High Point University has named three participants as Home Furnishings Fellows following the fifth annual Home Furnishings Leadership Institute. The fellows, selected from 23 emerging leaders in the industry, received honors at the conclusion of the executive education program held in collaboration with the American Home Furnishings Hall of Fame. The initiative aims to accelerate leadership development within the home furnishings sector.
The fifth annual Home Furnishings Leadership Institute, launched in 2022, concluded with High Point University designating three individuals as 2026 Home Furnishings Fellows. The program, developed in partnership with the American Home Furnishings Hall of Fame, involved 23 emerging leaders nominated from across the United States and various roles in the home furnishings industry. Participants completed 120 hours of leadership-focused work, including keynote interviews with industry leaders, faculty lectures, and a team presentation before a panel of judges.
The 2026 Fellows are Josh Fenner, director of Sealy Brand at Tempur Sealy International, Inc.; David Lee, vice president of business development at Crestview Collection; and Scott Kahan, director of product at Regal Fabrics. Each received a crystal brick, a framed Fellows certificate, and a digital badge for their LinkedIn profile. The institute's peer learning approach fosters shared insights and lifelong networks among participants, as stated by Daniel Hall, Ph.D., dean of the Earl N. Phillips School of Business at High Point University. "This year’s class explored the elements of execution and the challenges involved in executing the plans of a leader," Hall noted.
Karen McNeill, CEO of the Hall of Fame, highlighted the program's impact: "One of the Hall of Fame’s key goals is to inspire the next generation of innovative leaders and to create lifelong relationships." Over five years, 75 emerging leaders from 47 companies have participated, with 38% being women. The institute also includes Executive Career Fair sessions to attract new talent.
Keynote interviews featured Mohamed Amini, president of Lacquer Craft and executive director of Samson Holding Limited; John Bray, 2016 Hall of Fame inductee and chairman of Vanguard Furniture; Jeff Child, 2025 Hall of Fame inductee and chairman of RC Willey Home Furnishings; and Suzie Roberts, vice president of global Sunbrella business at Sunbrella, a business of the Glen Raven Material Solutions Group. Modeled after Harvard Business School seminars, the program emphasizes peer learning for proven leaders aiming for greater impact.
The American Home Furnishings Hall of Fame, based in High Point, North Carolina, supports history preservation, leadership inspiration, and community engagement as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.
