The Home Furnishings Association (HFA) announced this week it is debuting the Home Furnishings Leadership Institute, a program designed to prepare today’s managers to become tomorrow’s leaders.
The Home Furnishings Leadership Institute, developed in partnership with Louisiana State University Executive Education, is four days of learning and networking alongside some of the industry’s best and brightest, held June 19-22, 2018.
The program at LSU’s Baton Rouge campus will be offered in an interactive environment to maximize participation and collaboration among participants.
“It’s a custom program for the home furnishings industry to help managers into leadership positions or help move them into a leadership mindset,” says Michelle Boullion, Director of LSU Executive Education.
Topics of study include: Understanding Business Financials and Financial Stability; Strategic Planning and Decision Making; Human Resources/Employee Relations; Home Furnishings Retail Management; Sales and Marketing; Negotiations and Succession Planning.
Participants will return to their stores with a new understanding of their leadership role, along with specific tools and techniques for building and sustaining a culture of innovation.
“We’ve all been to our share of education sessions within the industry, but these kinds of executive education programs come from an outside perspective,” says HFA member Tom Olinde of Olinde’s Furniture. “Sometimes it’s good to get a different perspective. I really think whoever goes will come back to their store motivated, with a higher level of morale and confidence. And they’re going to put what they learned to work.”
The institute is yet another benefit for HFA members. HFA’s board of directors saw a need for this type of education and association CEO Sharron Bradley moved quickly to put together a program this year.
“If you’ve been a part of our association for any length of time you know how serious we are about learning and helping our members grow their businesses,” Bradley says. “The Home Furnishings Leadership Institute will do both for members who participate. We’ve got the best of the best willing to help other retailers with their stores.”
Attendance is recommended for managers who are working in areas of the business where an organization-wide point of view will prove helpful in their development. Attendance is also recommended for managers who have progressed rapidly within the organization or managers who have been identified as having the capacity for greater responsibility within the near future as well as new business owners or individuals who desire to sharpen their analytical, leadership, social and decision-making skills.
The program fee is $5,299 for HFA members and $6,295 for non-members. The fee includes tuition, education materials, breakfasts, lunches and hotel accommodations for all four days. The first 20 HFA members to apply and be accepted will receive a $2,300 scholarship. (Non-HFA member program fee includes a one-year HFA membership.) For more information, visit www.myhfa.org or contact Kaprice Crawford at kcrawford@myhfa.org or 916.960.0346 with program questions.
