• EXECUTIVES
Leisters Furniture
HANOVER , Pa. —Barbara Kennedy has been promoted to vice president of Leisters Furniture, a manufacturer of solid- wood occasional furniture based here.
Kennedy has been with the company for more than 12 years as sales manager.
In her vice presidential position, she will oversee operations, direct company growth and continue to work in sales and marketing.
• AWARDS/HONORS
Stanley Furniture
HIGH POINT —Doug Payne of Stanley Furniture has been named the American Furniture Manufacturers Assn. Finance Division's Forecaster of the Year.
Payne, Stanley's senior vice president of finance and administration, made a series of predictions about the economy and the industry at the Finance Division's Economic Outlook Conference in December 2000. At this year's conference, he was honored for making the most accurate forecast.
Natuzzi
SANTERAMO , Italy —Pasquale Natuzzi, founder, chairman and president of upholstery maker Natuzzi, has been awarded an honorary degree in educational sciences by the University of Bari.
Giovanni Girone, the university's rector, said the degree was conferred because of his commitment to training, technology, work processes and market knowledge.
Lea Inds.
GREENSBORO , N.C. —Roland Worley has been named sales representative of the year at youth bedroom manufacturer Lea Inds., the fifth time he has received the award.
He has been a Lea rep since 1978 and covers Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania and Washington.
• MANAGERS
Lectra Hardware
PARIS —Jean-Marc Vigneron has been named products director at industry technology supplier Lectra Hardware.
He will be responsible for research, development and production. Vigneron previously was with Phillips Group and Lucent Technologies.
Peerless Coatings
CULLMAN , Ala. —Dexter Adams has been named finishing specialist at industry supplier Peerless Coatings.
He has more than 20 years of furniture industry experience in the United States, Latin America and the Far East.
• APPOINTMENT
State of N.C.
RALEIGH, N.C. —Sumio Shibata has been named North Carolina's foreign trade representative for Japan, based in that country.
He has served as Japan External Trade Organization senior trade advisor to the N.C. Department of Commerce since 1999. Prior to that, he worked for Tokyo-based Nissho Iwai Corp., where he oversaw the company's offices and worked as a liaison for subsidiaries in North, Central and South America.
In his new post, Shibata will assist North Carolina companies interested in exporting to Japan, and Japanese companies seeking to work with North Carolina.
Contact us
Retailers, manufacturers, suppliers and trade associations are invited to send releases and photos for appointments, promotions and awards to: People/Today, P.O. Box 2754, High Point, N.C. 27261. If you have questions about People/Today, call Fran Marshall at (336) 605-1044 or e-mail her atfmarshall@cahners.com.
