IHFRA to honor Craven
By Tanya K. Merritte -- Furniture Today, February 22, 2010
HIGH POINT —
Mark Craven, former president and longtime member of the International Home Furnishings Representatives Assn., will receive the group's Harold P. Braun Distinguished Service Award at the 16th annual Furniture Industry Awards Gala during the High Point Market in April.
The award, founded in 1975, is IHFRA's highest honor and is given to a sales rep who has distinguished himself on behalf of IHFRA, other reps and the industry and who has enhanced the image of sales representatives in the community, the association said in a news release.
Craven began his career in 1985 working for his father, R.A. “Tex” Craven, covering Tennessee, Kentucky, Arkansas and southwest Virginia for Fairfield Chair Co. Mark later switched to the territory of Maryland, Virginia and Washington D.C. for Fairfield Chair.
He joined Hooker Furniture in 1995 as a representative in the Maryland, northern Virginia, southern Delaware and Washington territory and added Bradington-Young Furniture in 2003. Craven returned to Fairfield Chair as vice president of sales in 2005.
Craven was president of the Maryland/DC IHFRA chapter from 2001 to 2003 and is a recipient of the chapter's Morris M. Chernoff Award. He also is a Dean of IHFRA and has completed the Certified Home Furnishings Representative course three times. He was president of IHFRA in 2005 and board chairman in 2006.
“I had many mentors throughout my sales career, but none more vital or influential than my father, Tex Craven, who represented Fairfield Chair for 51 years until his death in June 2007,” Mark Craven said. “He gave me my start, taught me everything I know about being a good salesman, coached me, mentored me and supported me in every facet of my career. Most importantly, he was a good person who loved his family, loved his work, loved his factories and loved his customers. All of which made it easy for me to follow in his footsteps.”
The gala will be held Monday, April 19, in the International Home Furnishings Center ballroom. For reservations, contact IHFRA at (336) 889-3920 or e-mail ihfra@ihfra.org. The event is co-sponsored by IFHRA and the National Home Furnishings Assn.
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IHFRA to give highest award to Mark Craven
Feb 17, 2010
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