Wampler will lead Progressive
By Powell Slaughter -- Furniture Today, April 19, 2004
SWANTON, Ohio — SWANTON, Ohio— Sauder Woodworking has chosen John Wampler to lead its Progressive Furniture case goods importing and manufacturing subsidiary.
He will join Progressive May 15 and assume top management responsibilities for the company from Chairman Pete Pilliod on July 1. Wampler's job title has not been determined.
Pilliod, who was instrumental in choosing Wampler as his successor, has decided not to extend his management contract with Sauder beyond a previously agreed date of July 1. Pilliod is exploring moves both within Progressive and outside the company.
Most recently, Wampler was president of Natale Furniture Inds. for six months, leaving earlier this year. Previously, he spent over 20 years at Pulaski Furniture, progressing from sales representative to president and CEO before leaving the company last year.
"We couldn't imagine finding a more qualified person to follow in Pete's footsteps," said Kevin Sauder, president and CEO of Sauder. "John has a great deal of experience and talent in managing companies that combine savvy import operations with highly efficient domestic facilities."
Wampler will work closely with Pilliod during the transition, and Pilliod has offered his ongoing counsel afterward.
"I'm very excited about joining Progressive because I've marveled at the growth of this company since its purchase by Pete Pilliod and his entire team in 1989," Wampler said.
"Now, with Sauder's financial backing, plus their engineering and marketing expertise, I see even greater growth ahead. Progressive is a very well-run machine that doesn't need fixing. I hope to simply guide its continued growth and maximize opportunities for shared resources and expertise between Progressive and Sauder," he said.
In addition to his management career, Wampler sat on the advisory boards of the International Home Furnishings Center in High Point and the World Market Center in Las Vegas, has served on the American Furniture Manufacturers Assn. board and has chaired the AFMA's political action committee.
Sauder, North America's largest manufacturer of ready-to-assemble furniture, acquired Pilliod in July 2001. Pilliod manufactures wood furniture in Claremont, N.C., and imports from the Far East and Mexico.
