Carolina Mattress Guild hires two former IB sales execs

David Perry -- Furniture Today, January 3, 2012

J.R. Raab

Gerry Newman

THOMASVILLE, N.C. — Carolina Mattress Guild has added two bedding veterans to its sales team.

J.R. Raab has been named national accounts manager, a new position, and Gerry Newman has been named account manager. Both were formerly with International Bedding.

Raab was senior vice president of national accounts with IB and previously spent 18 years with Sealy, where he was senior key account manager. He will be responsible for business development for national accounts in the Northeast region.

Newman is a 25-year industry veteran who was recently senior account manager and Northeast vice president of sales at International Bedding. Before that he worked for Simmons as well as Macy's corporate buying division. He will lead the company's efforts to market its brand in the Northeast.

Both men report to Tom Rehwinkel, national sales manager.

"The expansion of our sales executive team further strengthens our ability to meet the needs of our customers and continue to expand our national growth plans," said Neal Grigg, president of Carolina Mattress Guild. "This is a tremendous opportunity for CMG. Both men have a great reputation and their overall expertise further positions us for the future."

Carolina Mattress Guild is a full-line bedding manufacturer with plants in Thomasville, N.C., and Orlando, Fla.