HIGH POINT, N.C. – Megan Pierson has been named 2024 chair of the Board of Directors of the International Casual Furnishings Association, (ICFA).

“As the second woman privileged with this position, I honor those in leadership positions who have come before me and plan to actively encourage more women to embrace the many professional and personal growth opportunities of membership,” said Pierson, executive vice president of Business Development for POLYWOOD. Pierson has focused her twenty-plus-year career on building relationships internally and externally, and in leadership development.

Pierson considers younger members crucial to the ongoing vitality of the ICFA. “I would love to see those starting in our profession join our program and become part of a multi-generational community of leaders. I believe their viewpoints and agility with new channels and technology will bring diversity and inclusivity, ultimately elevating our industry,” she said.

Pierson attended her first ICFA meeting about a decade ago when she started her career with POLYWOOD. The evolution of her involvement is a perfect road map for those aspiring to leadership positions in the organization. She immediately joined the marketing committee, leading it for two years while participating in meetings and educational conferences. She became chair of the social media committee and served on the Board for six years.

“At POLYWOOD, we believe the people make the difference. Building a great team of people around you will challenge you to get the best outcomes possible. That management philosophy aligns completely with how the ICFA is run and serves me well in this new leadership position,” she said.

Supporting women’s advancement in the ICFA hierarchy is an objective that inspires Megan. “I think it would be amazing to create a women’s leadership council. It would help us encourage more women to get involved in our industry and support the current women in our association. Multi-generational leadership is so important. It builds a culture of respect and communication amongst professionals, as well as mentorship, offers new perspectives, and creates extensive opportunities for women in our industry,” she said.

Megan also sees value in promoting membership to designers and those in the hospitality industry, stating: “We have a lot of crossovers with the design industry. I believe there are ways we could collaborate to gain synergy together. We’ve seen success with this at POLYWOOD, including building strong media relationships through our design partners. Hospitality is another area I’d like to focus on. This industry has exploded in recent years. The ICFA networking and membership benefits would greatly benefit both of these industry segments.”

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