People Today
By Furniture Today Staff -- Furniture Today, July 6, 2008
Executives
Furniture Marketing Group
HIGH POINT — Tom Olinde of Olindes Furniture in Baton Rouge, La., was elected president of networking and buying organization The Furniture Marketing Group during FMG's business meeting at the April High Point Market.
More than 125 people attended the meeting. FMG is made up of 79 large, non-competing furniture retailers in North America and the Bahamas.
In addition to Olinde, newly elected officers are Marc Schewel, Schewel Furniture, Lynchburg, Va., chairman of the board; Steve Stein, Grand Furniture, Virginia Beach, Va., first vice president; and David Gunn, Knight Furniture, Sherman, Texas, treasurer.
Elected as board members were Joel Huseby, Becker Furniture World, Becker, Minn.; Gary Steinhafel, Steinhafel's Furniture, Waukesha, Wis.; Larry Klaben, Morris Furniture, Fairborn, Ohio; and Mark Walker, Walker's Furniture, Spokane, Wash.
Along with FMG's alliance partner, the Furniture Smart division of Nationwide Marketing Group, the group represents $3 billion in retail furniture sales.
Directors
Mega Group
ORLANDO, Fla. — Jacques Maheu and Wayne Hambly were re-elected to Mega Group's board of directors for a three-year term at the buying group's annual general meeting here. Maheau is chairman of the board, and Hambly is vice chair.
Elected to the board for the first time was Philip Brewer, president of consumer electronics specialist Cox Electronics & Communications of Saint John, New Brunswick.
Maheu is the owner of Maheu Inc., a full-line independent furniture store in Embrun, Ontario. Hambly owns Hambly's Countrywide in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island.
Seven other shareholder members sit on the board, including: Konrad Kozan of Kozan's Countrywide in Regina, Saskatchewan; Ryan Ziegenhagel of Midwest Countrywide, Grande Prairie, Alberta; Richard Wall of Wall's Countrywide in Virgil, Ontario; Jim Coleman of Coleman's Countrywide in Corner Brook, Newfoundland; Dennis Loeppky of F.P. Furniture Plus in Steinbach, Manitoba; and Jeff Macdonald of Macdonald's Countrywide in Meaford, Ontario.
Marketing/Sales
Ekornes
SOMERSET, N.J. — Todd Swiler has joined Norwegian upholstery maker Ekornes as western regional sales manager.
He succeeds Charlie Waller, who is now managing business development for Ekornes in Mexico.
Swiler was vice president of retail stores and operations for Minneapolis-based Seasonal Concepts, a 16-unit outdoor furniture retailer. He also has served as Seasonal Concepts' director of store operations for Christmas on the Mall — a temporary retail Christmas operation with a national presence.
He began his career as a store manager for Seasonal Concepts in Tulsa.
In his new role, Swiler is responsible for managing Ekornes' western regional sales force.
“Todd's extensive retail experience will add depth to our management team and will help our sales team expand its reach in our western region,” said President Peter Bjerregaard. “His strong marketing and leadership skills will be a tremendous asset.”
Based in Minneapolis, Swiler reports to Bjerregaard.
Contact us
Retailers, manufacturers, suppliers and trade associations are invited to send releases and photographs for appointments, promotions and awards to: People/Today, P.O. Box 2754, High Point, N.C. 27261.
Releases also can be faxed to (336) 605-1143 or e-mailed to angela.heck@reedbusiness.com.
Please include a phone number.
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Swiler joins Ekornes
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