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From Home Furnishing Business

Hall of Fame Opens Nominations for 2026 Leadership Institute at HPU

October 1, 2025  by Karen Parrish in Business Strategy, Industry   

Each Institute is totally different and limited to 25 emerging leaders who are under 45 years old and selected based on competitive nominations from across the industry. Participants who attend three institutes will be honored as a Home Furnishings Leadership Institute Fellow and will be awarded a graduation certificate and digital badge given by High Point University.

Each year, the Leadership Institute introduces relevant new topics and materials relevant to today’s business landscape. Fashioned after the prestigious Harvard Business School Seminar for the Young President’s Organization and Chief Executives Organization – attended by many leaders in the home furnishings industry – the Hall of Fame Leadership Institute leverages the power and impact of peer group learning gained through focused tutorials. The Institute is designed to accelerate and nurture the growth of emerging leaders through a powerful mix of interaction with inducted members of the Hall of Fame, lively peer discussions, lectures, and group presentations.

“Rapidly changing geo-political conditions and radically new technologies, accelerate the thought process by which tomorrow’s leaders must operate.  The Leadership Institute is designed to prepare emerging leaders for making tough judgment calls required in the face of uncertain outcomes,” says Karen McNeill, executive chairman of the Hall of Fame. “A major outcome is the development of a network of hard charging emerging leaders from across professional roles, across industry categories and across the country.  These lifelong relationships are strengthening the future of our noble industry.”

“I would encourage others to attend this program to improve themselves in their leadership skills and to network with some amazing individuals within our industry,” says Andrew Bernard, general manager of shade and marine with Glen Raven.

“This program allows you to get to know great people in the industry and learn from industry titans,” says Ronnie Fultz, director of sales operations and training at Hooker Furnishings.  “The faculty has been widely successful and are there to teach life-long lessons about leadership.  This training is impactful across all segments, not just furniture.”

As part of the learning experience, each year’s Leadership Institute includes a series of keynote interviews and challenge questions for interactive discussions with distinguished industry leaders. Throughout these sessions, Institute participants explore a central defining question. Building on these discussions, the event also involves case study exercises that culminate in “Pillar Group” presentations to a panel of judges. In addition, select faculty from High Point University lead a combination of lectures and discussions.

For further information, please visit www.homefurnishingshalloffame.com/leadership-institute .