Speakers
Laurie Hickson-Smith
Laurie Hickson-Smith was one of the first designers to hit the airwaves on TLC’s hit show Trading Spaces. Now, in the show’s ninth season, fans see Laurie’s stylish designs each week as they remake a space in just 48 hours. Laurie’s self-described “modern classic” design style blends traditional and modern with her signature uses of color for vitality. Staying true to her Southern roots, Laurie resides in Jackson, Mississippi, with her husband, Brad, 6-year-old son Gibson Witherspoon, and 2-year-old daughter India Dawson.
Phyllis Hoffman
Editor-in-Chief of Southern Lady, Phyllis Hoffman will reflect on the 10 years of the publication and highlight some of her favorite features and photos. She will also share an exclusive look at her two latest books, Gracious Spaces and Honey, It’s All in the Shoes.
Diana Hansen
Featured in the premiere issue of Southern Lady, artist Diana Hansen is sure to inspire with her eye for beauty. As owner of White Flowers, Diana has created an ethereal world in her all-white shop located in Birmingham, Alabama. Her story will show that inspiration can come from the most unexpected and simplest of places.
Sister Schubert Barnes
Sister Schubert has become a Southern household name synonymous with her Parkerhouse Roll. Sister began making her delicious rolls in 1989, and now Sister Schubert’s Homemade Rolls includes three bakeries, which together produce more than 5 million rolls daily. She credits her family, employees, and faith for her phenomenal growth. But Sister’s story shows that her tireless enthusiasm for excellence is at the heart of her success.
Erica Glasener
Horticulturist and author Erica Glasener has hosted A Gardener’s Diary on Home and Garden Television (HGTV) for 14 years. As a Southern Lady contributor, Erica offers helpful advice for gardens large and small in her column, “Garden Inspiration.” In her own garden, Erica grows vegetables, fruits, heirloom roses, bulbs, perennials, shrubs, and trees. Her creative ideas prove that, with a little thought and planning, any garden space can be both beautiful and functional.
Lael Melville
Back again from the 2007 Celebration, Dr. Lael Melville is a gifted speaker who will encourage and motivate. She will offer her insights, humor, and practical applications on how to approach life’s challenges. Lael is a psychologist, wife, and mother of three teenage sons, and she lives and serves in Plano, Texas.
Bobbie Staten
A North Carolina native, Bobbie Staten is a nationally recognized Southern motivational humorist whose healthy and irreverent sense of humor focuses on people and the lives they lead. Her message reflects a universal theme as old as time, yet fresh and relevant to today’s hectic lifestyle. When you have your health, family, and priorities balanced, life just seems to fall into place. For the few times when it doesn’t – laugh!
