WithIt appoints AFMA's Hirschaut president
By Furniture Today Staff -- Furniture Today, October 13, 2003
High Point — Members of Women in the Home Industries Today, or WithIt, have selected Jackie Hirschhaut, vice president of public relations for the American Furniture Manufacturers Assn., as president.
She succeeds Karen McNeill-Harris of the McNeill Communications Group, who becomes board chairman.
"The new board takes on the leadership of WithIt at a very exciting and promising time for the organization," said Hirschhaut. "Our members have accomplished so much and still have so many opportunities to grow that we all can't help but be inspired to be a part of the exhilaration that awaits us in the coming year."
She said the group remains dedicated to networking opportunities, educational initiatives and mentoring programs.
Other members of the WithIt executive committee are: vice president/president elect, Robin Campbell, Stanley Furniture; secretary, Kelly Peterson, House Beautiful/Hearst Group; and treasurer, Darlene Leonard, BDO Seidman. Executive committee members serve one-year terms.
New vice presidents/committee chairs, serving for one year, are: marketing, Stephanie Lowder, Graphic Solutions; membership, Deborah Klein, Inside Designer; mentoring, Sev Ritchie, FurnitureFan; education, Kathy Wall, The Media Matters; networking, Elaine Sollar Eisen, P.D. Design Studio; and scholarship, Carolyn Gomez,Mastercraft Interiors.
Regional vice presidents serve two-year terms and are responsible for organizing events and opportunities for members in their areas. They also represent their membership to the board. They are: in Atlanta, Heather Paper, Heather J. Paper Consultants; in Chicago, Julie Smith, FurnitureStyle magazine; in Dallas, Lynn Gerber Jenkins, independent; in Florida, Marjorie Gilbert, Impact International; in Los Angeles, Judy Anderson-Embury, West Coast Home Fashions; in New York, Carolyn Starry, etiquette and protocol consultant; in San Francisco, Linda Carey, Ruddell & Associates; and in the Virginias/Carolinas, Kathe Holterman, French Heritage.
Named as at-large board members, representing various segments of the industry, are: sales representative, Barbara Jenkins, Kincaid Furniture; retailer, Dianne Ray, Garden City Furniture; case goods manufacturer, Tiffany Mullis, Vanguard Furniture; accessories manufacturer, Carolyn Kinder, Carolyn Kinder Inc.; upholstery manufacturer, Carrie Bleile, Flexsteel; supplier/fabrics, Maureen Owen, Microfibres; and showrooms/buildings, Ann Richards, MMPI.
The new board will meet for the first time during the October market, and will have a business retreat in early November to prepare for upcoming events and initiatives.
