Daily News
From Home Furnishing Business
ISFD Announces Award Keynote Speaker & Judges for Pinnacle Gala
August 22,
2024 by Karen Parrish in Business Strategy, Industry 
International Society of Furniture Designers (ISFD) has selected 30+ year industry veteran Bill McLoughlin, editor-in-chief of Furniture Today, to share his thoughts as the keynote speaker for the organizations’ 28th annual Pinnacle Awards, the industry’s highest design honor.
Winners from 19 design categories, including the new Finishings category, will be revealed at the Pinnacle Awards Gala held during the High Point Market on Oct. 28 at the Centennial Station Arts
Center, 121 S. Centennial St. in High Point.
A portion of the ticket sales will benefit the ISFD Foundation Scholarship Fund which supports gifted student designers from schools across the country. Seating is limited, tickets are available for this exclusive event by visiting the Pinnacle Awards Gala website.
“We would like to thank all of the designers and manufacturers who entered this year’s Pinnacle Awards,” commented David Blair, executive director of ISFD. “Their continued support makes ISFD and this prestigious event successful. We would also like to thank the judges who reviewed the highly competitive entries to select the best of the best finalists and ultimately the winners. We were honored to have retired veteran furniture designer, Steve Hodges, share his 48-yrs. of expertise by joining our panel of judges. It was very helpful to have his keen eye and input in judging the design entries.”
The 2024 Pinnacle Awards judges are:
Brian Boggs – Co-owner, Master Craftsman, Furniture Designer, Brian Boggs Chairmakers
Patti Carpenter – Principal and Global Trend Ambassador, Carpenter + Company
John Draughn – Product Finish Design Manager, Williams Sonoma and West Elm
Nancy Fire – Founder and Chief Inspiration Officer, Nancy Fire Design
Taylor Ghost – Director of Interior Design, Stitch Design Shop
Kim Grimsley – President, Kim Grimsley Designs
Cindy Craig Hall – Consultant/Executive Coach/Small Business Coach, Cindy Craig Hall
Sydney Harris – Director of Organizational Development, Furnitureland South
Steve Hodges – President, Steve Hodges Associates
Cindy Hodnett – Executive Editor, Brand Development/Home + Design, Furniture Today
Jesse James – Founder & Show Director, Shoppe Object
Angie Kenny – Program Director, Sustainable Furnishings Council
Serena Martin – Founder and President, 24/7 Creative Agency
Erika Saurit – Founder and Creative Director, Saurit Creative
Scarlett Tapp – Executive Director, Sustainable Furnishings Council
Erin Weir – Co-founder and VP of Sales & Marketing, Pearl Collective
Ron Woodson – Principal and Creative Director, Ron Woodson Design
The Pinnacle Awards applaud designs that are produced mostly in larger numbers for sale to
consumers. The recipient of the highly coveted Pinnacle Award is the designer or designers who
were directly involved in the “design craft” of the product(s). The items or collections entered
must be in current production and must have been shown and sold at one of the major home
furnishings or fabric markets worldwide or via online retail.
2024 Pinnacle Awards sponsors are:
Platinum level: ANDMORE, Silver level: High Point Market Authority, Bronze level: Continental Hardware, Furniture Design Studios, Lockdowel, and Sherwin-Williams along with Corporate Partner/Industry supplier: Canadian Wood and Industry partners: Designers Today, Elements Studios, Furniture Today, and IFDA. Also, thanks to the International Textile Alliance (ITA) for their continued support.