Amy Havens Whitacre

President & Principal, Arnett Whitacre & Associates
Amy Whitacre is a seasoned leader in the contract furnishings industry, leveraging more than two decades of hands-on experience in product development, sales, marketing and agency management. Under her guidance, Arnett Whitacre & Associates has grown into a premier manufacturers’ representative agency, specializing in luxury hospitality interiors.

Education & Early Leadership
- Graduated from the University of North Texas, College of Merchandising in Hospitality Management (Home Furnishings Merchandising), 2003
- President, Merchandising, Inc. on-campus organization; delivered double-digit event profit in 2002

Career Progression / 2003–2016: Manufacturer Roles
Amy honed her expertise at industry leaders including Arteriors, Brown Jordan Companies and Spike Lighting. In these roles, she:
- Managed product development lifecycles from concept through production
- Directed customer service and sales teams, driving revenue growth
- Led marketing initiatives that elevated brand positioning and market share

2016–Present: Independent Manufacturers’ Representation
In late 2016, Amy transitioned to agent-only business with Arnett & Associates as sales manager, collaborating closely with the agency owner to expand the business footprint for Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana and Arkansas. In 2020, she became partner at Arnett Whitacre & Associates and then in 2022 acquired the firm as owner. Today, the agency:

-Independently Represents 14 distinguished manufacturers across seating, casegoods, textiles, lighting and outdoor products in business development efforts
- Employs an eight-member team specializing in project management, sales, marketing, finance and compliance
- Cultivated a custom salesforce system that aids in managing over 900 active projects
- Serves the luxury sector of the hospitality market—hotels, restaurants and multi-family establishments
- The company provides 6% of net profits annually toward professional interior design scholarships through the NEWH organization, as well as contributes to Hospitality Cares, A Child’s Dream, Rescue Hill, and contributes to charities led by key clients.

Global Experience & Thought Leadership
- Frequent liaison with overseas factories—has traveled to China over a dozen times to supervise custom project execution and quality standards
- Regularly presents to professional design, procurement and ownership firms on manufacturing capabilities, best practices in product engineering and consideration of sustainable material solutions
- Active member of the University of North Texas Merchandising Advisory Board since 2018; has served as a mentor in the student Leadership Mentor program and a multi-time guest lecturer in the Home Furnishings department

Personal
Amy and her husband are proud parents of two energetic young children. Outside of business, she enjoys tennis, family travel, and exploring in nature.