People Today
By Furniture Today Staff -- Furniture Today, February 5, 2007
Executives
Clear Thinking Group
Hillsborough, N.J. — Strategic consulting firm Clear Thinking Group, which has furniture industry clients, has named managing director James Bunn a partner. He reports to Stuart Kessler, president.
Bunn, who joined the firm in 2005 as a managing director and practice leader of its Process and Performance Management Practice Group, will continue to direct that group's operations.
He has over 25 years experience in consulting and manufacturing, and has provided services to a wide variety of retail and consumer product manufacturers in strategy, fulfillment, logistics, store operations, distribution/warehousing operations and systems implementation.
Clear Thinking Group provides a range of consulting services to retailers, consumer product manufacturers and distributors, and industrial companies.
Directors
La-Z-Boy
Monroe, Mich. — La-Z-Boy has named W. Alan McCollough, retired chairman and CEO of giant electronics retailer Circuit City Stores, to its board of directors. He fills a seat that had been vacant since October, when Don Mitchell stepped down.
Before joining Circuit City in 1987, McCollough spent 12 years at textile manufacturer Milliken & Co. and served in the Navy for three years. He also is a member of the board of apparel maker VF Corp.
"He brings with him not only longstanding distribution, logistics and global supply chain experience, but, most importantly, a wealth of expertise in retailing, which is paramount to our business as we expand our La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries network of stores," said La-Z-Boy Chairman James W. Johnston.
Buyers/Managers
Art Van Furniture
Warren, Mich. — Shauna Snyder has joined retailer Art Van Furniture as accessories buyer.
She is responsible for purchasing all accessories, including rugs, lighting, wall décor and containers. She reports to Tom DeCorte, vice president of merchandising.
Snyder began her furniture retail career in 1998 working as a design consultant for Rowe ShowPlace in Virginia. In 1999, she become the accessories buyer for Home Elements and most recently was the rug and accessories buyer for Storehouse Furniture.
Lane Home Furnishings
Tupelo, Miss. — Manufacturer Lane Home Furnishings has promoted Kim McGregor, Paula Melton and Emily Roberts.
McGregor has been named creative manager. She joined Lane in 2003 as a graphic designer. Her new duties will be to direct the layout and design of creative print materials, oversee the ad department and maintain the Lane brand identity on the corporate level.
Melton has been promoted to marketing communications manager. She joined Lane in 2003 as e-business manager and was instrumental in the premiere of the new Lane Web site. She has held various positions, most recently as advertising manager.
Melton is responsible for public relations; updating and maintaining the Web site; and e-mail communications to consumers, dealers and sales staff regarding promotions, product offerings and enhancements. She also is responsible for consumer research and for supervising photography and collateral materials.
Roberts has been promoted to graphic designer. She joined Lane in February as a member of the ad layout department. Her new duties will include designing creative material, including catalogs, brochures and other materials.
McGregor and Melton report to Morgan Files, director of advertising, while Roberts reports to McGregor.
Marketing/Sales
Art Van Furniture
Warren, Mich. — Art Van Furniture has promoted Sheila Weidner to store manager in Jackson, Mich.
She joined the Top 100 store chain in 1996 in guest services at the store in Battle Creek, Mich., and later held positions in the Westland and Ann Arbor, Mich., locations. Most recently, she was the sales manager in Jackson.
Chris Stone
Vernon, Calif. — Bruce Pachter has left fabric source Chris Stone after several years with the company, most recently as vice president of sales.
President Mark Aizawa said Pachter left to pursue other opportunities and that a search for a replacement is under way.
Awards
Decker Communications
High Point — High Point University President Nido Qubein has again been named to the Top Ten Communicators list by San Francisco-based training firm Decker Communications.
Qubein, the only repeat from last year's list, moved up in the ranks to No. 6 from No. 9.
"He continues to communicate his vision of the world in a way that positively impacts tens of thousands," Decker said. It added that at High Point University, Qubein "has single-handedly inspired his team to literally transform a university in the space of less than two years — $100 million raised, 10 new buildings, a tangible spirit of 'wow' on a campus that is doubling in applications, inquiries and results."
