Kastner retires at Douglas
Larry Thomas -- Furniture Today, July 26, 2004
Redondo Beach, Calif. — Wanda Kastner, director of fabric and covers for Douglas Furniture, retired at the end of June after a home furnishings career that spanned more than 30 years.
Kastner, who has been with Douglas since 1992, said she retired to spend more time with her family.
"Wanda has made a tremendous contribution to Douglas over the years and has been especially invaluable over the past few months during our management transition," said CEO Robert MacDonald. "We will miss her and wish her all the best."
She joined Douglas as national account manager for the upholstery division, working with Levitz Furniture. She later managed fabric selection for the entire Douglas line, which includes stationary, motion and leather upholstery as well as casual dining seating.
From 1980 to 1992, she held sales posts with fabric producer Malden Mills. She began her home furnishings career in 1972 as a sales representative for components supplier H.W. Hull, where she was one of the first women to sell components to the industry.
Long active in charitable causes, Kastner helped establish the Home Furnishings Chapter of the City of Hope in the late 1970s and served two terms as the group's president. She was a founding board member of With It, or Women in the Home Industries Today, and has been an advocate of mentoring and support for young women entering the furniture business.
