Summary: How much profit have you lost or gained in your career as a result of your communication skills? Typically the answer is “a lot.” There is a direct correlation between your level of communication skill and your income. In this highly interactive presentation, participants will learn common mistakes and key tools to improve communication skill levels. As a 25-year veteran in Fortune 1000 companies, Angela Merola taught individuals and teams how to communicate effectively.

Summary: Design maven Courtney Cachet works with designers and clients around the globe, which has given her an inside look into thousands of homes. Cachet will present how people use their homes today, with inside tips for designers on how to keep up with, and design for, those changes. A regular contributor to Huffington Post and NBC, Cachet is one of the most sought after celebrity designers and a TV personality who has appeared in Vogue Italia, The Wall Street Journal, US Weekly, Better Homes & Gardens, People and more.

Summary: WGSN-homebuildlife, the leading online global trend forecaster, will showcase an exclusive look at far-forward trends just coming over the horizon. Get an early look at the new colors, styles, materials, and inspirations that will influence the future of interior design in 2013. Powered by WGSN’s unrivalled global research and proven heritage, WGSN-homebuildlife is trusted by the biggest design brands in the world to deliver unmatched expertise in product categories that include furniture, lighting, print and pattern, bedding, bath, and tabletop.