People Today
By Furniture Today Staff -- Furniture Today, September 15, 2008
Executives
JLA Home Fabrics
REIDSVILLE, N.C. — Martha Viall has been named director of design at JLA Home Fabrics here.
Viall succeeds Tayo Onadein, formerly vice president of design, who resigned earlier this month. Viall, formerly senior designer for the company, has served in design positions at Burlington House and Culp. She reports to George Kerr, president of JLA Home Fabrics.
Scott Jeffreys has joined the company as senior designer. He formerly was with Westlake Fabrics and earlier had been with Blumenthal and Richloom.
Aaron Rents
ATLANTA — Aaron Rents has appointed Steven Michaels to vice president, finance of the sales and lease ownership division. He was formerly vice president, franchise finance for the division.
Michaels joined Aaron Rents in 1995 and has held various internal audit positions.
“Steve has contributed significantly through the years to the growth of the Aaron's sales and lease ownership franchise operations,” said Robert C. Loudermilk Jr., president and CEO. “He will continue in his new position to take on more financial responsibilities within the company.”
MMPI
LOS ANGELES — Merchandise Mart Properties has appointed Mark Furlet to vice president and general manager of the L.A. Mart.
Furlet will oversee operations, marketing, leasing and building support for the L.A. Mart's showrooms. He replaces Michael Kessler, who recently resigned from the position to pursue other career interests.
Previously, Furlet was leasing director for The Chicago Market: Living and Giving at Chicago's Merchandise Mart.
“In his tenure, Mark Furlet has distinguished himself to our showrooms and his team with his hard work ethic, caring personal style and his desire to succeed. We look forward to more of his contributions on behalf of MMPI and the L.A. Mart,” said Joan Ulrich, senior vice president.
Marketing/Sales
Fortunoff
UNIONDALE, N.Y. — Veteran home furnishings retailer and supplier Mike Larkey has joined Fortunoff's here as a consultant.
Larkey will oversee furniture, rug, mattress, picture and mirror merchandising for the retailer. Larkey will report to Dave Vernon, divisional merchandise manager, and Charles Chinni, president.
Larkey and Chinni have known each other for 35 years, since they were at the former Bamberger's New Jersey.
“We are reevaluating the way that Fortunoff will go forward in the furniture business,” Chinni said. “I've built a very effective group of people to analyze the business and I'm really excited about the team.”
Larkey most recently was senior vice president of marketing at Linens 'n Things. Prior to that, he was president of SofaTrend, a division of Robinson & Robinson Furniture.
Earlier he was executive vice president of Jonathan Lewis International, an upholstered furniture manufacturer, and president of Ayers Chairmakers. He also held posts at retailers Bon Marche, B. Altman, May Co. and Federated Department Stores.
