Tammy Covington

Tammy Covington is the president and chief executive officer (CEO) of the High Point Market Authority (HPMA), overseeing strategic business development, marketing, communications, and operations for High Point Market, the world’s largest home furnishings trade show.

Covington and her 12-person team manage onsite logistics for nearly 75,000 domestic and international visitors to High Point Market each spring and fall, and are additionally responsible for educational programming, wayfinding, large-scale entertainment events, and HPMA-sponsored hospitality. 

HPMA stakeholders include the State of North Carolina, Guilford County, and the City of High Point, along with approximately 2,000 vendors exhibiting the latest trends in home furnishings products within 11 million square feet of showroom space, spanning 13 blocks of the City’s downtown area. 

Covington assumed the top position in 2023 after serving as chief operating officer (COO) at HPMA, during which time she is credited with making strategic and functional improvements to transportation, security, entertainment, registration, and other guest services for the biannual event. Under her leadership as CEO, her operations team continues its focus to optimize the guest experience. 

Beginning her career with HPMA at its inception in 2001, Covington was in place when the 501(c)(6) corporation was established to support the furniture industry’s most significant trade event, which generates $6.7 billion in economic impact annually. In 2023, she played a key role securing $9 million in infrastructure investment from the North Carolina State Legislature. 

Personally committed to community involvement, she invests time outside of business hours serving on boards and advisory councils for several local organizations. 

From within the industry, Covington was named IHFRA’s Pillar of the Industry in 2024, was included in Furniture Today’s Women of Influence list in 2024, and received WithIt’s Future Leader Award in 2011. Locally, Covington was named to Triad Business Journal’s 2025 Power 50 List and the 2020 Outstanding Women in Business list and has received two awards from Business High Point, 2025 Distinguished Citizen of the Year and 2012 Business Woman of the Year.