Since Business of Home’s 50 States Project launched in 2020, editor in chief Kaitlin Petersen has interviewed 115 designers from states across the country for a weekly series of candid conversations about how they’ve built their businesses.
On Monday April 3 during High Point Market, these designers had the opportunity to meet Petersen, and each other, face to face for the first time in a celebration at the Universal Furniture showroom.
More than 40 designers featured in the 50 States Project over the last two years gathered for a toast in their honor, including Cheryl Umbles, Kaitlyn Wolfe, Jenny Slingerland, Kelly Finley, Lucy Penfield, Linda Allen, Heather French, Janelle Blakely Photopoulos, Megan Peterson, Marissa Whitley Tago, Cheryl Luckett, Nicole White, Santo Giorgio, Emily Clark, Arianne Bellizaire, Linda Banks, Jacob Laws, Jeremiah Young, Marie Cloud, Stephen Shutts, Tiffany Cobb and Judith Balis.
“The designers featured in our 50 States Project are smart, inspiring forward-thinking creative entrepreneurs, and it’s an incredible joy to not only share their stories, but also host a celebration in their honor, toast to their continued success and connect them with one another,” said Petersen. “I’m so grateful to to Universal for hosting us in their space, which is such a valuable resource for both educational programming and beautiful product.”
Images by Jessica Blackstock