HIGH POINT, N.C. — The International Casual Furnishings Association will honor two longtime outdoor furniture industry leaders with its most prestigious recognition, the Lifetime Achievement Award, at the ICFA Awards Gala on Sept. 17 during the fall Casual Market Atlanta.
Douglas Sanicola — owner of Outdoor Elegance in La Verne, California, with his wife, Sharon — the first retail chair of the outdoor industry trade association, and Harold Hudson, vice president of strategic initiatives at Gabriella White and a past chair, will each receive the distinction as part of the evening program at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
The Lifetime Achievement Award was created in 2002 to distinguish industry executives whose ideas have advanced the growth of the casual furniture industry and whose actions and accomplishments have served as role models or inspiration for others. Acknowledged by their peers, the honorees’ achievements must have stood the test of time.
Sanicola found himself owning a nursery and outdoor furnishings business that once belonged to the F.W. Woolworth Co. as a part of the lease option for 2 acres of property he wanted. That site became the home of Outdoor Elegance, the 24,000-square-foot showroom in Southern California. From the day he joined the ICFA in 2011, Sanicola has shared his expertise and guidance with others in the industry, particularly during his tenure as the first retail chair of the ICFA Board of Directors in 2017. His continuing impact on the industry is immeasurable.
“I considered this a wonderful opportunity to encourage other retailers to join and become active members. Previously, there had been some trepidation among them that they would be giving away trade secrets by sharing data with competitors rather than benefiting immensely from exchanging information, challenges and solutions. The board and I worked hard to dispel that hesitance and promote the many benefits of membership for retailers of all sizes across the country.”
Sanicola was so effective that after he cycled off the board, he was asked to return when the next chair could not continue. He was back in the ICFA’s top leadership position during the pandemic and forced to host the 2020 Awards Gala from his hotel room in Chicago.
“Zooming with my wife and son by my side was heart-wrenching, but we came through it. We are a strong, cohesive organization where everyone gets along because we are tugging on the same rope,” he said.
Sanicola said he was surprised and humbled to earn the Lifetime Achievement Award.
“The Lifetime Achievement Award is an unexpected honor,” he said. “I am thrilled to be the 2025 recipient, along with my dear friend and fishing and hunting companion Harold Hudson.”
Hudson didn’t begin his career in furniture. Working as a group controller for U.S. Department of Defense weapons systems, Hudson faced a move to California from Huntsville, Alabama, and knew he needed to make a change. Luckily, another option presented itself.
“The husband of one of my wife’s friends was the banker for Summer Classics, and he introduced me to Bew,” Hudson said. “That meeting in 1994 began my second and beloved career in the casual furniture industry, starting with my role as controller and then operations manager.”
Over the years, Hudson served active membership and board positions with the Hearth Products and Barbecue Association and Casual Furniture Retailers Association, the predecessor of the ICFA. He served on the ICFA Nominating and Executive Committees leading up to overseeing the board of directors.
“Helping our retailer members get back to their pre-Covid level was my No. 1 priority,” he said. “Our strategic initiatives for 2021 and 2022 promoted their recovery and compelled more retailers to join as they recognized the value of this dedicated support. We pledged to create and enhance the networking, educational and philanthropic opportunities that make ICFA engagement vital to professional success for every segment of our membership. It was a challenging time, but through the hard work of the board and our exceptional staff, we came back strong.”
Earlier this year, Hudson also was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award from City of Hope for his ongoing efforts to raise funds for the California cancer research and treatment facility. Receiving that along with the ICFA Lifetime Achievement Award in the same year has felt especially meaningful for Hudson.
“These two accolades, coming a few months apart, along with the immense honor of serving as the ICFA chair in 2021, are three of the most significant industry accomplishments I could imagine. I am always grateful to serve and overwhelmed and humbled by this recognition from my colleagues,” he said. “When you add the privilege of working with Bew White III, the owner and founder of Summer Classics, helping him build our company’s success for the past 31 years, and serving all our valued customers, my career has been full of joy.”
