International Bedding Corp. restructures management
By David Perry -- Furniture Today, October 10, 2005
Fort Lauderdale, Fla. — Fast-growing International Bedding Corp. has restructured management to position the company for further growth.
IBC has promoted 25-year bedding veteran Jim Bodino, formerly regional sales manager of IBC's Virginia factory, to the newly created position of national account manager.
Formerly with Spring Air and Sleepwell, Bodino has been with IBC for 15 years.
"Jim will work with several of IBC's key national accounts to provide them with the same first-class service that we provide to our local and regional accounts," said Scott Miller, national vice president of sales.
To fill Bodino's former position, IBC has hired industry veteran E.B. Walthall, who has worked for seven years at Simmons, most recently as territory manager for southern Virginia. Before that, Walthall worked for Symbol Mattress in various production management positions.
"He brings valuable experience in both sales and manufacturing to our Virginia facility," Miller said.
As part of its push to boost sales in the West, IBC has promoted 16-year bedding veteran Joe Fleckenstein to regional sales manager at the factory IBC opened last year in Reno, Nev.
Formerly the sales manager for California, Fleckenstein will be responsible for developing sales in Reno, northern California and the Pacific Northwest.
Prior to his 10 years with IBC, he worked for six years at Serta.
IBC also has promoted Chris Bohling to regional sales manager of its Phoenix factory. He succeeds Eric Johnson, who was promoted to national vice president of merchandising and marketing last year.
Bohling formerly was a territory manager for Tempur-Pedic and also a regional manager for bedding retailer Bedding Experts.
"Chris has taken over our largest and most successful facility and has continued to grow our presence throughout that region," Miller said. "Our Europa and MiraLux lines have become prominent brands in the Phoenix factory's distribution area. This is largely due to the dedication and commitment of both Eric Johnson and Chris Bohling."
IBC ranked 11th on Furniture/Today's latest ranking of the Top 15 U.S. bedding producers, with estimated 2004 sales of $97 million, excluding its Therapedic-branded business, a 42.6% gain over 2003.
Miller said IBC added its ninth and 10th factories last year to better serve its customers. IBC's limited-distribution brands include Europa, MiraLux, MiraRest, Sleep Improvement and Air Sprung.
The company is a licensed producer of Therapedic bedding in four of its factories, and also makes private-label bedding for a number of retailers.
