Daily News

From Home Furnishing Business

Pinnacle Finalists to be Announced at Vegas Market

July 16, 2014  by in Designer Weekly   

International Market Centers President and CEO Bob Maricich  will open a press conference for announcing the finalists on Monday, July 28, at 10 a.m. in One Six Club on the 16th Floor of Building B of the World Market Center.  

"I am excited by the continued growth both in participation and importance of this hallmark event for our industry," Maricich said. "Without celebrating design, our industry would be reduced to a commodity. Great creativity is the foundation for success in our industry. I sincerely hope more industry leaders and participants join us in acknowledging and honoring exceptional design talent. This will definitely be a night to remember."

"The 19th Annual ASFD Pinnacle Awards dinner promises to be our most exciting to date," said ASFD President Richard Schroeder. "We are thrilled to have received entry nominations from 43 companies and are also enthusiastic about the new Student Pinnacle category. Ten student entries were submitted, representing three design schools. The student award is an expansion of our mission to support the talents of future designers in our industry. We expect a great evening; the Pinnacles bring our industry together as we celebrate outstanding design."

This year as the judges met at High Point University to review the 137 entries they found the competition in home furnishings design as strong as ever.

“I really enjoyed the process and seeing all the progress that the furniture designers are making," said Pat Plaxico, one of the judges. "It has been said that in order for the furniture industry to move forward, furniture must be considered an art form, not just a utilitarian object. We saw that in these entries.”  

The 2014 Pinnacle judges are Christi Barbour, managing partner, Barbour Spangle, High Point; Richard Bennington, Paul Broyhill Professor of Home Furnishings, High Point University: Peggy Burns, queen bee, Circle Furniture, Acton, Mass.; Ellen Gefen, Gefen Productions; Jackie Hirschhaut, vice president public relations and marketing, American Home Furnishings Alliance; Cindy Hodnett, upholstery and style editor, Furniture/Today; Mike Lennon, senior vice president marketing, City Furniture, Tamarac, Fla.; Sheila Long O’Mara, Editor in Chief, Home Furnishings Business Magazine; Pat Plaxico, ASID, noted designer and owner of Pat Plaxico Inc., High Point; Meredith Smothers, director of merchandising, Furnitureland South, Jamestown, N.C.; and Rhonda Wolf, vice president merchandising, Haverty’s, Atlanta.