Executives
GMAC Commercial Finance
Southfield, Mich. — Kevin McGarry has been named executive vice president and Northeast regional manager for the New York office of the Commercial Services Division of GMAC Commercial Finance.
He previously was president and chief operating officer at GE Commercial Services. Prior to that, McGarry held senior management positions at Congress Financial, CIT Group and Heller Financial.
In his new post, he will be responsible for directing day-to-day management of the portfolio for the Northeast region.
Kittle's Home Furnishings
Indianapolis — Retailer Kittle's Home Furnishings has named Duane Wingert to the newly created position of chief financial officer.
He has over 18 years of financial management experience, most recently as CFO of Cigma, a supplier to drilling and pipeline companies, and CFO for the Indiana Republican State Party. Before that he was senior financial officer of Indianapolis-based Galyan's Trading Co., a national sports and recreation retailer.
Lane Home Furnishings
Verona, Miss. — Lane Home Furnishings has promoted Michael Herman to associate merchandise manager for its motion furniture and stationary upholstery categories.
He had been Lane's sales representative in Oklahoma for about four years.
Herman will assist Gentry Long, merchandise manager for the motion and stationary categories, with product development, the sales force, marketing and growing the categories.
Design
Raxon Fabrics
New York — Michael Koch has been named director of design for supplier Raxon Fabrics.
He left Wearbest Sil-Tex late last year to form his own design studio, Michael Koch Design. He will continue his studio activities for smaller, independent projects.
At Raxon, he will be responsible for the fabric supplier's creative direction, said Ivy Berman, sales and marketing manager.
Koch succeeds Lynn Haude, who is no longer with Raxon.
Awards
Crate & Barrel
New York — Gordon Segal, founder and chief executive officer of retailer Crate & Barrel, will receive this year's Design Patron Award from the Smithsonian Institution's Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum.
The award recognizes outstanding support and patronage within the design community. Museum Director Paul Thompson and the museum's trustees praised Segal's taste in design, Crate & Barrel's in-store architectural department, and the company's support of charitable and design-related causes.
Segal will be honored during the National Design Awards presentation Oct. 22 at the Cooper-Hewitt in New York.
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. Releases also can be faxed to (336) 605-1143. Please include a contact phone number. If you have questions about People Today, call Fran Marshall at (336) 605-1044 or e-mail her atfmarshall@reedbusiness.com.
