HIGH POINT — The American Home Furnishings Hall of Fame welcomed 23 emerging leaders to its third annual Leadership Institute, held Feb. 18-22 at High Point University.
This year's leaders were selected from a pool of nominees across the country and represent a diverse range of roles in the home furnishings industry. Established in 2022, the Leadership Institute aims to promote and strengthen leadership development in the home furnishings sector.
For the first time this year, five emerging leaders in the home furnishings industry were recognized as Home Furniture Leadership Fellows, said Daniel Hall, dean of High Point University's Earl N. Phillips School of Business. All completed his 120 hours of work, which focused on leadership development in the field, including keynote interviews, lectures, and coursework.
- Sidney Harris, Director of Organizational Development, Furnitureland South
- Ryan Mahoney, Senior Vice President of Leasing, Andmore
- Troy Pittenger, Vice President of Finance, Norwalk Furniture
- Shane Pohlman, Director of Furniture, Nebraska Furniture Mart
- Erin Weir, Pearl Collective Co-Founder
Leadership Institute sessions focused on how emerging leaders can develop a clear vision to motivate and guide their teams. The event included case studies in which participants proposed solutions to a panel of judges. Additionally, Leadership Institute participants interacted with Phillips School of Business students during her two Executive Career Fair sessions aimed at attracting talent to the industry.
“A key element of the Hall of Fame's mission is to inspire a new class of leaders,” said Karen McNeil, Hall of Fame Foundation President and CEO. “We are impressed by what each of these young leaders have already accomplished and look forward to seeing where they lead the industry, both individually and as a group, in the future.”
The 2024 Leadership Institute featured keynote interviews and interactive discussions with four industry leaders. Kevin O'Connor, 2012 Hall of Fame inductee and Samson Marketing co-founder. Brad Beecham, President and CEO of Carpenter. David Gebhart, founding partner and CEO of Global Views.
Modeled after Harvard Business School's Young Presidents and CEO Organization seminars, the Home Furnishing Leadership Institute prioritizes peer learning through focused tutorials. This class is comprised of proven leaders, innovators, and achievers who aim to make a greater impact within their companies, industries, and communities.
