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By Furniture Today Staff -- Furniture Today, March 23, 2009

In this story:
Executives
Directors
Marketing/Sales
Honors
Contact us

Executives

Weekends Only

WEBSTER GROVE, Mo. — Weekends Only Furniture Outlet, a St. Louis-area retailer with five locations that are only open on weekends, has hired Mike Favazza as its corporate controller.

He will oversee the company's day-to-day accounting activities, including the management of the accounts payable and payroll functions. Favazza is a CPA with more than six years experience at the accounting firm of MPP&W, P.C.

Universal Leather

HIGH POINT — Universal Leather, which imports hides, cut-and-sewn covers and finished furniture, has named Danny Neumann its information technology manager, a new position.

He will be responsible for the design and maintenance of the company's computer systems and Web site with a focus on automating systems, attracting new customers and maintaining Universal's network of personal computers.

Neumann previously spent four years as an application developer for Upward Technologies, a High-Point based provider of furniture manufacturing-related software.

Leggett & Platt

CARTHAGE, Mo. — Leggett & Platt has named John Walsh director of creative services. He will oversee the design, Internet, printing and exhibit work of the company's creative services division.

Walsh joins Leggett & Platt from the Sam's Club corporate office, where he was director of creative services. Previously, Walsh served as vice president and creative director at the Northlich Agency in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he worked with clients to develop strategies for new and existing products.

Directors

NHFA

HIGH POINT — Mike Spiller took office in January as president of National Home Furnishings Assn.

Spiller is a principal of Tuscaloosa, Ala.-based Spiller Furniture, a 60-year-old chain with 14 stores in Alabama and two in Mississippi. He's a second-generation operator in the family business and became president in 1982.

His son, Shane Spiller, joined the management team in 1995, and, Shane's six-year-old twin sons, Mac and Mike are already active in the business as stars of Spiller's advertising.

A 21-year member of the NHFA board of directors, Mike Spiller also is active in NHFA's affiliate, Southeastern Home Furnishings Assn., serving retailers in Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and the Panhandle of Florida.

The other NHFA officers for this year are Jeff Child, R.C. Willey, Salt Lake City, and Marc Schewel, Schewel's Furniture, Lynchburg, Va., senior vice presidents; and Dianne Ray, Garden City Furniture, Garden City, S.C., senior vice president and treasurer. Former President Doug Kays, Premiere Home Furnishings, Pacific Palisades, Calif., moved to chairman of the executive committee.

The High Point-based NHFA serves home furnishings retailers in all 50 states, Canada and abroad.

Marketing/Sales

Stylus

BURNABY, British Columbia — Kimberly Sontowski has been named to the new post of contract sales manager for upholstery producer Stylus Made to Order Sofas.

She was formerly contract sales coordinator for the company's contract sales division. Her new responsibilities include managing the Canadian and U.S. contract sales forces and trade shows. She also will be part of the product development team.

“Our hospitality divisions have expanded dramatically over the past few years and this move will allow us to better serve our hospitality customers,” said Dennis Ripoli, vice president.

Ergomotion

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — Paul G. Smith has been hired as vice president of sales of the Western region for adjustable bed maker Ergomotion.

In addition to managing the company's business in western states, Smith will develop and implement customer sales training and will work with the marketing department. He will report to Ergomotion President Kelly Clenet.

Smith was most recently director of sales at adjustable bed maker Interflex. He previously worked with Orthomatic, Leggett and Platt's adjustable bed division and Maxwell Adjustable Beds.

“Paul brings to the Ergomotion sales team invaluable experience in working with key buyers. He knows our industry as well as anyone in the nation,” said Clenet.

Ergomotion also recently added Johnny Griggs as vice president of sales and Gui Peres as director of international sales and marketing.

Honors

IFDA

KING OF PRUSSIA, Pa. — Designer Chris Madden has been honored by the International Furnishings and Design Assn. for her efforts in Operation Cozy Comfort, which provided blankets for wounded soldiers in Iraq.

Dave Gilbert, IFDA's outgoing 2008 president, awarded her a presidential commendation. Hillary Clinton, recently named Secretary of State, also lauded Madden's efforts.

Madden, who has designed a number of home products, approached her blanket vendor, WestPoint Home, and was able to have 500 twin blankets sent to an Air Force hospital in Iraq.

Contact us

Retailers, manufacturers, suppliers and trade associations are invited to send releases and photographs for appointments, promotions and awards to: People/Today, P.O. Box 2754, High Point, N.C. 27261.

Releases also can be faxed to (336) 605-1143 or e-mailed to angela.heck@reedbusiness.com.

Please include a phone number.

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