STEPHEN K. POND

Stephen K. Pond founded Furniture Today in 1976 with the vision to create “the industry’s newspaper” to comprehensively inform stakeholders throughout the home furnishings industry. During his ownership, the parent company, Communications Today, also launched Home Textiles Today, Home Accents Today, Design Today, Upholstery Today, the Professional Upholsterer, Video Today and Manufacturing Today. His commitment to founding world-class publications – of the same standard as The Wall Street Journal – was centered on the strategy that decision makers need proprietary industry news and information as tools to build their businesses globally, and, that this industry deserves a great newspaper.

 Mr. Pond and his team set the highest standards for business and journalistic integrity: objectivity and accuracy backed by in-depth, knowledgeable reporting on all product categories.  Furniture Today boldly entered the world of the electronic newsroom in order to improve the quality and speed of news coverage. Daily newspapers were published during markets; professionally conducted research and special sections included the Top 100 Retailers and Top Manufacturers reports, Profiles in Leadership, the Best-Selling Dining Room and Bedroom reports; and each market featured extensive coverage of new product introductions.

 His publications also provided companies willing to invest in communicating their story and strategies with effective new advertising vehicles for brand building.  An in-house Marketing Services Department – staffed by skilled writers, graphic artists and idea generators – helped advertisers develop sophisticated business and marketing strategies that would enhance their positions in the marketplace.

 Skilled at connecting people and building diverse teams, Mr. Pond has launched executive education programs for the Chief Executives Organization and the Young Presidents Organization at leading universities around the world, including Harvard, Oxford, Peking, and Stanford. Recently, he has been instrumental in the creation of the Paul Broyhill Future Leaders Award program and the Hall of Fame Home Furnishings Leadership Institute at High Point University.