Southerland adds Dan Baker, John Clark as sales VPs, promotes Chad Davis

David Perry -- Furniture Today, October 4, 2011

Dan Baker

John Clark

Chad Davis

NASHVILLE, Tenn. —Bedding independent Southerland has added two bedding veterans to its sales team.

Dan Baker has been named vice president of sales for the western division and John Clark has been named vice president of sales for the eastern division.

"We have added two key industry executives as vice presidents to manage our eastern and western sales teams, and promoted another veteran employee to facilitate our expansion into new markets," said Scott Miller, executive vice president of Southerland.

The western region includes all states west of the Mississippi River. Baker will manage the accounts and the sales representatives based out of Southerland's Oklahoma and Arizona factories. "Dan comes to Southerland with over 20 years of sales management experience having worked for major bedding companies Natura, International Bedding, Spring Air and Simmons," Miller said.

The eastern region includes all states east of the Mississippi. Clark will manage the accounts and the sales representatives based out of Southerland's Tennessee factory. "John brings over 30 years of sales management experience having worked for Boyd Specialty, King Koil, Spring Air and Sealy," Miller said.

Southerland also announced that Chad Davis has been promoted to the newly created position of business development manager.

"Chad's new role will assist our western and eastern sales teams in expanding Southerland's business into new territories, as well as assisting our current sales representatives in growing their territories," Miller said. "Chad will also be involved in strategic key accounts in the Midwest."

Miller said Southerland's new open coil and wrapped coil product assortments have generated "tremendous interest." He added, "With the expected launch our new specialty sleep lines and the highly anticipated Sharper Image line this fall, we need to position the company with seasoned executives to lead us into 2012 and beyond."