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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260812T080000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260814T170000
DTSTAMP:20261007T150158Z
CREATED:20260501T191353Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261007T150158Z
UID:10000212-1786521600-1786726800@withit.org
SUMMARY:2026 Professional Conference - Forging Strong Leaders
DESCRIPTION:Agenda\n			\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				testimonials\n			\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				sponsors\n			\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				who's attending\n			\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				VALUABLE CONNECTIONSINSPIRING SPEAKERSUNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCES\nWithIt’s Professional Conference is known as the home and furnishings industry’s best forum for professional development to build today’s leaders. Our affordable two-day program offers industry professionals at all stages of their careers the opportunity to learn from top-notch speakers\, develop skills\, and network with industry peers. The theme this year\, “Forging Strong Leaders\,” centers around building strong connections and skills which lead to everyone becoming better leaders and more effective employees. Attendees will have many opportunities to strengthen their skills through our pre-conference workshops and tours\, incredible speakers and inclusive networking. \n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				ANNOUNCING OUR SPEAKERS \n			\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				Mary MessnerKeynote Speaker \n“The Leader Who Thinks Differently: Creativity as a Daily Practice for People\, Performance\, and Purpose”\n			\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				Clarence SmithChairman\, Havertys \n“Reflections on a Career with Purpose”\n			\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				Lorri KelleyLorri Kelley Advisors \n“T.R.A.C.T.I.O.N.: Methods for Business Mastery”\n			\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				Velera WilsonKeynote Speaker \n“Braving Change: Resilient Through Disruption”\n			\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				PLUS PANEL DISCUSSIONS WITH INDUSTRY LEADERS“Prevent the Career Plateau”“The Other Glass Ceiling” \nAND THE AUDIENCE FAVORITE – ROUND TABLES IRL (In-Real-Life) AIWe know that everyone is hearing too much about AI.Let’s talk about leading\, keeping our authenticity\, boundaries and changing pressure around productivity in this new age. \n			\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				PRECONFERENCE OPTIONS“StrengthFinders Discover Your STRENGTHS!  Introduction to Clifton StrengthsFinder to Maximize Your Potential” with Lorri Kelley\, Lorri Kelley Advisors \n“The AI Playground: Come Play With the Future” with Nora Gomez\, Next Generation Growth and Bree Cassidy\, Howard Elliott \nRETAIL TOURPlan to arrive early to visit local furniture stores\,The Furniture Mall of Kansas and Living Spaces\, for a behindthe scenes look at these remarkable businesses.Lunch and transportation are included. \n			\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				EXCLUSIVE CONFERENCE ADD-ONSWithIt offers the opportunity to work with a business or executive coach for a 45-minute session during your time in Kansas City. \n			\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				BUSINESS COACHINGKatie Decker-Erickson\, Interior Design Business Coach | Podcast Host | Public Speaker | Industry Expert  \n			\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				EXECUTIVE COACHINGNora Gomez\, Next Generation Growth \n			\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				PROFESSIONAL HEADSHOTHow recent is your headshot? If it’s been a few years\, it’s time for an update. Book a session with our photographer. \n\n			\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				SEE OUR FULL 2026 AGENDA\n			\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n\n\nMember Ticket\n$595\n\n\nCorporate Member Ticket\n$550\n\n\nGuest Ticket\n$795\n\n\nStudent Ticket\n$225\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \nAd-ons to enhance your time in Kansas City PreConference Workshops:   $50Retail Tour:   $50Business Coaching (45 minute session):   $50Executive Coaching (45 minute session):   $50Professional Headshot photo:  $125.  (Receive 1 pose in color and black and white) \nWithIt offers scholarships to attend the conference to women in the industry who’s companies can not support attendance. The program is funded by The Furniture Foundation. Nominate someone or apply here. \n			\n				REGISTER NOW\n			\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n					\n					\n				\n				\n			\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n			\n				\n				\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				WHAT OUR ATTENDEES SAY\n			\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n					The WithIt “PowerUp” conference in Kansas City was nothing short of transformational. From insightful leadership strategies to inspiring speakers\, every moment was a spark of brilliance.            But the true magic? The people. The conversations. The friendships. Whether strolling through art galleries\, soaking in the electrifying energy of the sessions\, or channeling our inner 80’s icons at an unforgettable networking mixer\, I found beauty in connection and perspective.        My cup is full\, and I can’t wait to pour into others. Thank you\, WithIt for an unforgettable experience–and to my incredible new friends\, let’s keep the momentum going! \nMichaela Real\, District Design ManagerHavertys \n					\n					 \n				\n			\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n					My first WithIt conference exceeded my expectations! Everything from the location to the learning sessions was well thought-out and organized. My favorite part was the interactions with extraordinary leaders from across the industry; I learned something from each person!         And the speakers were wonderful\, with so much wisdom about leadership at work and in our personal lives. Overall\, it was an incredible conference experience\, and I can’t wait for the next one! \nMaudelyn Greene\, Senior Relationship Manager\, Bank of America \n					\n					 \n				\n			\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n			\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n			\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n			\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				Hotel InterContinental at the Plaza\nSituated in the heart of Kansas City’s most stylish and historic shopping\, dining and entertainment district the InterContinental Hotel is a beautiful historic hotel with elegant guest rooms with floor to ceiling windows and walkout balconies\, a pool and fitness center. \nWe will enjoy breathtaking views of Kansas City from the top floor restaurant and lounge for our networking and dinner. Explore downtown Kansas City on the free KC Streetcar which runs from the River Market to the Country Club Plaza. \n			\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n			\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				Book your stay in our conference room block now!\nKing and Double rooms in the conference block are $179/night. BOOK YOUR ROOM HERE before July 15 to reserve your room at this exclusive rate. After July 15th\, rates will vary. \nWe have 3 rooms at the room block rate. Email Amy Van Dorp (director@withit.org) for one. \n			\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				THANK YOU TO THE 2026 SPONSORS\n			\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n			\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n			\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n			\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n			\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n			\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n			\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n			\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n			\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n			\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n			\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n			\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n			\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n			\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n			\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n			\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n			\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n			\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n			\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n			\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n			\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n			\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n			\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n			\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n			\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				\n				REGISTER BELOW!
URL:https://withit.org/event/2026-professional-conference/
LOCATION:Intercontinental Hotel Kansas City\, 401 Ward Pkwy\, Kansas City\, MO\, United States
CATEGORIES:WithIt Annual Conference
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://withit.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/2026-Forging-Leaders-RECT-FINAL.png
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