Karen McNeill to Receive Legendary Leadership
Award
at 34th ARTS Awards
DALLAS – October 3, 2023 – Dallas Market Center and ART, the creative home furnishings network, have announced that Karen McNeill will receive a Legendary Leadership Award at the 34th ARTS Awards taking place at the Hilton Anatole Hotel in Dallas on Friday, January 12, 2024.
McNeill is the President of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer of American Home Furnishings Hall of Fame Foundation Inc., a nonprofit public charity committed to honoring and preserving the legacy of individuals who have made significant contributions to the home furnishings industry and inspiring the next generation of innovative leaders in the industry.
The Legendary Leadership Award honors an individual who has not only achieved esteemed recognition from industry peers, but who has also led the home industry with passion, and whose dedication has helped hundreds of companies succeed.
“It is a privilege to present the Legendary Leadership Award to Karen,” said Cindy Morris, president and CEO of Dallas Market Center. “Her leadership has added substantial value to the home industry, and her support of the home furnishings community and history has added an immeasurable value to businesses large and small.”
Added Sharon Davis, executive director of ART: “Karen is a passionate leader and fearless champion of the home industry, and she deserves special recognition this year. The Legendary Leadership Award is a way for us to recognize a true pioneer in the home industry, and Karen exemplifies the best qualities of our business.”
Karen McNeill’s career in the home furnishing industry has spanned over several decades and began with her role as Director of Marketing at the Southern Furniture Market Center and as Director of The Design Center (now ANDMORE).
Karen’s passion for empowering future generations in the home furnishings industry can be seen in her accomplishments during her tenure as President of the Board of Directors and CEO of the American Home Furnishings Hall of Fame Foundation Inc. She created the Leadership Initiative which includes a keynote address at the Induction Celebration, the Paul Broyhill Future Leader Award, and the Home Furnishings Leadership Institute at High Point University.
Her most recent achievement was the opening of the Hall of Fame in High Point, North Carolina, in April of 2023. This 25,000 sq ft hall contains permanent fixtures such as museum exhibits, the Stephen Knight Pond Library, and The Hughes Family History Center, and contains an event space, as well. By yearend, the Hall of Fame will have hosted nearly 100 events ranging from board meetings, design summits, and seminars to cocktail parties, fashion shows, and video and photography shoots.
Her accomplishments can also be seen in the success of her full-service marketing and public relations agency which has served industries such as home furnishings, telecommunications, tourism, and more, for over 30 years.
“I am grateful for this honor as a tribute to our noble $150 billion industry that is committed to improving the lives of people around the globe by creating beautiful homes,” Karen McNeill, the President of the Board of Directors, and Chief Executive Officer of American Home Furnishings Hall of Fame Foundation Inc, said. “The unifying support across the industry has been unmatched. None of this would have been possible without the Hall of Fame team that took on every challenge with enthusiasm and commitment. The fact that the Hall of Fame was done, from the time we purchased property to opening our doors – during COVID – in less than four years is stunning but even more rewarding is seeing the building in constant use and to see the dream of our founders in 1988 come to fruition. There are no words for how exciting and fun the last four years have been and it has been my good fortune to be the one in this seat.”
In addition to the Legendary Leadership Award, there are dozens of category awards being presented at the ARTS Awards to retailers, manufacturers, designers and sales representatives. The HEARTS Award is being presented to Loloi and the Academy of Achievement honor is being presented to Maria Mullen. All 34th ARTS Awards finalists can be viewed here. Reservations for the ARTS Awards open October 4th. Tickets will be $170 for ART members and $200 for non-members. Discounted rates for full tables of (8) and (10) guests are also available.
Sponsors for the 34th ARTS Awards include Aspire Design & Home; Furniture, Lighting & Décor; Business of Home; Home Accents Today; Décor News Now; Houstonia; Home Textiles Today; Designers Today; Furniture Today; Gifts & Decorative Accessories; Modern Luxury Interiors; Paper City; Interior Design Society, and Sustainable Furnishings Council.
For more information, visit the ARTS Awards website. Keep up-to-date with Dallas Market Center events and happenings on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram and use #ARTSAwards to stay connected.
To make plans for upcoming markets, visit the Dallas Market Center website and download the Dallas Market Center and Lightovation Apps. Also, keep up-to-date on all information by visiting Dallas Market Center on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and the DMC Blog.
About the ARTS Awards
The ARTS Awards is the premier international awards program dedicated to the home industry. Up to 28 categories exist under the headings Manufacturer, Retailer, Product Designer, Interior Designer, Sales Representative, Green Award, and other specialty honors. Anyone in the industry can nominate including manufacturers, retailers, sales representatives, designers, suppliers, consultants, and other industry officials. Companies that have won an ARTS Award five times are inducted into the Hall of Fame. Current Hall of Fame members are: Arteriors Home, Beatriz Ball, Bella Casa, BJ’s Home Accents, C.S. Wo & Sons, Distinctive Designs International Inc., Elements at Home, Feizy Rugs, Fine Art Lamps, Global Views, HW Home, Loloi Rugs, Montaage, Natural Decorations Inc., Palecek, Paragon, Phillips Collection, Robb & Stucky, Schonbek Worldwide Lighting, Seasonal Living, and Vietri.
About ART
ART is the creative home furnishings network representing manufacturers, retailers, representatives and other individuals and companies interested in promoting and enhancing the market position of the home furnishings industry. Each year ART sponsors programs such as the ART conference, regional educational seminars, the ART card, and the ARTS Awards. The ART website is available at www.accessoriesresourceteam.org.
About Dallas Market Center
Dallas Market Center is a global business-to-business trade center and the leading wholesale marketplace in North America connecting retailers and interior designers with top manufacturers in home décor, furniture, gifts, lighting and fashion. Inside its dynamic, five million square foot campus, nearly 200,000 customers from all 50 states and 85 countries seek industry trends, business education and new products from exhibitors throughout the year via dominant trade events for gift, home décor, holiday and floral; the nation’s most comprehensive apparel and accessories markets featuring the latest styles from East Coast and West Coast designers; the world’s largest western marketplace, opening in 2021; the largest residential lighting trade event in North America; and the largest and most successful open-daily design center. The marketplace is located in the strongest economic zone in the country. In addition, more than 80 percent of Dallas Market Center buyers report that they do not shop other market centers. To make plans for upcoming markets, visit the Dallas Market Center website and download the Dallas Market Center and Lightovation Apps. Also, keep up-to-date on all information by visiting Dallas Market Center on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and the Dallas Market Center blog.
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