WithIt Announces Speaker Line-Up for June Professional Development Conference

Furniture World News Desk on 5/17/2023

This year’s WithIt Professional Development Conference will focus on the multi-generational, diverse workplace and inspire attendees to lead and build a culture of care in their company. The organization dedicated to women in the home furnishings industries is excited to announce the full line-up of world-class speakers they are bringing to the stage.

“WithIt always strives to ensure that our events, especially our annual conference, focus on timely issues and topics,” states Amy VanDorp, executive director of WithIt. “We want conference attendees to walk away with knowledge and tools that they can utilize as soon as they get back to their office. Finding positive ways to work with multi-generational teams and foster inclusion are important skills that are needed in today’s workplace.”

The keynote speaker for the conference is renowned author and business coach, Jessica Stollings-Holder. In her interactive keynote and breakout session, Holder will provide strategies on how to respectfully engage, communicate with and motivate members of each generation while bridging gaps and benefiting from generational diversity. All conference attendees will receive a free copy of Holder’s most recent book, “ReGenerate”. 

Conference co-chair, Violette Foreman, explains how speakers are chosen. “We try to ensure that the conference offers value for as many attendees as possible. Therefore, we showcase speakers from many different sectors within the home furnishings industry.”

One such speaker is Nicole Leinbach from Retail Minded. She is back by popular demand to talk about the future of in-store retail and how to give multi-generational customers the purchase path they want. Nicole will share research and specific tools to help make retail professionals successful. 

Jada Monica Drew will lead the second day with talk around "Inclusion in a Multi-generational Workplace." She is a highly acclaimed facilitator and speaker who has trained thousands globally in how to communicate clearly, become more efficient members of a team and be more culturally competent. 

Closing the conference will be Shelia Butler, business coach and director of operations for Jola Interative, who helps business owners streamline and scale their businesses so they can grow. She will close the conference with "Coaching Across the Generations."

“In addition to amazing, interactive speakers, the conference offers workshops, breakout sessions, and roundtable discussions,” adds conference co-chair, Bree Cassidy. “Networking with other professional women within the industry is inspiring and fun. You will leave the conference with new knowledge, new skills, and new energy.”

The WithIt Professional Conference is being held June 12-14, 2023 at the Westin Poinsett in Greenville, SC. You do not need to be a member of WithIt to attend. For more information and to register, go to: WithIt.org.

About WithIt
Established in 1997, WithIt exists to encourage and develop leadership, mentoring, education and networking opportunities for professional women in the home and furnishings industries. Our membership encompasses innovators, industry influencers, thought leaders and connectors in a wide range of categories all across the nation. WithIt is a non-profit supported by national sponsors who recognize the role women play in the home and furnishings industries and who are active partners in growing the organization, including International Market Centers, Furnitureland South, J.B. Hunt Final Mile, Myriad Software, Esquire Advertising, Synchrony Bank, and more.