WithIt Names Wow Nominees

January 10, 2014  by in Community / Charitable Support, Industry, Las Vegas, Market   

WithIt, the women's leadership development network for home furnishings, has presented the WOW Awards since 1999. The awards recognize business leaders nominated by their peers who have contributed to the success of the home furnishings industries and have had significant impact on their companies the industry or both.

Gravely is being honored as a woman of achievement who has made lifetime contributions to the home furnishings industry. She founded Vietri, a lifestyle brand of Italian dinnerware and home and garden accessories with her mother, Lee Gravely, and sister Frances, in 1983, after a family trip to Italy. Three decades later, the company has grown into America’s largest Italian ceramics importing company, partnering with numerous Italian manufacturers in various regions throughout Italy. With about 40 employees, the company serves a customer base of more than 2,000 specialty retailers and department stores across the U.S., as well as Canada, England, Mexico, South America, Asia and Australia. 

Vietri is regularly featured in a number of shelter magazines, and the company has won the ARTS Award for Excellence in Tabletop in 2006, 2007, 2009 and 2011, and has been nominated again this year. Named one of the Top 40 Family Friendly companies for its commitment to creating a family friendly environment for all employees, Vietri is active with many local non-profit organizations.

In addition to honoring Gravely’s legacy in the industry, WithIt will present WOW Awards in four additional categories: Education, Mentoring, Leadership and Future Leader.

Nominees for these awards include: Maxwell Ryan, Apartment Therapy and Russell Bienenstock, Furniture World, Education; Mary Knackstedt, Mary Knackstedt Interiors, Sharon Davis, ART, and Bonnie Berry, Haverty’s, Mentoring; Shelly Burd, Furniture First, Karel Czanderma, Flexsteel, and Karrie Forbes, Mattress Firm, Leadership; and Jenny Heinzen York, Home Accents Today, and Leah Kirkland, MicroD, and Christy Almond, Robert Allen Design, Future Leader. Winners in each category will be announced during the awards ceremony Sunday, Jan. 26 at the IMC World View on 16. Cocktails begin at 6:30 p.m. followed by a seated dinner and awards presentation beginning at 7:30 p.m.

“The WOW Awards are an opportunity to honor executives of significant achievement, at a glamorous event unlike any other in our industry,” said Sara Lyke, executive director of WithIt. “We invite everyone attending the Las Vegas Market to join us in this important celebration.”

Tickets for the event are $150 each and are on sale online. 

The awards evening is sponsored by International Market Centers and Restonic.Sponsorship opportunities are available. E-mail Lyke for additional information.