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People on the Move

By Furniture Today Staff -- Furniture Today, August 24, 2009

In this story:
Executives
Marketing/Sales
Contact us

Executives

Vertis Communications
Baltimore — Vertis Communications, a provider of targeted print advertising and direct marketing solutions, has appointed Carmen Allen senior vice president of human resources.
Leda Furniture
Toronto — Case goods specialist Leda Furniture has appointed Gregory James to the newly created position of director of business development, overseeing the company's office contract division.
James, a 20-plus year veteran in the contract industry, has worked in the hospitality and office furnishings markets and will help Leda in its pursuit of increased visibility in the contract furnishings marketplace.
He will work with Leda President Marco Confalone to expand the company's exposure in the contract market.
Easyhome
Mississauga, Ontario — Rent-to-own specialist Easyhome has appointed Steve Goertz to the position of senior vice president and chief financial officer, effective Aug. 16. He replaces Chris Fregren, who is leaving the company.
"We greatly appreciate the dedication, hard work and imagination that Chris brought to Easyhome and wish him the best of luck in his future endeavors," said David Ingram, president and CEO.
Goertz was formerly vice president of finance for Sobeys Ontario. He has worked in finance and accounting for 20 years at companies such as Deloitte & Touche, Natrel and Maple Leaf Foods.
Worldwide Logistics
Valdese, N.C. — Specialized furniture carrier Worldwide Logistics has named Kent Benson operations manager of its new service center in Orlando, Fla.
Benson was vice president and general manager of Orlando-based Southern Transport from 1996 until its recent closing. In his new post, he reports to Rowland Branham, vice president of the eastern region for Worldwide Logistics.
"Our model is to be a full-service provider to all points in the U.S. and Canada," Branham said. "The addition of a local service center in Florida will expand that model and enhance the services we are already providing in that market."

Marketing/Sales

The Mitchell Group
Niles, Ill. — John Kessler has joined faux leather specialist The Mitchell Group as national sales manager, a new position.
Kessler, who reports to company President Bill Fisch, will be responsible for managing sales representatives, developing business growth strategies and assisting in new product development. The Mitchell Group is a sister company to Big Kahuna Fabrics.
For the past four years, Kessler has been an industry consultant, advising clients on market strategy, product development and product sourcing.
Earlier, he spent 28 years with industry supplier Omnova Solutions in sales and market management, primarily in the resident, contract and marine upholstery markets.
Hooker Furniture
Martinsville, Va. — Hooker Furniture has hired Karyn Walker Johnson for the new position of visual communications coordinator for the case goods and upholstery source.
She will work with the merchandising and marketing staff for Hooker and its Envision, Opus Designs, Bradington-Young and Sam Moore divisions.
Walker, who had filled a similar role with Stanley Furniture for more than 10 years, will oversee product photography, design and production for catalogs and other marketing materials.
"Karyn's talent and experience will enable us to visually communicate our value equation to the consumer," said Bruce Cohenour, executive vice president-marketing at Hooker. "The retailer will soon be able to see a compelling difference in the way we communicate our product story through photography, catalogs, marketing materials and Web sites."

Contact us

Retailers, manufacturers, suppliers and trade associations are invited to send releases and photographs 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 or e-mailed toangela.heck@reedbusiness.com.

Please include a phone number.

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John Kessler joins faux leather source The Mitchell Group

Jul 9, 2009

Karyn Walker Johnson joins Hooker Furniture

Aug 4, 2009

People on the Move

Mar 8, 2010

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