Oakwood's CEO takes over president's position
By Furniture Today Staff -- Furniture Today, October 6, 2003
Ontario, Calif. — Oakwood Interiors founder and Chief Executive Officer Nick Lanphier has taken over the company's vacant presidency.
Larry Parnell had been president and a partner in the company, but sold his stake to Lanphier when he retired earlier this year. Parnell also was president of the California Furniture Manufacturers Assn. until the end of 2002.
Lanphier got his first furniture job at 15, building church furniture after school and on weekends. At 18, he was working full-time building kitchen cabinets during the day and making bedroom furniture in the evenings.
He started a factory in Covina, Calif., at 21, producing bedroom furniture. A year later, in 1982, he founded Oakwood Interiors, and 10 months later brought in Parnell as a partner.
