People On The Move
Furniture Today Staff -- Furniture Today, May 4, 2011
Executives
American Leather
DALLAS - Upper-end leather upholstery producer American Leather has promoted Rico Berrios to the new post of vice president of sales.
Berrios has been with the company for more than 10 years, most recently as national sales manager. In his new 
Berrios
role, he will oversee all sales functions and help build the American Leather brand in the retail and consumer markets.
"During Rico's career with American Leather, he has doubled the sales volumes in his territory, and has been instrumental in broadening the scope of our sales program nationwide," said Bruce Birnbach, president. "Under his leadership, our company has continued to grow, even in the difficult economic market."
Advanced Sleep Concepts
ROME, Ga. - Advanced Sleep Concepts, a bedding producer based here, has named Jim Van Lear vice president of operations.
Senior strategic advisor Charlie Eitel of consulting firm Eitel & Armstrong said Van Lear "has over 30 years of experience in the bedding industry operating over 10 manufacturing plants in multiple locations. Jim spent over half his career with Simmons Bedding Co. in their plants in Phoenix, San Francisco and Dallas."
"I am very excited about the opportunity to work with Advanced Sleep Concepts," Van Lear said. "I believe there is a significant opportunity to continue to enhance the company's safety, quality, product value and service."
Advanced Sleep Concepts, which says it operates the largest vertically integrated bedding plant in the United States, is the holding company for the Spears Mattress and Mattress Barn brands.
Eitel & Armstrong will continue to serve as a strategic advisor to the company focusing on sales growth, product development and evaluating strategic opportunities to enhance profitability and expand the business, Eitel said.
Rochdale Spears
HO CHI MINH CITY, Vietnam - Upper end case goods manufacturer Rochdale Spears, a supplier to Century Furniture and others, has named industry veteran Charles Auten as vice president of sales and merchandising, a new position.
Auten most recently was chief operating officer at the Sherrill wood divisions of Sherrill Furniture, where he had worked since 2002. For more than 10 years prior, he held merchandising and product development roles in upholstery and case goods at Broyhill.
Rochdale Spears specializes in European and English antique reproduction furniture. It employs more than 1,900 workers in Vietnam.
In his new role, Auten reports to Geoffrey Hawkes, chairman.
Zenith Global Logistics
CONOVER, N.C. - Logistics provider Zenith Global Logistics has hired Michael Norman for the newly created post of general manager of home delivery.
He will be responsible for managing delivery team training, day-to-day operations and customer service. He previously was distribution and customer service manager for Conover-based Classic Moving & Storage.
Jack Hawn, Zenith's president and CEO, said the company's home delivery business has steadily expanded during the past year, and "needed a hands-on, results-driven manager to ensure our operations and delivery teams maintain our high service and quality standards."
Norman reports to Harry Varn, vice president of logistics, and David Alioto, executive vice president of home delivery services.
Marketing/Sales
Capel
ATLANTA - Capel Rugs has named Kim Walker as a sales associate at its Atlanta showroom, located in Merchandise Mart, Space 6F2.
Norris
Walker reports to Allen Robertson, Capel's vice president of sales. Among her duties at Capel's Atlanta showroom will be developing new marketing initiatives to increase designer attendance and sales.
She previously worked as showroom manager and salesperson for Utmost Interiors, handling sales, visual merchandising, purchasing and a range of marketing responsibilities.
"Interior designers are an increasingly important source of sales for Capel, and Kim's experience in the design world will help us guarantee we are meeting the needs of designers as customers," said Robertson.
Norwalk Furniture
NORWALK, Ohio - Carrie Norris has joined Norwalk Furniture as regional sales manager for the West Coast, a new position.
Norris brings 13 years of retail experience to the job, having owned and managed a Norwalk franchise store in Lake Oswego, Ore., one of the most successful Norwalk stores in the country.
The company said her main responsibility is to hire, manage and mentor Norwalk sales representatives in her territory.
She also will sit on Norwalk's Executive Team to bring a fresh retail perspective to the organization.
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