AHFA Announces Brand Historian Chirag Nijjer to Marketing/PR Conference Line-Up

June 14, 2026  by Karen Parrish in Business Strategy, Industry   

He’s a brand historian who is featured on the HISTORY Channel’s docu-series “The Mega Brands That Built America.” He’s a brand advisor, known for developing a “Brand Clarity Framework” that helps companies lean into intentional brand story-telling and more highly focused marketing strategies.​ And he’s a brand evangelist who ardently advocates for marketers to rise above mundane messaging to make meaningful, emotional connections with their customers.

Nijjer will bring his brand expertise to AHFA’s 2026 Marketing/PR Conference, inspiring both B2B and B2C brands to show up more powerfully in today’s marketplace and drive more consumer engagement.

In his “9-to-5,” Nijjer is part of a highly focused group of senior-level support and service partners within Google’s global customer care and support division, where he works with Google’s highest-tier advertising clients. But in his “5-to-9,” he specializes in advising companies and addressing audiences of marketing executives who are interested in clarifying their brand messaging and developing actionable marketing strategies that will impact business outcomes.

“Chirag’s passion for peeling back the layers of an effective brand message, an engaging brand story, even a spontaneous brand moment will leave home furnishings marketers energized and anxious to re-examine their own brands,” says AHFA Vice President of Communications Patricia Bowling. “Chirag’s message is going to be a gamechanger for our industry.”

The Marketing/PR Conference is August 26-27 at The Conference Center at Guilford Technical Community College, just minutes from Piedmont Triad International Airport in Greensboro, North Carolina. It is the only educational event dedicated specifically to the information needs of home furnishings marketing and public relations professionals.

Early registration is $599 and has been extended until June 30. (AHFA member companies will find a member discount on the registration page.)

The program runs from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, August 26, followed by a 4:30-5:30 p.m. reception, and from 8:30 a.m. to noon on Thursday, August 27. Registration includes a light breakfast and lunch both days and the cocktail reception August 26.

A group rate for the Marketing/PR Conference is available at the Springhill Suites by Marriott Greensboro Airport until August 10 or until the AHFA room block is full.

Nijjer joins an agenda packed with research, insights, practical tools and take-away strategies. Opening the program August 26 is Pamela McNally, head of field marketing and marketing development for Houzz Pro. McNally will dig deep into the Houzz & Home Study, the largest annual survey of residential remodeling, building and decorating activity, and highlight emerging trends for product development and marketing. Additional conference sessions include:

Putting Community Relations into Public Relations – Ashley Furniture’s Cole Bawek and CITY Furniture’s Caitlin Maribona describe how giving back to the community builds unity, purpose … and brand loyalty.

The New Longevity Economy: What’s Changed and Why it Matters – Kelly Peterson brings an important update on marketing to today’s biggest and wealthiest demographic: the over-50 crowd.

Generational Nuances in How Americans View Home –Sara Gutterman, co-founder & CEO of Green Builder Media, will identify new emotional drivers, economic realities, design desires and sustainability expectations across generations.

AI Marketing Tools 2.0 – Back by popular demand, High Point University’s Associate Professor of Strategic Communication Matt Ritter will equip attendees with another round of cutting-edge tools to continue streamlining everyday marketing tasks.

PR Lab: Crisis Readiness and Why It’s Essential Today – Jim Furrer of Steinreich Communications guides this exploration of our industry’s crisis landscape and why preparation is the key to avoiding costly fumbles.