Gene Hodges joins Somerton
Will be VP of national accounts
By Furniture Today Staff -- Furniture Today, February 15, 2007
CORONA, Calif. — Industry veteran Gene Hodges has joined case goods importer and manufacturer Somerton Home Furnishings as vice president of national accounts, a new position.
Hodges most recently was president of Master Design for two years, until his retirement last March. Earlier, he was president and CEO of furniture sourcing company Asia Link and was CEO of Master Design from 1999 to 2002. Between 1993 and 1999, he worked in various roles at Magnussen Presidential, including executive vice president of sales.
He will join Somerton March 1, and will work with multi-store national and regional accounts and develop new business and private-label product within that realm.
He will work alongside Steve Schifrin, vice president of U.S. and international sales, who joined Somerton in September after a 20-year career at Schnadig.
“This is a very good opportunity for me to work in this industry and the marketplace again,” Hodges said, saying he looks forward to renewing the strong relationships he has had with many of the nation’s top retailers. “I will be able to work not only for Somerton, but also help many of the major retailers understand what is taking place in the industry and give them guidance and information I have learned.”
He said he also looks forward to working with them in product development in partnership with the marketing company’s Chinese manufacturing arm, Kingstone Furniture.
Hodges and Schifrin report to Ted Weitz, senior vice president. Weitz, a former executive vice president at Fairmont Designs and former president of Universal Furniture’s occasional division, joined Somerton last July.
He and newly named general manager Rita Ho report to company owner Tony Ho, who is based in the Dongguan, China, area. Rita Ho previously handled marketing and administrative tasks for the company.
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Somerton taps Hodges
Mar 4, 2007
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