WithIt names 15 award nominees, recipient of annual Visionary Award

HIGH POINT —  WithIt, the women’s leadership development network for the home and furnishings industry, is announcing its 15 WOW Award nominees and its Visionary Award honoree.

Carolyn Crowley, founder and president of Myriad Software, will receive the 2025 Visionary Award at the WOW Awards Gala, set for Friday, April 25, at the International Home Furnishings Center ballroom. Each of the WOW award finalists will be honored as well in an evening that starts networking and cocktails at 6 p.m., followed by a dinner at 7 p.m. and the awards ceremony at 8 a.m.

Crowley has been a strong supporter of WithIt, and for nearly 35 years, she has worked to bring technology solutions to home furnishings retailers. She has served on the board for WithIt, ADL and City of Hope.

In addition, WithIt will present WOW Awards in five categories:

• The Leadership Award recognizes the contributions of a woman who has demonstrated successful leadership in her company, WithIt and the home furnishings industry. Nominees are: Dorothy Belshaw, advisor for Andmore; Cheminne Taylor-Smith, CEO and founder of Cheminne.com; and Laurie Tokarz, president, Restonic Mattress Co.
• The Mentoring Award honors a company or individual for their efforts to foster advocacy, development and promotion of women in their company and the industry. Nominees are: LuAnn Nigara, founder of A Well Designed Business; Mark Phillips, chairman, Phillips Collection; and Karyn Reilly, associate professor of interior design, Forsyth Technical Community College.
• The Education Award recognizes an individual who has put forth significant effort to educate associates, retailers and consumers about home and furnishings. Nominees are: Natasha Brooks, partner and trainer, HFA Sales Academy; Jaye Anna Mize, vice president, advisory + partnerships at Fashion Snoops; and AJ Salim, senior director of licensee sales US and Canada, Ashley Furniture.
• The Future Leader Award honors a young woman in the industry who has demonstrated outstanding achievement and the potential to become an industry leader. Nominees are: Ceci Flores, business development manager, J.B. Hunt Final Mile; Kayla Miller, director of marketing, Universal Furniture; and Alex Seaman, senior vice president and co-founder, Furniture.com.
• The Sales Excellence Award recognizes a woman who is extraordinary in sales, demonstrates excellence in education and relationships with her customers, and has exceptional commitment to the company she represents. Nominees are: Heather Bolick, senior vice president of sales, Manwah USA; Mindy Morton Leitwin, national account manager, Coaster Furniture; and Alison Mullins, CEO and founder, Rep Methods LLC.

Individual tickets and 10-person sponsor tables are available to be purchased at withit.org. Sponsors for the evening include Fashion Snoops, Andmore, Jola Interactive, J.B. Hunt, Crestview Collection, Skyline Furniture and Furniture Today.

See also:

• What could be better than being supercharged? WithIt sets market event
• 5 named winners of WithIt’s 2024 WOW Awards