WITHIT’S 2015 PROFESSIONAL CONFERENCE The LEADING WOMAN Access the session presentations and materials at bit.ly/2015WithItConf SPEAKER BIOS

Roxanne Bernstein, Heritage Home Maria Killam, Maria Killam Colour Group & Design With extensive experience in the consumer Maria Killam is an internationally sought after products industry, Roxanne leads all strategic colour expert, author of How to Choose Paint marketing and communications initiatives for Colours and White is Complicated and founder of Heritage Home Group. Her focus is on driving True Colour Experts Academy. Maria’s no-non- the growth of the HHG’s iconic brands. Prior to sense colour advice, along with her friendly and joining HHG, Roxanne served as the global se- inspiring writing style quickly turned Colour nior vice president, marketing and communications for Cessna Me Happy into one of the top 10 colour blogs in North America Aircraft Company and in brand management roles for both Kraft with over 200,000 readers in 171 countries around the world. Her Foods and Kellogg’s. She is a graduate of the United States Military blog has been featured in The Washington Post five times. Maria’s Academy, West Point, and served as an officer in the US Army for experience conducting thousands of consultations in every style five years. Roxanne has a MBA from Colorado State University. of home created the foundation for her revolutionary and break- through system of Understanding Undertones™ and her Colour Karel Czanderna, Flexsteel Confidence Method™. Maria is a member of the Color Marketing In July of 2012, Karel Czanderna was named Group, the premier international association for colour design Flexsteel’s president and chief executive officer. professionals. Karel, an established leader in the durable goods space, is a veteran of Owens Corning, as a group Deborah Klein, DK Inside Designer vice president, and Whirlpool Corporation as Deborah Klein has been working in the home vice president and general manager of the glob- furnishings industry since 1989. Over her career, al KitchenAid, Whirlpool, Amana, Maytag and Deborah has designed and merchandised prod- Jenn-Air brands. She holds a PhD in Materials Science and Engi- uct and showrooms and worked with product neering from Cornell University and completed an executive edu- development teams to create products for private cation program at Harvard Business School. Karel earned her BS at label key retailers such as Neiman Marcus and Clarkson University and a Master’s from Cornell and was recruited ABC Home. Since 2000, she’s been a multi-line by Eastman Kodak upon completion of her studies and served the manufacturers’ representative with focus on higher end accounts Eastman Kodak company in multiple capacities, ultimately being and product lines to retailers and designers in the NY metro area. promoted to senior leadership positions overseeing $500 million Deborah is a charter member of WithIt and has served on the in business activity and more than 5,500 employees. Board of Directors and is a current regional director for the NE Metro chapter. She is a BFA graduate of Pratt Institute and con- Sandy Jap, Emory University, Goizueta tinues to live in Brooklyn and Shelter Island with her partner, Carl School of Business Norr and their two cat sisters, Blanche and Stella. Sandy Jap’s research focuses on the develop- ment and management of interorganizational Laura Levinson, Valdese Weavers relationships such as how to create and manage Laura was promoted in 2013 to the role of senior strategic alliances over time, how to balance their vice president/design and merchandising and risks and rewards, and how to share the payoffs she directs all of the creative aspects of the busi- of close collaborations. These efforts have been ness at each of the Valdese Weaver’s brands. She conducted in a number of industries, including the aerospace, au- graduated from NC State University/College of tomotive, chemical, petroleum, and consumer product industries. Design and began her career at Valdese as a de- Her current work involving online, reverse auctions has re- sign associate in 1990. Laura received a Masters ceived significant attention from the academic community and the of Fine Arts from the Rhode Island School of Design in 1995 and marketplace, including The Wall Street Journal, CFO Magazine, and relocated to New York and established a design studio for Valdese Harvard Business Review. She joined the Goizueta Business School to enable enhanced design integration with key customers’ creative in 2001; prior to that, Professor Jap was on the faculty at the Sloan teams. Laura was named the first female vice president in Valdese School of Management at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Weaver’s history, and relocated to North Carolina in 2001. She is a She has a bachelor’s degree and a Ph.D in marketing from the member of the Philadelphia University Textile Board, as well as the University of Florida (Go Gators!). NC State School of Design’s Leadership Council.

WithIt • 2125 Eastchester Drive Suite 103, High Point, NC 27265 • 336.882.9373 • www.withit.org The LEADING WOMAN | WITHIT’S 2015 PROFESSIONAL CONFERENCE

Ann Omvig Maine, Traditional Home Shelia Long O’Mara Magazine Sheila Long O’Mara is the editor in chief and Ann Omvig Maine is Editor-in-Chief, since 2002, founding editor of Home Furnishings Business, a of Traditional Home, the country’s largest upscale monthly strategy magazine written for and about design publication. During Maine’s tenure, the furniture retailers founded in 2006. She has been magazine was named to Advertising Age’s 2012 writing about the furniture industry for 21 years Magazine A-List and MIN’s Hottest Magazine and asking questions for much longer than that. Launches in the Last 20 Years. In her 30-plus In addition to the magazine, Sheila takes part in years as a magazine editor, Maine has held positions at several pub- several industry endeavors. Along with her WithIt membership, she lications including Editor-in-Chief of Renovation Style, Executive serves on the board of the national home furnishings industry group Editor of Country Home, and Senior Editor at Better Homes and for City of Hope and has served as a judge for the American Soci- Gardens Special Interest Magazines. ety of Furniture Designers’ Pinnacle Awards for several years. Sheila Maine resides with her husband in Des Moines, Iowa, where resides in Columbia, S.C., with husband Dan and their three boys. they recently moved from a 1907 Tudor Revival home in the city’s Owl’s Head Historic District to the 10th floor of a mid-century Mark Phillips, The Phillips Collection condominium. Since 1983, Mark has been the founder and pres- ident of The Phillips Collection, an internation- Joe Milevsky, JRM Sales & Management ally recognized, award winning furniture brand. Joe Milevsky, CEO and founder of JRM Sales Mark is a five time ARTS Awards recipient and & Management, Inc., calls on his more than 40 was named Top Accent Furniture Manufacturer at years of industry experience to help hundreds of three consecutive ARTS Awards. He holds a BA, clients improve the performance of their compa- Cum Laude, from the University of Michigan, in nies and profit as a result of their business rela- economics. Mark is a board member of the Accessories Resource tionships with JRM. He has authored numerous Team (ART) and Piedmont Triad Partnership among others. articles for industry trade publications and he is a regular speaker at national events for the NAHFA, Hearth Patio Jana Platina Phipps, Home Couture and Barbeque Association, various buying groups, as well as many Collective other organizations. Jana Platina Phipps is well known as a trim de- signer with a refined vision for the use of trim- Julie Nugent, Catalyst Research mings in home furnishings and fashion. She fur- Center for Corporate Practice thered her reputation by creating a home decor Julie Nugent examines organizational diversity ef- division for a venerable New York fashion trim forts, change models, career experiences and per- house, ultimately growing it to surpass their ap- ceptions of women and men professionals across parel business. A Californian now based in New various levels and industries. As vice president and York, she currently leverages her expertise for Classical Elements, center leader of the Catalyst Research Center for an innovative global trim and hardware supplier. Since her clients Corporate Practice, Julie distinguishes sound talent affectionately call her the “Trim Queen”, she officially put on the management strategies from programmatic fads and documents the crown in 2013, to chronicle how the design community creatively best practices. She holds her MA in Industrial/Organizational Psy- uses trimmings. Jana is WithIt’s NY Design Tour Co-Chair. She is chology from New York University and received her BA in Psychology a big believer in sharing expertise, having benefitted from business and English from Ohio University. coaches, wellness coaches, tennis coaches, and birthing doulas. She lives in the Hudson Valley, with her husband, writer Lang Phipps, Bill O’Malley, Connector Team Recruiting and two rambunctious children Giovanna & Wilton. Bill O’Malley, Chief Recruiting Officer is also the founder of Connector Team Recruiting, Inc. an Jeff Portman, AmericasMart Atlanta affiliate office of the MRINetwork® the largest When Jeff went to work on the Atlanta Merchan- and most successful recruitment organization in dise Mart loading dock at age eight, the compa- the world. Calling upon his more than 30 years ny known then as the Atlanta Market Center was of industry experience, he brings to executive only beginning to anticipate a path toward na- search real life lessons and hands on experience tional and international prominence. Today, more having spent time with leading companies such as Macy’s, Mattress than four decades later, Jeff stands at the helm of Discounters and Levitz Furniture in senior leadership roles. While AMC, Inc., the world’s largest trade mart/trade at Macy’s he was awarded Annual Make Magic Awards in the areas show organization, parent entity of Atlanta Market Center succes- of “Customer Engagement” and for “Team’s Win” while leading his sor AmericasMart Atlanta. His professional career spans more than team at the Distribution and Service facility in Los Angeles Cali- 35 years in commercial real estate development and management. fornia. He works with his wife, Office Manager and partner Buffy Jeff was made president and COO in 2001 and vice chairman Johanson in Ogden, Utah. in 2014. The LEADING WOMAN | WITHIT’S 2015 PROFESSIONAL CONFERENCE

Siri Scott, Advanced Home Care Julianne Taylor, Taylor Burke Home Siri Scott is the Communications and Public Re- Julianne Taylor is the Founder and Creative Di- lations Manager Advanced Home Care. She has rector of Taylor Burke Home, a rapidly growing 20 years of experience in marketing, communi- luxury home decor brand. A designer by trade, cations, public relations, as well as being a change she gains much of her inspiration from her many agent within the companies where she has worked. years spent living abroad. TBH’s statement mak- Currently Siri works in a dynamic environment ing designs were put on the map after a feature on where continuous change and innovation create their popular X Benches in Better Homes & Gar- opportunities to practice Solving for the Future principals regularly. dens. The company is popular with interior designers and bloggers Partnerships and working relationships are her key to being a change all over the U.S. With a passion for helping entrepreneurs, Julianne agent and communicator. Advanced Home Care is a leading home and the TBH team also offer small business consulting with a focus health provider in the Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic United States. on branding and business strategy. Julianne is currently working on the book designHER available this Fall. Design headquarters for Tay- Dorian Stacy Sims lor Burke Home are located in Charleston, South Carolina. Dorian Stacy Sims is President of Stacy Furni- ture & Design. She oversees all aspects of man- Pamela Thomas, Universal Furniture aging the family business and more specifically Pamela Thomas started working as a Major buying, advertising and visual merchandising. Account manager for Pulaski Furniture in Stacy’s has four stores in the very competi- 1983. Within 6 years, she became their first fe- tive market of Dallas/Fort Worth, employing male sales manager. During her time as a sales 150 people – 16 of whom are family members. manager, she become frustrated with frequent Dorian is a Board member of WithIt as well as the NAHFA. She’s service issues and investigated new ways to married to her high school sweetheart and they have 3 sons. Any forecast and plan the product line and analyze free time she has is spent with family and friends or traveling! those projected needs in light of the capacities and capabilities of the four domestic manufacturing facilities. Through that process, Clarence Smith, Havertys she was able to implement new disciplines that achieved better Clarence has been the president and chief exec- service, better inventory turns and provided the C-Suite with a utive officer of Havertys, a retail furniture com- better understanding of their future manufacturing requirements pany founded in 1885, since 2003. Beginning verses the existing capacity. She eventually became the first female with a single store in downtown Atlanta, Hav- Vice-President for Pulaski Furniture as the VP of Sales Forecasting ertys has grown to become one of the top fur- and Operations. In 2005, Pam relocated to High Point, NC and be- niture retailers in the south and central United gan working for Universal Furniture as the Supply Chain Director. States. Clarence has over 40 years with Havertys Pam and her husband own and operate a photography studio in various positions. He holds a directorship at Oxford Industries, in High Point. She has three grown sons and is blessed to have two Inc. and is a member of the Board of Trustees of Marist School. awesome daughter-in-laws and three grandchildren. His areas of expertise are retail store operations and distribution, sales and marketing, brand management and unique insights into Kathy Wall, The Media Matters, Inc. Havertys’ challenges, opportunities and operations. A specialist in positioning world-class home fur- nishings brands, Kathy Wall is president of The Ellyn Spragins, What I Know Now® Media Matters, the Lexington, N.C.-based firm Ellyn Spragins conducts Letters To My Younger she launched in 2001. She is regularly sought at Self® Seminars and Workshops around the world industry functions around the globe for her from- for corporate women’s leadership programs. She the-trenches insights into the media, marketing has inspired corporate leaders to share their in- and public relations arenas, as well as her unique ner wisdom at Microsoft, Goldman Sachs, Ge- perspective on issues facing female executives and entrepreneurs. nentech, Johnson & Johnson, Novartis, Citibank With three decades of experience to her credit, Wall initially and other visionary organizations. broke through the glass ceiling at Lexington Furniture, where she Ellyn is the author of What I Know Now was the first woman in the company’s history to be promoted to the About Success, published by Da Capo Press in May 2010 and What position of vice president. She was also the first woman at Klauss- I Know Now: Letters To My Younger Self, a New York Times best- ner Furniture to be named to an executive position. While there, seller published in April 2006. She was a columnist at The New York she developed a consumer marketing strategy that earned an Ozzie Times and a contributing editor to Newsweek. While at Newsweek, Award for best custom publication in the nation. She is an active she won the National Press Club’s Consumer Journalism Award in member of WithIt and has served as president and chairman of the 1997 and the Clarion Award in 1998. organization, as well as a former chairman of the Furniture Discov- Ellyn graduated magna cum laude with a B.A. in English and ery Center. As a past WithIt WOW award winner for mentoring, economics in 1977 from Barnard College. She lives with her hus- she believes in giving back and enjoys supporting others who are band, John Witty, and two children in Pennington, New Jersey. growing their careers. WITHIT’S 2015 PROFESSIONAL CONFERENCE The LEADING WOMAN Access the session presentations and materials at bit.ly/2015WithItConf AGENDA Monday, August 17 2:00 pm – 6:00 pm Registration - Hallway outside Heritage B ENTREPRENEUR • SMALL BUSINESS • DESIGNERS - Heritage C An Annual Budget: How to Build It, Follow It, and 4:30 pm WithIt Annual Membership Meeting Grow Your Business Heritage B ALL TRACKS - Suwanee 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm Conference Opening Reception Getting to the Next Level: Ideas and Opportunities Buckhead Pre-function area from Industry Leaders and Rising Stars

6:45 pm Optional Group Dutch Dinners - Sign up 3:30pm - 4:45pm during Registration outside Heritage B NEW TO INDUSTRY & STUDENTS - Heritage A Tuesday, August 18 How-to Find a Mentor, Coach and Advisory Board 7:00am - 8:30am Breakfast- Lenox Dining Room in Lobby CORPORATE MANAGEMENT - Heritage B The Importance of Career Success Strategies 7:00am - 8:30am Registration - Hallway outside Heritage B ENTREPRENEUR • SMALL BUSINESS • DESIGNERS - Heritage C 8:30am - 9:00am Conference Welcome - Heritage B Building Your Brand The Smart Way

9:00am - 10:00am “Art + Commerce - Leading in a 4:30pm - 6:00pm Break Business of Creativity, Design and Beauty” - Heritage B 6:00pm - 7:00pm Networking and Cocktails 10:00am Break Buckhead Pre-function area

10:15am- 11:15am 3 Female C-Suite Executives Weigh In 7:00pm - 8:30pm Appreciation Dinner - Buckhead Ballroom on “The Challenges & Opportunities of Leadership”- Heritage B Wednesday, August 19 11:15am - 12:15pm 3 Male C-Suite Executive Speak Up 7:00am - 8:00am Breakfast - Lenox Dining Room in Lobby About “The Challenges & Opportunities for Female Leaders” - Heritage B 8:00am - 8:15am Welcome

12:15pm - 1:00pm “The Landscape for Women in 8:15am - 9:15am “Leadership Inspiration: Stories to My Leadership” - Heritage B Younger Self” - Heritage B

1:00pm Lunch - Lenox Dining Room in Lobby 9:15am - 10:15am Stories to My Younger Self Workshop

2:00pm – 4:45pm Afternoon workshops with 3 tracks 10:15am - 10:30am Break - Check out time • New to the Industry and Students 10:30am - 11:15am “21st Century Competitive Advantage: • Corporate Management Customer Service” - Heritage B • Entrepreneur/Small Business/Designers 11:15am - 12:00pm Customer Service Panel - Heritage B 2:00pm - 3:15pm NEW TO INDUSTRY & STUDENTS - Heritage A 12:30pm Conference Close/Evaluations Pitch Tank: Present, Sell, & Win. Let’s Practice 12:30pm Closing Lunch- Lenox Dining Room in Lobby CORPORATE MANAGEMENT - Heritage B No More Rat Brain Thinking: Taking the Emotion Out of Problem Solving

WithIt • 2125 Eastchester Drive Suite 103, High Point, NC 27265 • 336.882.9373 • www.withit.org