Boutique Design - July/August 2015 - 12

the buzz

REMEMBERING BOB THOMAS

HERMAN NAMED 2015 ICON

Bob Thomas, co-founder
of Signature Hospitality Carpets and 2014
NEWH Icon of Industry
award winner, passed
away May 26 following
a battle with cancer. He
was 66.
The annual award
bestowed upon Thomas
by the Network of
Executive Women in
Hospitality (NEWH)
celebrates leaders on
the manufacturing side
of hospitality who have
uniquely impacted the
industry through their
innovative work, dedicated their time and efforts to community or industry outreach
through education and/or corporate giving, and have been active
in the business for more than 30 years.
Thomas hit all those benchmarks, and then some. His 45-year
hospitality career included stints as a sales manager with Holiday
Inn for more than a decade; overseeing John Portman's Design &
Purchasing firm for six years; and assembling and managing sales
forces in fabrics, upholstered furniture, casegoods and other products. He spent the past 16 years at Signature, the vertically integrated carpet mill he started with partners Brenda Smith and
Bryan Ownbey.
Thomas, who was born in Memphis, Tenn., and resided in
Alpharetta, Ga., was a supporter of St. Jude Children's Research
Hospital. He also raised money for the Muscular Dystrophy Association and, through Signature, sponsored a team on the Miracle
League, which provides children and adults with mental and
physical challenges an opportunity to play baseball. In 2010, he
began sponsoring an Ethiopian boy through the Compassion Intl.
organization.
In Thomas' memory, his family requests donations be made to
The First Tee of Spartanburg in his honor. That organization works
to offer affordable and accessible golf facilities for those who have
not been exposed to the game and its positive values. Contributions
in Thomas' name may be sent to:

Fabric Innovations'
Deborah Herman has
been named the 2015
NEWH Icon of Industry.
"In addition to building
a thriving business,
Deborah has always
dedicated her time to
give back to the
industry," says NEWH
executive director Shelia
Lohmiller. "Her
passionate work on
behalf of NEWH and its
many initiatives, in addition to her work with
Women's Business
Enterprises (WBENC),
AH&LA and within her
community in South Florida all contribute to the ICON that she is.
Deborah is the youngest industry member to receive this prestigious award."
After graduating from Brigham Young University with a bachelor
of fine arts degree, Herman entered the industry in 1982, and
followed in her father's footsteps by becoming national sales
manager for Bedspreads of California. Fifteen years later, she
launched Fabric Innovations. A strong advocate for women in business and women-owned businesses, Herman was awarded the 2006
South Florida Business Woman of the Year and the 2006 NEWH
Award of Excellence.
As an example of Herman's strong work ethic and passion for the
industry, NEWH noted that Fabric Innovations is the preferred bedding
and drapery vendor for hotel brands such as Westin, Aloft, Element and
Virgin Hotels. In addition, NEWH notes that Herman is dedicated to
bringing the next generation into the hospitality industry. Her
mentoring through NEWH as an International Ambassador, which
provides scholarships to students and professionals in the hospitality
industry, as well as the scholarship awards that she and her company
endow at The Cornell School of Hotel Administration, are testaments
to her ongoing support of the industry, the organization notes.
"It is such an honor to be recognized individually, not just as a
company," says Herman. "Product awards are amazing, but ICON is
the only award that truly recognizes the individual from the supplier
side. I entered the hospitality industry at age 19 and have never
looked back. It is a joy to wake up every day doing what I love:
bringing the fabulous products that my amazingly creative clients
have designed to life. I love this industry and consider hospitality
friends part of my family."

The First Tee of Spartanburg
c/o The Bob Thomas Scholarship
640 Keltner Ave.
Spartanburg, S.C., 29302
12

boutiquedesign.com July + August 2015

C O U R T E S Y O F S I G N AT U R E H O S P I TA L I T Y C A R P E T S ( T H O M A S ) ; C O U R T E S Y O F FA B R I C I N N O VAT I O N S ( H E R M A N )

NEWH ICONS OF INDUSTRY: A FAREWELL AND A NEW HONOREE

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Boutique Design - July/August 2015

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