High To Head AFMA’s Decorative Accessories Division,Membership Recruitment

Furniture World Magazine

Nancy High, vice president of marketing services for the American Furniture Manufacturers Association, has assumed additional responsibilities for development of the Association's Decorative Accessories Division, as well as membership recruitment. She retains her marketing division duties. "AFMA membership is one of the greatest values in the home furnishings industry," said High, a 25-year veteran of the Association. "It offers the unique benefit of having access to additional staff expertise without the overhead. I'm looking forward to taking this message to the industry at large and helping the home accent manufacturers grow their budding Decorative Accessories Division." As High takes on additional responsibilities at AFMA, she is phasing out her role as chief executive officer of the International Home Furnishings Marketing Association (IHFMA), the organization responsible for the promotion and technical performance of the International Home Furnishings Market. IHFMA became a subsidiary of AFMA in 1999. During her tenure with IHFMA, High piloted development of the International Home Furnishings Market Task Force 2000, a group of 20 industry executives dedicated to improving services for attendees at the April and October markets. Under High's leadership, the group successfully established a new organization, the High Point International Home Furnishings Market Authority Inc., which has assumed official sponsorship of the Market and all related responsibilities for promotion, publicity and logistical services. Accordingly, IHFMA is being dissolved High joined AFMA in 1976 as director of consumer affairs and executive director of its Furniture Industry Consumer Advisory Panel. She was named director of marketing and communications in 1982 and promoted to vice president of marketing services in 1999, the same year she was named CEO of the IHFMA. "We are delighted to have Nancy back with the full focus of her energies on AFMA programs and activities," said AFMA Executive Vice President Douglas Brackett. "She is the consummate association professional, and she will do an outstanding job in developing the Decorative Accessories Division and bringing that group to its full potential in the AFMA family." The Decorative Accessories Division was formed in May 1999. High serves on the Furniture Discovery Center Board of Directors, the Furniture Library Board of Directors, the Meredith College Board of Associates, and the Bryan School of Business and Economics Advisory Board. She is a member of the International Furnishings and Design Association and a past national president of that organization. She also is a member of the American Society of Association Executives and WithIt (Women in the Home Industries Today). She received the Withlt Legacy Award for Lifetime Achievement in April 2000.