Pinnacle Awards Celebrate 25th Anniversary with “Community” Theme

October 6, 2021  by Laurie Northington in Business Strategy, Designer Weekly, Industry   

“The Pinnacle Awards are like the Academy Awards for home furnishings,” stated John Conrad, executive director. “They are our industries’ highest awards honoring the designers and manufacturers who reach beyond the ordinary to create the extraordinary. The celebration, held at COHAB.Space this year, provides a wonderful opportunity for designers, manufacturers, and retailers to network and reconnect with friends, colleagues, and industry veterans as they experience firsthand the latest home furnishings trends. We will also be serving wine, beer and heavy hors d’oeuvres. It is truly a celebration that you won’t want to miss.”

In keeping with the “Community” theme, the evening’s festivities will include co-Masters of Ceremonies Bill McLoughlin, editor in chief of Furniture Today and keynote speaker, Breegan Jane, globally acclaimed interior designer, HGTV television host and author.

Other representatives from various “Community” organizations will present the Pinnacle Awards. Those include: Ray Allegrezza, executive director IHFRA; Dawn Brinson, vice president strategic marketing, The Media Matters and president elect of IFDA; Andy Counts, CEO of American Home Furnishings Alliance; Jane Dagmi, editor in chief Designers Today and current ITA president;  Carrie Dillon, Managing Director of the International Textile Alliance; Diane Falvey, editor in chief, Furniture Lighting & Décor; Breegan Jane, Keynote/ co-Masters of Ceremonies; Lorri Kelley, Principal of Lorri Kelley Advisors and 2021 President of WithIt; Libby Langdon, owner Libby Interiors; Bob Maricich, CEO, IMC; Kaitlin Petersen, editor in chief, Business of Home; John Pinion, president of IHFRA’s executive committee; David Santiago, owner, interior designer, Casa Santi Interior Design; Mark Schumacher, CEO HFA.

Conrad added, “I would also like to thank the judging panel who represents an influential mix of high-profile industry leaders and innovators in our ‘Community’: Christi Barbour, founder & partner, Barbour Spangle Design; Diane Falvey, editor in chief, Furniture Lighting & Décor; John Gill, Haverty’s, EVP merchandising; Susan Inglis, executive director, Sustainable Furnishings Council; Gary Inman, principal designer owner and president, Gary Inman Interior Design; Char Miller King, woodshop teacher and content creator; Kaitlin Petersen, editor in chief, Business of Home; Jay Reardon, principal, Reardon Advisors; Dorian Stacy Sims, president, Stacy Furniture; Katherine Shoaf, director of merchandising and sales, Radiate Textile; Julie Talbert, merchandiser stylist, P/Kaufmann; Marcia Weiss, director, Fashion & Textiles Futures Center, director, Textile Design programs and the Harold Neuman Textile Design Chair at Jefferson (Philadelphia University + Thomas Jefferson University).”

The 2021 finalists, all professional product and furniture designers along with select design students, envision, and create the designs that ultimately become some of the most sought-after home furnishings items around the world. Their works are produced and marketed by companies large and small, but with a common denominator—to proudly illustrate that artistry, craft, and innovation are important and quite saleable to the consumer marketplace. In some cases, winning a Pinnacle Award has helped launch design careers and elevated manufacturers to new levels of recognition. A list of all the finalists along with images of their products can be found here: 2021 Pinnacle Awards finalists.