Daily News
From Home Furnishing Business
HPMA Announces Opening Day Keynote Series Event
March 2,
2026 by Karen Parrish in Business Strategy, Industry 
The High Point Market Authority (HPMA) announces this spring’s opening day Keynote Series event at High Point Market: “Designing the Kitchen Your Clients Want,” presented in partnership with the Design Leadership Network (DLN) on April 25, at 3 p.m.
Marking the home furnishings trade show’s first-ever keynote focused specifically on residential kitchen design, the trending topic will be explored in a panel discussion featuring distinguished interior designers Benjamin Johnston, Alfredo Paredes, Caren Rideau, and Sarah Robertson, moderated by DLN Editorial Director Hadley Keller Lloyd.
“Design professionals are attuned to how the kitchen serves as the heart of nearly every home,” says Tammy Covington, HPMA president and CEO. “We’re excited the DLN chose to focus on the evolution of this room for our Spring Market keynote.”
“Now more than ever, the kitchen is a laboratory for how we think about living well—how we gather, nourish ourselves, and integrate beauty, performance, and wellness into daily life,” says Michael Diaz-Griffith, executive director and CEO of the Design Leadership Network. “Its’ renewed centrality reflects changing patterns of work, hospitality, and home—and, ultimately, family life. This conversation brings together designers who are shaping that evolution with clarity, intention, and a rigorous understanding of what modern luxury demands.”
To further capture the design zeitgeist, a new book, The Kitchen by the Design Leadership Network, is currently in development with luxury publisher Assouline. Keynote event details may be found online at www.highpointmarket.org/keynoteseries.
The High Point Theatre is located next to the Transportation Terminal, and doors will open at 2:30 p.m. The Saturday Keynote is open to all registered High Point Market attendees.