26th Annual ARTS Awards Judges Announced

Accessory Resource Team and Dallas Market Center, co-founder and producer of the ARTS Awards, have named the 26th annual ARTS Awards judges. This distinguished judging panel will select winners in 24 categories. The awards will be presented during a gala event on Friday, Jan. 16, 2015 at the Hilton Anatole Hotel. The 26th annual ARTS Awards are sponsored by co-sponsored by enLIGHTenment Magazine and other industry publications plus the Sustainable Furnishings Council.

The ARTS Awards is the premier international awards program dedicated to home industry excellence held each January during the Dallas Total Home & Gift Market. The judges are Patti Carpenter, Michael Di Paulo, Ann Fox, Snoa Garrigan, Moira Gavin, and Susan Inglis.

Patti Carpenter
Carpenter is the award-winning creative director for Carpenter + Company and has extensive experience in product design and development, merchandising, and color + trend forecasting. She is well-known for successful international sourcing and for creating innovative products that add revenue and enhance the brand’s image. Carpenter works with companies where she designs, develops, and sources several private label programs from sketch to merchandise for clients such as Bloomingdale’s, Crate & Barrel, Neiman Marcus, Sferra, and Ralph Lauren.

Michael Di Paulo
Di Paulo spent the first half of his professional career as partner and creative director for an internationally known apparel firm. In 1994, Di Paulo made a career change to the home décor industry and co-founded Rollo Inc., the umbrella corporation for four unique retail concepts aimed at the high-end retail market. Di Paulo utilizes his design and merchandising background to keep Homefest, along with its affiliates, Boxwood & Begonia and Matelassé at the forefront of the luxury home décor trade.

Ann Fox
Fox is a long time retailer, interior designer, store consultant, and product designer. After working with Polo Ralph Lauren opening the first Ralph Lauren Home stores in the Southwest, Fox opened Room Service by Ann Fox in Dallas in 1987. The store was open for more than 20 years and received the 2003 ARTS Award in the specialty store category. Fox has served as editor at Country Home, Victoria, Better Homes & Gardens and Southern Living. Fox now runs Ann Fox Design, a design and consulting firm.

Snoa Garrigan
Garrigan is the executive director of the Interior Design Society (IDS), a non-profit membership association, founded in 1973 that aims to strengthen the professionalism of the residential interior design industry by providing education, recognition, and opportunities to members through its programs and services. In her six years at IDS, Garrigan has served as benefits coordinator, chapter coordinator, business/office manager and progressing to executive director in January 2012.

Moira Gavin
Gavin is the former CEO of Wedgwood Royal Doulton International. She was responsible for worldwide operations including sales, marketing, design, and product development. During her tenure at Wedgwood, she oversaw partnerships with Vera Wang, Barbara Barry, Emeril, Gordon Ramsay, and numerous other collaborations. Prior to joining the Waterford Wedgwood Group, Gavin held executive roles at Lenox and numerous other retailers in the home industry.

Susan Inglis
Inglis will continue as the judge of the Green Award which recognizes excellence in sustainable manufacturing practices and standards. She has served as executive director of Sustainable Furnishings Council since 2008 and also has a small business, From The Mountain, working with artisans around the world to introduce their skills and products to new markets. She has worked in 19 countries and on 5 continents, providing services ranging from identifying procedures for ensuring the sustainability of a natural resource base to market-led product development.

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