, he has helped the company develop robust marketing that allows potential customers to see custom options as well as visualize pieces in their homes. Combined with its physical locations, Ornelas sees the company continuing to grow, and he’s excited to be part of that journey. “We’re very good at making furniture inspirational to our specific customers,” he noted. — Diane Falvey
Rudi Nijssen and Dominique Sente
Founders
313.Space
Seeing a need for a community-driven design destination in High Point, Rudi Nijssen and Dominique Sente delivered with the opening of 313.Space last year. New exhibit space in High Point always creates a buzz, but 313.Space is atypical. “High Point is the heart of the American design industry, but we saw an opportunity to do something different: a light-filled space that celebrates art, design and craftsmanship, with good hospitality at its core,” said Nijssen, who said he and Sente wanted it to feel more like a home or a design salon. The couple’s vision for 313, which sits on six and a half acres on Centennial Street, is evolving. They want to surround the outdoor spaces with a community garden, walking paths, beautifully designed greenhouses and tiny homes where people can slow down, connect and be inspired by nature. They are in talks with like-minded vendors for a bespoke line of paint, exclusive wellness products, design-forward gym equipment and residential greenhouses. “It has evolved into more of a shared platform than we initially imagined, and that’s been the most exciting part,” Nijssen said. They are also partnering with Growing High Point, a local nonprofit committed to urban agriculture that benefits under-resourced areas, and with HPxD to keep High Point vibrant during off-market times. “That is our ultimate dream … a full community,” said Sente. — Allison Zisko
CEO
The Brand House Collective
Last month, The Brand House Collective opened its first Bed Bath & Beyond Home store, in Nashville, Tenn. It is the first store opening for the Brand House Collective under its new name (previously Kirkland’s Inc.) and a new beginning for legacy retail brand Bed Bath & Beyond, which filed for bankruptcy in 2023 but later re-emerged as an online retailer. The store will test its assortment but is focusing on bed, bath and kitchen products, as well as seasonal décor, traditionally a sweet spot for Kirkland’s customers. It is CEO Amy Sullivan’s responsibility to shepherd the growth of this new endeavor while also stabilizing and strengthening the Kirkland nameplate, keeping its customers in the fold, and overseeing other brands in the company’s portfolio such as buybuyBaby and Overstock. Results from the Nashville store opening were positive in terms of sales and media attention, Sullivan said. “As we got customers into the first store, whether they were Kirkland’s customers or Bed Bath & Beyond customers, they all left pleased that it was a happy marriage between the two.” Five additional stores — all Kirkland’s conversions — will open in Nashville by mid-November, and Sullivan plans to convert the vast majority of stores over the next 24 months. Success will be measured in customer acquisition and revenue growth, and ultimately in attracting a new generation unfamiliar with Bed Bath & Beyond’s back-to-campus offerings. “We want to get to everyone’s hometown as quickly as we can,” Sullivan said. — Allison Zisko
Satya Tiwari
President
Surya Inc.
Satya Tiwari, president of Surya Inc., said his company recently upgraded its ERP software management system with input from a team of 20 people. “The backbone is now set,” he said. “We can have five times the growth without worrying about the capacity.” The company also plans to continue building on its new outdoor line developed in partnership with designer Ashley Childers that launched at the spring High Point Market. “We wanted to create a meaningful outdoor line that was the right scale along with having the necessary details and quality,” he said. The company, a wholesaler of home furnishings, is now a global operation through its portfolio of brands that include Surya, Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams, Global Views, RST Outdoor and Livabliss. Surya has earned 10 placements on the Inc. 5000 List of America’s Fastest Growing Private Companies to date. “We are always looking at opportunities to acquire new businesses in order to keep building on our total home growth,” he said. “The future is wide open.” In 2021, Tiwari co-founded the Yuvaan Tiwari Foundation, a non-profit organization which funds research to find a cure for diffuse midline gliomas and other fatal pediatric brain cancers, while supporting patients and families along their journey. He also currently serves on the boards of Akshaya Patra, the world’s largest NGO school meal program and The American Home Furnishings Hall of Fame Foundation. — Anne Flynn Wear
Cathy Valent
President, WithIt 2025
VP of Sales, Springs Digital/Baxter Mill Archive
As the president of WithIt for 2025, Cathy Valent has been instrumental in the association’s new internship programming while also focusing on expanding national reach and corporate engagement across key markets including High Point, Las Vegas and Dallas. “After joining the industry more than 15 years ago, I quickly became engaged with WithIt, the women’s leadership development network for the home and furnishings industries,” Valent said. “Over the years, I’ve held multiple committee and board positions — including events, conference and design tours.” She is also vice president of sales at Springs Digital, a digital printing company that serves the furniture industry. The company offers a model based on the Baxter Mill Archives, a design resource that houses more than a million documents. During the past five years at the helm of the sales team, Valent played a pivotal role in expanding the company’s reach and capabilities. After starting her career in New York’s apparel industry, she moved south to join Burlington Industries in Greensboro, N.C. and later founded Cece Design Group, which worked in color and product development for the home textile industry. In addition to her career, Valent has been a board member for more than 10 years with Earlier.org – Friends for an Earlier Breast Cancer Test, a nonprofit committed to funding research for a biological test for earlier breast cancer detection, which has raised more than $5 million toward its mission. – Anne Flynn Wear
Pooh Vichidvongsa
Senior Vice President
pOpshelf
After a year and a half in her role as senior vice president at pOpshelf, preceded by 16 years in various positions at parent company Dollar General, Pooh Vichidvongsa has a proven track record of success. pOpshelf offers affordable seasonal, housewares, home décor, health and beauty products. The Empower Role Models listed Vichidvongsa as a 2024 role model for her significant contributions to the inclusion of ethnically diverse employees at the company. Additionally, she was on INvolve’s Heroes 100 Future Leaders Role Model list in 2022. As a mentor and advocate for inclusion, Vichidvongsa also played a key role in establishing the company’s Asian American Pacific Islander employee resource group. “This year, I’m most proud of leadership to implement a Back to Basics strategy across the pOpshelf landscape, which delivered another quarter of strong same-store sales growth,” she said. “Additionally, I feel this year has seen strategic brand recognition and loyalty built and amplified across all 21 states where we operate.” Looking ahead, Vichidvongsa said she is excited to see the implementation of new technology the company recently added behind the scenes to further enhance the customer experience. — Anne Flynn Wear
David Zrike
President
Tabletop Association
Trade show organizers sometimes change show dates because of a scheduling conflict, but rarely do they change a date for buyer-centric reasons. Yet, that is what the New York Tabletop Association recently did. Its New York Fall Tabletop Show has been held in October for the past 40 years, but the group, under the leadership of President David Zrike, unanimously decided to move the show to September this year, for several reasons. Lead times have increased in terms of product development, making a late October show too late. Stores are also setting their holiday assortments out earlier, in many cases by 30-60 days. And, moving the show to September aligns it with the New York textiles market, which might help the relevance of both shows and give store management a break by only having to travel to New York once in the fall, according to Zrike, who also heads the tabletop company Zrike Brands. “We felt it was a good time to test the waters,” said Zrike, who has been leading the Tabletop Association since the volunteer group took over management of the show at 41 Madison Avenue in 2022. “Obviously, it’s a challenging year in a lot of ways and we’re continuing to try to make sure the shows remain relevant and serve the needs of the customer.” In an industry resistant to change, Zrike and his team deserve credit for daring to try something new. —Allison Zisko
