This Year's WOW awards were announced at an evening gala in conjunction with the group's annual Education Conference at the Renaissance Charlotte Suites Hotel.

2008 WithIt WOW Award winners. (L-R) Dianne Ray, Christy DiFoggio, Hirschhaut, Ed Tashjian, Mary Frye.

Women in the Home Industries Today (WithIt) named four outstanding professionals as recipients of the organization's 2008 WOW Awards.

Announced at an evening gala in conjunction with the group's annual Education Conference at the Renaissance Charlotte Suites Hotel, the WOW recipients are Christy DiFoggio, Ed Tashjian, Jaclyn Hirschhaut and Dianne Ray. The President's Award was presented to Mary Frye. Kathy Wall was recognized for her years of service.

The Future Leader Award, given to salute an individual who is under 40 for outstanding achievement and demonstrated potential to become an industry leader, was awarded to Christy DiFoggio, president and CEO, Genre Brands Communications, Inc. Others nominated in this category were Mary Leigh Wallace, RLF Communications and Ricki Stark, PROFITsystems, Inc.

Ed Tashjian, vice president of marketing, Century Furniture, received the Mentoring Award, given to an executive or organization that has fostered the advocacy, development or promotion of women in their company. Those honored with Ed were Mary Frye, president, Home Furnishings Independents Association and Claire Goldhagen, upholstery merchandising manager, Robb & Stucky.

Jaclyn Hirschhaut, vice president of public relations and marketing at the American Home Furnishings Alliance, was honored with the Education Award, given to a manufacturing executive or company for the creation of programs to educate associates, retailers or consumers about home furnishings. Others recognized were Kim Green, director of sales training, Drexel Heritage and Jo Anne Pier, independent consultant.

Dianne Ray was named the recipient of the Legacy Award, given to a woman of achievement who has made significant lifetime contributions to the home furnishings industries. As the president of Garden City Furniture, she brings over 30 years experience in the retail industry and has given of her time and leadership to multiple industry associations. Honored with her were Emily Morrow, director of color, style and design for Shaw Industries and Peggy Burns, owner and vice president of Circle Furniture.

The president's award, presented to Mary Frye, HFIA, is presented to a member whose leadership, willingness and passion for WithIt and the industry is instrumental to the success of both.

For years of service on the board of directors, Kathy wall was thanked and recognized.

Sponsors of this year's WOW awards were Broyhill Furniture Industries, AmericasMart, Four Hands, Genre Brand Communications, Hutchison Allgood Printing, Stanley Furniture Company, American Home Furnishings Alliance, Hearst Integrated Media, Las Vegas World Market Center, Loeffler Ketchum Mountjoy, Lane Home Furnishings, RLF Communications, Century Furniture, Adesso, MGM Transport, Horich, Parks and Lebow, Riverside Furniture, Home Furnishings Independents Association and The Monday Company.