2026 Schedule
Monday, March 30
If you can not pick up your badge before 2pm, that is fine, just head to the Welcome Reception location and pick up your badge Tuesday morning!
REGISTRATION SPONSORED BY:
First time attending the Women in Textiles Summit OR traveling alone? Come check out the “Pre-Welcome Reception” where you can meet ATA staff, the Summit Planning committee and others like you, who may not know any one yet! Find some friendly faces in the crowd before the whole gang shows up.
LOCATION:
The Draftsman Bar & Lounge Asheville (located inside (and downstairs) at The Restoration Hotel) (0.5 miles from host hotel / 10-min walk)
68 Patton Ave, Asheville, NC 28801
To access, enter the hotel lobby and take the stairs or elevator down to the basement level.
Kick of the conference with your Women in Textiles Summit friends – old and new!
LOCATION:
The Draftsman Bar & Lounge Asheville (located inside (and downstairs) at The Restoration Hotel) (0.5 miles from host hotel / 10-min walk)
68 Patton Ave, Asheville, NC 28801
To access, enter the hotel lobby and take the stairs or elevator down to the basement level.
Sponsored By:
Tuesday, March 31
Sponsored By:
Tina VanSteenbergen, Professional Speaker and Facilitator
Have you heard that nagging little voice in your head? The one that whispers doubts like, “You’re not good enough,” “Don’t ask that question,” or “You don’t belong here.” This voice convinces us to shrink, to stay quiet, and to make ourselves smaller in spaces where we deserve to take up room. In this inspirational program, Tina helps women recognize that voice for what it is—an obstacle to overcome, not a truth to live by. She offers practical, real-life strategies to start taking up the space we deserve, physically, emotionally, and vocally. Because we are worthy of space, worthy of being heard, and worthy of making a difference. And when we take up the space that’s rightfully ours, we don’t just change our own lives—we positively impact everyone around us.
Claire Crunk, Founder/CEO, Trace Femcare, Inc.
Opaque, disjointed, and insular supply chains that create fiber-based products for women’s bodies birth real reproductive health threats, suppress innovation, and prevent ubiquitous access to essential health goods. Learn why this happens, its effects on our everyday lives, and how textile and hygiene manufacturing systems can holistically reorient, rethink, and realign to better protect women’s health.
Moderator: Jasmine Cox-Wade, Executive Director, Textile Technology Center at Gaston College
Panelists: Amy Jenkins, Regional President (Americas), Teijin Aramid; Paige Mullis, Senior Sales Executive, MMI; Heather Meitl, Sales Account Manager, Beverly Knits Inc.
Careers in textiles are rarely linear and they evolve alongside our ambitions, leadership opportunities, and life transitions. This dynamic panel brings together women at different career stages to share honest insights on growth, networking, leadership, life decisions, and legacy-building in the textile industry.
Whether you are just starting out, mid-career and reassessing your path, balancing professional growth with personal life, or thinking about the legacy you want to leave, this session will provide practical strategies and meaningful reflection to help you design your next chapter with intention.
Get ready to ‘mix it up’ at lunch – sit with faces you don’t know or don’t see on a regular basis. Don’t worry, if you need a little boost to put yourself out there, ATA staff have ways of helping!
Sponsored By:
Tina VanSteenbergen, Professional Speaker and Facilitator
‘Taking Up Space’ isn’t about acting like you belong or appearing to be confident. Instead, it is about understanding what makes you ‘you’ and giving yourself permission to bring that to work (and everywhere else) every day. You don’t need to act or be like anyone else to take up space–who you are and what you offer are already good enough. The best way to be sure of that (or to learn it) is to better understand who you are–what you offer a team, what motivates you, how you make the decisions you do. Enter: The Enneagram! This personality assessment differs from most by giving you deep insight into your core motivations, pathways for growth, and a sure understanding of your authentic self. In this conversation, understand the tool, our results, and how we can use them to take up space in the world in our very own way.
Deidre Goodwin, Founder/CFO, HALTZGLOVES
In this session, Deidre Goodwin shares her personal journey of inventing and launching HALTZGLOVES, beginning with the original concept and continuing through the process of securing government contracts. She discusses how the product expanded into an internationally recognized brand and explains the importance of diversifying manufacturing to support growth and avoid reliance on a single source. Deidre also offers insights on staying relevant in an evolving marketplace.
Moderator:Jenny Nichols, Marketing Director, XACT Engineered Manufacturing Solutions and Matrix Technology
Donna Norris, Logistics Manager and Tonya Inthavong, Senior Warp Knit Technician, Apex Mills
In this session, Tonya and Donna share how their journey began on the production floor and grew into opportunities across different segments of manufacturing. What started as hands-on learning evolved into leadership, teamwork, and a deeper understanding of the craft. Through an interactive pick glass activity, they’ll guide participants in taking a closer look at fabric structure. Guests will also experience the evolution of warp knit fabrics, seeing and feeling the differences across stages firsthand. Their story brings together personal growth and the hands-on artistry that drives warp knitting forward.
As we close out Day One, we’ll take a moment to reflect on the day’s key insights, standout conversations, and shared takeaways. This brief wrap-up will connect the dots across sessions, highlight themes that emerged, and set the stage for what’s ahead tomorrow.
Gather for a relaxed and lively dinner at Twisted Laurel Downtown Asheville, where great food meets friendly competition. Enjoy a delicious meal and a cocktail, before testing your knowledge with interactive trivia—perfect for sparking conversation, laughter, and a little bragging rights. It’s an evening designed to unwind, connect, and have some fun in the heart of downtown Asheville.
LOCATION:
Twisted Laurel Downtown Asheville (0.7 miles from host hotel / 10-15 min walk)
130 College St, Asheville, NC 28801
Head to “The Loft” where our event will take place.
Sponsored By:
Wednesday, April 1
Sponsored By:
Quick: everyone roll their eyes! …Great, now that we’ve done that, let’s get up and make some new friends! This conference gives us many gifts–none more impactful than the opportunity to connect with women in this industry. While it might feel silly or cheesy, getting connected randomly and intentionally with the other attendees is the fastest way to make sure you leave the conference with more than ideas, but with the community and connection we all deserve!
Jennifer Knight, President, Orient Point Strategic Advisors, LLC
Jennifer’s career in textiles has been shaped by a series of pivotal moments — beginning in a family-owned business at Georgia Narrow Fabrics, continuing through leadership roles at Premier Narrow Fabrics and American Woolen Company, and expanding into board service with National Spinning and now Mills Manufacturing. Along the way, she made a deliberate pivot into public service as U.S. Department of Commerce Deputy Assistant Secretary for Textiles, Consumer Goods, Materials, Critical Minerals & Metals, gaining a front-row view into how policy, supply chains, and competitiveness intersect. This talk reflects on how those experiences shaped her leadership style, executive presence, and approach to governance, while also considering the progress women have made in the textile industry over the past 30 years — and the opportunities still ahead.
Get ready to ‘mix it up’ at lunch – sit with faces you don’t know or don’t see on a regular basis. Don’t worry, if you need a little boost to put yourself out there, ATA staff have ways of helping!
Sponsored By:
Transportation will be provided
IFB Solutions, a non-profit organization affiliated with National Industries for the Blind (NIB), is dedicated to creating opportunities, building community, and providing independence for people who are blind or visually impaired. IFB Solutions manages many manufacturing, workforce service, and Base Supply Center programs that create meaningful employment for people who typically face barriers to finding jobs.
IFB Solutions has graciously offered to provide a tour of their manufacturing (primarily cut and sew) facility located in Asheville, NC to attendees of the 2026 Women in Textiles Summit. At this facility, IFB Solutions performs contracted textile service cutting, full production of Fuel Handler’s Suits and All-Purpose Liners, and office product packaging. Transportation to and from the hotel will be provided, compliments of IFB Solutions.
Breakouts with Summit Emcee, Tina: But Where Is This Going? Deep Dive with the Enneagram
While not on the IFB tour, attendees will join small-group breakout discussions led by Tina.
Personality assessments are often just that: an assessment of who this tool thinks you are, based on answers to seemingly random questions. While at first glance the Enneagram may be similar, it differentiates itself in two ways: its depth, and its flexibility. Rather than simply put you and your personality type into a box, this tool gives you opportunities to understand your decision-making, to cope more effectively through stress, and to grow in personal and professional ways. This session is designed to ensure your learning about yourself doesn’t stop when you leave this conference–and to help you figure out where to take it next.
Tour & Breakout Rotation Schedule
| Time | Group 1 | Group 2 |
|---|---|---|
| 12:45 PM | Pick-up for IFB Tour | Breakouts with Tina (12:50–1:50 PM) |
| 1:15 – 2:45 PM | IFB Facility Tour | — |
| 2:05 PM | — | Pick-up for IFB Tour |
| 2:35 – 3:55 PM | — | IFB Facility Tour |
| 3:25 PM | Return to Embassy Suites | — |
| 3:35 – 4:35 PM | Breakouts with Tina | — |
| 4:35 PM | — | Return to Embassy Suites |
Join us for final reflections, key takeaways, and a look ahead as we conclude the Women in Textiles Summit.
Questions?
For more information, or website accessibility questions, contact: Jill Newman, Education & Events Manager | 651-225-6953 | jill.newman@textiles.org
Thank you to our supporting organization
