FMG elects officers, members and directors

By Furniture Today Staff -- Furniture Today, May 24, 2010

HIGH POINT —

Furniture Marketing Group members elected new officers and board members here at the buying group's biannual membership meeting here.

Larry Klaben of Morris Furniture, Fairborn, Ohio, is president. Other officers are Oscar Miskelly, Miskelly Furniture, Jackson, Miss., vice president; David Gunn, Knight Furniture, Sherman, Texas, treasurer: and Tom Olinde, Olinde's Furniture, Baton Rouge, La., chairman.

New directors are Billy Rippner, Compass Furniture, Elmwood, La.; Vinnie Fonti, Furniture & Appliance Mart, Stevens Point, Wis.; and David Koehler, Johnny Janosik, Laurel, Del. Also on the board is Gary Steinhafel, Steinhafel's, Waukesha, Wis.

At the meeting, held during the High Point Market, FMG reported that it had “smashed all previous records, in returning volume rebate money to the membership for purchases made in 2009,” but did not disclose the amount of the rebates.

Also during the meeting, attended by more than 130 FMG members, outgoing President Tom Olinde was given thanks and recognition for his service.

FMG's consumer finance provider, Wells Fargo Finance, presented annual awards for participation and sales finance volume to Crest Furniture, Dayton, N.J.; Bob Mills Furniture, Oklahoma City; Conlin's Furniture, Billings, Mont.; Marlo Furniture, Forestville, Md., and Olinde's Furniture, Baton Rouge, La.

The FMG networking and buying group has 88 members in North America with nearly 750 stores doing more than $2 billion in annual retail sales.