Women in the Home Industries Today (WithIt) named four outstanding professionals as recipients of the organization’s 2004 WOW Awards.

Announced at WithIt’s Market Party this evening in the Courtyard at Market Square during the International Home Furnishings Market, the WOW winners are Lee Oliver, Jeff Young, Caroline Hipple and Tracey McSherry.

Lee Oliver was named the recipient of the Legacy Award, given to a woman of achievement who has made significant lifetime contributions to the home furnishings industries. Following the untimely death of her husband in 1968, Oliver was thrust into management of a family-owned business specializing in supplying products to upholstery manufacturers. While business advisers at the time recommended that she sell the company and devote herself to raising her two sons, Oliver chose to fulfill the vision of her father-in-law and husband with the goal of turning over a successful business to the family’s third generation. At a time when women did not command executive positions in the home furnishings industry, Oliver became recognized for her leadership and business philosophies. In 1992, she turned over the company reins to her older son, who was succeeded by in 2000 by his younger brother, Michael. In addition, she has been respected for her contributions to the High Point community.

Jeff Young, president of Drexel Heritage, received the Mentoring Award, given to a retail executive or retail organization that has fostered the advocacy, development or promotion of women in their company. Young followed his family into a legendary furniture business now operating as Lexington Home Brands, fortunate to be mentored by his father, Smith Young, who founded Dixie Furniture in 1936, and his great uncle, Henry Link, whose industry roots date back to 1901. Focused on design and merchandising, Young is credited for helping to spearhead the concept of furniture licensing with the introduction of the first lifestyle marketing venture in 1989. The following year, Young led the debut of The World of Bob Timberlake, which remains the industry’s best-selling industry brand with retail sales in excess of $1 billion. A savvy marketer who identified the female consumer as his company’s primary target, Young has been recognized for his success at developing many female managers and appointing women to his executive team.

Caroline Hipple, president and chief operating officer of Atlanta-based Storehouse, was honored with the Education Award, given to a manufacturing executive or company for the creation of programs to educate associates, retailers or consumers about home furnishings. Buoyed by her commitment to make good design accessible to consumers in 15 states through the company’s 62 stores, Storehouse has grown to include a direct mail catalog, a transactional web site and an employee role of about 700 professionals. Hipple was a 23-year veteran of specialty retailer This End Up, rising from a part-time sales associate to store manager to district manager to regional manager to executive vice president of sales, marketing and merchandising. At Storehouse, where she considers herself "a continual student of our industry, Hipple has been lauded for her dedication to making the operation a "leadership incubator" through the establishment of a bona-fide training department and perpetual educational programs, including an interior design certification program.

The Future Leadership Award, given to salute an individual who is under 40 for outstanding achievement and demonstrated potential to become an industry leader, was awarded to Tracey McSherry, vice president of national accounts at Sealy Inc. After graduating from Wellesley College in 1990 with a degree in English, McSherry launched her sales career as a company representative and account manager. She joined Sealy in 1995 and quickly rose through the ranks as a territory manager, key account manager, district sales manager and vice president of national accounts. She is regarded as one of Sealy’s brightest up-and-coming executives, and earlier this year was appointed to lead a new senior management team charged with redefining the company’s product development process. An excellent communicator, empathetic manager and strategic thinker with boundless energy, McSherry is also a full-time mother to two young daughters.

Sponsors of this year’s WOW awards were Four Hands, Magnussen Home, Merchandise Mart Properties, Inc. and Flexsteel.

For more information about WithIt or the WOW awards, contact Sara Lyke, WithIt Executive Director at 336-880-2188, or by email at www.director@withit.org. Photographs of the winners are available upon request.

WithIt, founded in 1997, encourages and develops leadership, mentoring, education and career opportunities for women in the home furnishings industry. Its annual WOW awards provide an opportunity for the industry to recognize and celebrate excellence.