Over the Years
WithIt History Timeline
In 1997 WithIt’s founding members were owners, managers, designers, entrepreneurs and other professional women who realized successes in the home and furnishings industries.
At a time when there were few opportunities for women to connect, share information, support one another’s successes or gain exposure, they decided they needed a tribe. They felt a vacuum. They founded WithIt. The fact that these women conceived the idea of a national organization of business and professional women is testimony to their faith in themselves and the future.
Over the years, WithIt has grown in numbers and scope; conducting educational classes, offering needed mentoring, celebrating accomplishments, supporting the fringes, giving scholarships and encouraging individual growth. WithIt offers the resources, tools, information and guidance necessary for achieving career or business goals. Our members have advanced and so has WithIt.
Thank you to all who have played a role in the success.
October 1997
WithIt Founded
Unveiled at Fall International Home Furnishings Market in High Point. Founders: Jena Hall, Kimberley Wray, Margaret Traub
October 1997
WithIt Logo
Designed by Connie Post
November 1997
First Board of Directors Named
Board Members: Jena Hall, Kathy Bovey, Peggy Traub, Caroline Hipple, Cindy Miller, Linda Baer, Ellen Gefen, Judy George, Lynn Yurosko, Robin Campbell, Carroll Springer, Katrina Patton, Nancy Butler, Elaine Eisen, Cathy Fineman, Lynn Gerber-Jenkins, Abby Gilmore, Joyce Glover, Wanda Kastner, Kris Kolar, Ann Pickering, Connie Post, Cindy Sheaffer, Kimberley Wray, Judy Rudrud, Rochelle Beck, Vickie Davis, Rita Woker
March 1998
Inaugural Regional Event – New York
April 1998
- Scholarship Foundation Launched with LifeStyle
- 55 Founding Sponsors honored at High Point Market
- Inaugural Tent Event – Market Square
October 1998
First Educational Breakfast at IHFC
“Who Says There’s No Room at the Top?”
- Board of Governors launched
- WOW Awards established
April 1999
- WithIt.org debuts
- First WOW Awards
- First Scholarship awarded – Scholarship recipients
- First Educational Conference and Leadership Retreat
April 2000
WithIt publishes first member directory
September 2001
- Corporate Memberships Launched
- $32,000 raised for City of Hope
- Competitive Intelligence inaugurated
February 2002
- Full-time Executive Director Sara Lyke hired
- First email newsletter
April 2002
- First Student Mentoring Day hosted by the Vas/Ca’s Region
- YHFP/WithIt Leadership Seminar – Stephen Covey’s Four Habits of Leadership
February 2003
WithIt teams with Palliser for white paper and seminar
Home Furnishings Through the Eyes of Generation X
January 2004
WithIt members attend Maison et Objet
August 2004
3 year marketing plan launched
October 2004
First Ambassadors Named
July 2005
World Market Center at Las Vegas Seminar
September 2005
YHFP/WithIt offer Protocol Seminar
October 2005
Harley Raffle
January 2006
- Monthly Industry Scoop in Home Furnishings Business
- Part time employee hired – Amy Van Dorp
April 2006
InFurniture BUZZ – Look Who’s WithIt
August 2006
- Mini Cooper Raffle
- WOW awards moved to be in conjunction with the Professional Conference
January 2007
10th Anniversary Celebration
Diamond anniversary pin
April 2007
Candice Olson draws largest crowd ever for WithIt breakfast at High Point market
July 2007
Christi Proctor speaks at WithIt seminar – Dallas Market Center
May 2008
First Official New York Design Tour
August 2008
Roundtables introduced at the Professional Conference
A conference favorite
December 2008
WithIt embraces LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter
2009
- Cover Design Contest for the Member Resource Guide
- Curbside Mentoring offered at the WithIt Conference
October 2009
WithIt walked for City of Hope in honor of Claire Goldhagen’s daughter, Kristen Gross
January 2010
- WithIt offers a symposium:
Corporate Strategy, Integration & Investment in Digital and Social Media - Forester Research and Ford Motor
Company Case Study - Introduced tagline – Women’s Leadership Development Network
March & April 2010
WithIt membership drive joined Libby Langdon to host her book, Small Space Solutions
August 2010
First Women’s Executive Forum
2010
- WOW leaders recognized in WithIt Newsletter – Jamie Young, Liz O’Brien, Joe Carroll
- Headshots offered at the Professional Conference
- Launched Friday WrapUPs
- New Brand for WithIt introduced at the Professional Conference
October 2010
First National Membership Day
December 2010
Moved WithIt office to High Point
February 2011
- Women to Watch honored on Facebook
- RSA Membership Announced
July 2011
Companies to Watch on Facebook
August 2011
WithIt offers students scholarships to attend the Professional Conference
Sponsored by Frinier Atelier, Brown Jordan, Sunbrella
2012
15 Year Anniversary
January 2012
Canadian Home Furnishings Market
WithIt featured Kimberley Seldon
February 2012
WithIt launches links to member blogs on the website
March 2012
Love at First Blush – panel at ISPA expo
July 2012
Las Vegas Gala
August 2012
Auction launched at WithIt Professional Conference
October 2012
- WithIt offers first President’s reception at High Point Market
- Marvin Traub Scholarship – matching funds given by Peggy Traub to establish scholarship
January 2013
- WOW awards held at Las Vegas Market
- WithIt launches new website featuring more member spotlights
February 2013
- First Leadership Development Institute program – Critical Success Factors for Women Leaders – Sara King
- Introduced Speaker Bureau on the website featuring members
July 2013
- HootUP held for members to learn Hootsuite
- 2014 BOD holds Strategic Meeting led by the Lattitude Group
December 2013
Vas/CAs chapters adopt a family for the holidays
January 2014
- WithIt pays tribute to founder Peggy Traub
- WithIt advertises at KBIS
April 2014
Get Caught Wearing Your WithIt Pin
Julie Smith Vincente (winner)
May 2014
New York Design offers extra day for Brimfield Antique Show and Flea Market
August 2014
Retailer Now Magazine features 3 WithIt members
October 2014
Founder Jena Hall inducted into American Furniture Hall of Fame
November 2014
#GivingTuesday went viral
August 2015
Amy Van Dorp named Managing Director
June 2016
Cathy Smith joins WithIt as Development Director
October 2016
WithIt honors all WithIt past presidents at President’s Welcome Reception during High Point Furniture Market
November 2016
Jena Hall and WithIt produce a panel for Furniture/Today conference on Women in Leadership
January 2017
Kickoff of 20th Anniversary year
October 2017
As part of the 20th anniversary celebration, WithIt unveils a bronze plaque on the first floor of the Market Square building honoring the founders, founding board members and advisory board who tirelessly worked to establish WithIt.
WithIt holds a Roaring 20s-themed 20th Anniversary Gala at the Lofts at Union Square
February 2018
Amy Miracle is hired as part-time administrator
May 2018
10th Anniversary NY Design Tour
Planned and executed by Betty Lyn Eller, Jana Platina-Phipps, and Deb Klein
June 2018
WithIt launches online digital education with the videotaping of all conference sessions
Sponsored by
August 2018
Digital Education videos launch on the WithIt website offering all members the benefit of the educational content from the professional conference
October 2018
Amy Van Dorp is promoted to Executive Director
October 2019
WithIt brings leadership speaker Denise Ryan to Education Breakfast at High Point Market
June 2020
First virtual conference is held on HOPIN.com
October 2020
Education Breakfast pivots to become a virtual education brunch with speed networking
December 2020
WithIt hosts a virtual Tour of the Home Furnishings Industry in place of student mentoring day
January 2022
WithIt celebrates 25th anniversary
