Orie Fritts, Tradespan Internat'l CEO
By Furniture Today Staff -- Furniture Today, April 16, 2006
Columbus, Ind. — Orie C. Fritts, a longtime furniture importer and sourcing agent, has died after a brief illness while traveling in China. He was 65.
Fritts had more than 25 years of business experience in China and 40 years in the Pacific Rim. He most recently was president and CEO of Tradespan International, a furniture sourcing company he founded in the 1980s in Columbus. Today, the company specializes in the development and marketing of Chinese-made furniture and components for OEM manufacturers and distributors.
Before forming Tradespan, he was president and CEO of trading company Maxtex International, and also held management roles with Arvin Inds. and Emerson Electric.
A graduate of the University of Missouri and Antioch University, he was honored by Indiana University's Kelley School of Business in 2003 for hosting graduate students on educational trips to China and for sharing his insights during classroom discussions. He also was a member of the World Trade Club of Indiana and the District Export Council.
He is survived by his wife, Carol, five children, three grandchildren, two brothers and a sister.
Two of his sons are involved with Tradespan. Joe Fritts, vice president, will assume leadership of the company. Michael Fritts, vice president of Tradespan's lumber and veneer division, will remain stationed in the company's office in Changan, China.
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