Dallas Market Center and ART will honor Connie Lineberry, executive vice president of brand creative services for Progressive Business Media, with its first-ever Legendary Leadership Award. The honor, which will be presented at the ARTS Awards in January 2017,  recognizes “an individual who has not only achieved esteemed recognition from industry peers, but who has also led the home industry with passion, and whose dedication has helped hundreds of companies succeed.”

“It is a privilege to bestow the Legendary Leadership Award to Connie,” says Cindy Morris, president and CEO of Dallas Market Center. “We have created a special award this year to honor a special woman. Her business leadership has added substantial value to the home industry, and her support of companies and people has added substantial value to our lives.”

Lineberry, whose career began at Knight Ridder newspapers, Landmark Newspapers and Gannett, was hired by Steve Pond, founding publisher of Furniture/Today, 35 years ago to launch a marketing services department. Since then, she has worked with many furniture and home decor companies to create advertising and marketing content for a range of industry publications. She has served as the publisher of Home Accents Today on two separate occasions, first as vice president of marketing, and starting in 2013 in her current role as executive vice president of creative brand services.

“I have had the opportunity to work with a world-class team for 35 years, from the editors to the salespeople and the support staff,” Lineberry says. “As a result, we have remained the leading publications in every industry we serve. To say that I am proud of the people and the work we have done to help our industry would be an understatement. I am accepting this honor on behalf of the many, many people who have helped me continue to serve and provide value to amazing companies.”

“Connie is a creative, thoughtful, passionate leader who deserves special recognition this year,” Sharon Davis, executive director of ART, says. “The Legendary Leadership Award is a way for us to recognize a true trailblazer in the home industry, and Connie personifies the best qualities of our business.”

The ARTS Awards, which were developed by the nonprofit ART and produced by Dallas Market Center, is an international awards program for the home industry that honors designers, manufacturers, retailers and sales representatives. It is held yearly in January, during the Dallas Total Home & Gift Market.