People Today
By Furniture Today Staff -- Furniture Today, March 13, 2006
Executives
American of Martinsville
Martinsville, Va. — Contract furniture manufacturer American of Martinsville, a subsidiary of La-Z-Boy, has promoted Jim Parks and Charles Myrick to vice presidents.
Parks holds the newly created position of vice president, global sourcing. He previously was vice president of operations and has worked for the La-Z-Boy case goods group for more than 32 years.
Myrick, vice president of manufacturing, was previously the upholstery plant manager. He has worked in furniture manufacturing for more than 34 years.
Noel Chitwood is president of American of Martinsville.
Feizy Rugs
Dallas — Steve Sorrow has joined Feizy Rugs in the new post of vice president of design and product development.
He will manage Feizy's in-house design studio and work closely with the company's overseas designers. Sorrow also will collaborate with sales staff and clients in the development of exclusive products, and will be the main liaison with company licensors in design and trend research.
He reports to President and CEO John Feizy.
Sorrow previously was vice president of design and product development for Oriental Weavers of America.
He earlier worked with Beaulieu Home Fashions/Springs Inds. in a similar capacity.
Marketing/Sales
Bella Rose by Chateau
Oklahoma City — Lauren Schatzel has joined Bella Rose by Chateau as sales and marketing coordinator, a new post for the top-of-the-bed resource.
She will head branding efforts, promote new collections and coordinate the company's presence in showrooms across the country.
President Sharon Turner said that "recent growth has enabled us to expand our staff and make the commitment to a position focusing specifically on promoting the Bella Rose brand."
The Bella Rose line, which debuted in 2004 with six ensembles, now includes 21 bedding collections and additional decorative pillow collections.
RHR International
Atlanta — Karen Wade, who has been an independent consultant to the industry, has joined the Atlanta office of RHR International, an executive and organizational development company based in Wood Dale, Ill. She will work as a consultant.
Before joining RHR, Wade advised retailers on how to design customer experiences aligned with the needs and expectations of women consumers.
She also served as regional vice president/Southern California for WithIt, or Women in the Home Industries Today, receiving its Ambassador award for launching the group's membership initiative in the Western states at the inaugural Las Vegas market in July 2005.
Operations
Leather Italia
Leland, N.C. — Leather upholstery importer Leather Italia U.S.A. has added three positions in customer service, logistics and data entry to help cope with growth.
Pat Rosnick joins the customer service team. She previously worked as chief supervisor in the service department for CTSI in Dallas, Pa.
Marshall Evans, in logistics and shipping, has held various management posts. Prior to joining Leather Italia, he was kitchen manager for Bennigan's Restaurant in Wilmington, N.C.
Theresa Starcher has joined the data entry department. She was an account manager for North Georgia Brick in Georgia.
