Arlette Baker, accessory buyer for Carl's Furniture in Boca Raton, Fla., will receive the Academy of Achievement Award at the 19th Annual ARTS Awards, Dallas Market Center and Accessories Resource Team officials announced last month.

The Academy of Achievement Award is awarded to a person who has made significant contributions to the decorative accessories industry. The honor, along with awards for the more than 20 category winners, is presented at a gala event each January during Dallas Market Center's Total Home & Gift Market. The ARTS Awards is the premier awards program for the home decorative accessories industry. This year's gala will take place on Saturday, Jan. 19, 2008, in The Grand Pavilion at the Trade Mart.

The Academy of Achievement honoree is selected by the ARTS Awards committee each year.

"Arlette Baker has spent 20 years as a talented accessory buyer for Carl's Furniture, contributing to the store's success as a premier design destination in South Florida," said Cindy Morris, COO, Dallas Market Center. "We present this honor to Arlette for her outstanding career as a buying professional and champion for her community."

Baker was born in Antwerp, Belgium. She escaped Nazi Europe and was orphaned at age 8. A year later she arrived in the United States and over the years she married, raised three children and played a vital role in her community.

She has volunteered and supported many organizations including the Boys and Girls Club, American Heart Association, Jewish National Fund, Humane Society, American Cancer Society and the Junior League of Boca Raton. She was recognized as the "Woman Volunteer of the Year" in 2005 by the Junior League of Boca Raton. She has also been instrumental in raising funds for the Boca Raton Community Hospital.

During Baker's 20 years as an accessory buyer for Carl's Furniture she increased the dollar volume in the accessory division by 6% and has been recognized as an industry leader. She was recently nominated for WithIt's (Women in the Home Industries Today) 2007 WOW Legacy Award, and is a seven time ARTS Awards nominee and five time winner. Baker is also an inductee in the furniture industry's Hall of Fame and was nominated for Retailer of the Year by the Furniture Sales Representatives Association.

The 19th Annual ARTS Awards are co-sponsored by Home Accents Today and Gifts & Decorative Accessories, as well as several other trade publications.

For tickets to the ARTS Awards gala contact Sara MacDonald at 214-655-7635 or smacdonald@dmcmail.com. Ticket prices are $125 for ART members and $150 for non-members. Tables of eight are available for $900.

Arlette Baker