Lazar promotes Buskirk, adds Venti
By Furniture Today Staff -- Furniture Today, May 21, 2007
Los Angeles — Mike Buskirk has been promoted to national sales manager at contemporary upholstery specialist Lazar Inds., and also will assume responsibility for merchandising as director of product development.
Darrin Royer, who had been vice president of merchandising, left the company to join a sales and management training organization.
Buskirk previously was sales manager for Lazar's Eastern region. Before that, he was vice president and general manager of Weiman/Preview.
"Mike is very talented and during his career has had extensive experience in heading up product development," said Dave Sowinski, president and CEO.
Debra Venti also has joined the Lazar design team as a consultant. Venti will assist Lazar in fabric selection, product merchandising and showroom presentation.
"I think Mike and Debra make a great team, with Debra bringing to Lazar a fashion presence as well as a female perspective, which is critical considering the demographics of our customer base," said Sowinski.
Venti has been in the industry for over 20 years in retail and manufacturing. She was previously with Broyhill and owns a store in Lenoir, N.C.
