NewsMakers
ROLLEASE RESTRUCTURES PRODUCT MANAGEMENT,
ENGINEERING DIVISIONS
RollEase, Inc., Stamford, CT, has announced a strategic restructuring
of its product management and engineering divisions providing for
increased effectiveness in conceiving, developing and introducing
new window covering operating systems to the industry. In this effort,
the marketing and engineering departments have been combined together
into a Product Management Group with individual project teams responsible
for handling assignments from concept through commercialization.
In conjunction with this restructuring, the company announced several
personnel changes. Terri McDonnell has been appointed to the new
position of Senior Director Product Management and Engineering.
She brings considerable expertise in the areas of product development
and positioning. Most of her business tenure has been dedicated
to identifying opportunities for the research and implementation
of new products with key customers and vendors.
Fred Ball, with more than six years window covering experience with
RollEase, has been named to the new position of Marketing, Creative
Services Manager reporting to McDonnell. His responsibilities will
focus on marketing, promotional and advertising activities within
the Product Management Group. His prior experience includes sales,
marketing, promotions and advertising for a variety of major consumer
product companies.
Maria-Teresa (Mayte) Jennings has joined RollEase as a Project Manager/Design
Engineer within the Product Management Group. Jennings has extensive
engineering experience in design, manufacturing and marketing support
for a variety of industries. Her role within the Product Management
Group will focus on streamlining and implementing new, advanced
manufacturing processes as well as product conceptualization and
design.
COMFORTEX PROMOTES PUTNAM, GILPIN
Comfortex Corp., Maplewood, NY, has promoted Allan Putnam to a newly
created position of Program and Technology Manager. He will be responsible
for the development and maintenance of all Comfortex Composer Retail
Fabrication programs, the BlindCrafter programs, private label programs,
sales force administration and automation.
Putnam joined the company in 1991 and has held significant sales
and management positions within Comfortex, most recently Southern
Regional Sales Manager.
Comfortex also has promoted John “Bart” Gilpin to regional
sales manager of the southern United States. He joined the company
in 1999 and has 32 years of experience in the window fashions industry.
Prior to joining Comfortex, he held positions with Customcraft Shutter
Mfg.; Gary Danis, Inc.; and Kirsch.
During his tenure with Comfortex, Gilpin was awarded the 2001 Territory
Manager of the Year Award. Criteria for the award include work ethic,
communication, customer and peer interactions and overall conduct.
BTX PROMOTES KRAMER
BTX Window Automation, Inc., Dallas, TX, announces the promotion of
Rich Kramer to Operations Manager. Kramer has been with BTX since
1994 and has held various positions in operations, sales and management
with the company. In his new position he will direct all the production
and shipping activities of BTX Window Automation, Inc.
WINDOW FASHIONS, INC. ADDS KLUGH
Window Fashions, Inc., Cheswick, PA, welcomes Peg Klugh to its Customer
Service Department. Her 15 years of customer service experience
has been an asset to her department and the Window Fashions’
team.
PIPES NAMED GM FOR NEW ROBB & STUCKY
SHOWROOM
Jeff Pipes has been appointed general manager of the Robb &
Stucky home furnishings and interior design showroom in Boca Raton,
FL. He comes from the company’s Plano showroom.
Prior to joining Robb & Stucky, Pipes worked for Macy’s,
New York, NY, as a furniture buyer and assistant store manager.
He also has held top management and interior design positions at
many respected home furnishing companies.
The grand opening for the company’s 80,000-square-foot Boca
Raton showroom was held in March. It signified the company’s
debut on Florida’s east coast. The facility hosts a full-service
interior design studio with more than 20 professional designers
specializing in residential interiors and model merchandising (see
D&WC, January 1998).
KALEIDOSCOPE PROMOTES TWO ON FIRST SHIFT
Kaleidoscope Industries, Howell, MI, recently announced the promotion
of Deanna Toddy to the position of first shift general floor supervisor.
She will be responsible for productivity, personnel allocation,
work scheduling and prioritizing.
Also, Betty Gravel has been promoted to the position of first shift
general work leader. Her responsibilities include personnel assignments,
employee concerns, workflow acceleration and employee training.
Gravel brings an extensive background of 25 years with Kelsey Hayes
to her new post.
DURALEE® EXPANDS SALES EFFORTS
Duralee Fabrics, Ltd., New York, NY, has hired Tom Paonessa for the
newly created position of Southwest sales manager. He will supervise
the company’s sales efforts in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and
New Mexico.
Paonessa brings a wealth of experience in the home furnishings industry
to his new post. He has represented both fabric and furniture companies
for 16 years.
The company also has added two new sales representatives to cover
the Northern California and greater Miami, FL, areas.
Jennifer Orazio will handle the California assignment. She has a bachelor
of arts degree in textiles and previously was an independent interior
designer. She also has worked for two California interior design firms.
Eddy Rodriquez will concentrate on the Miami market. He joins the
company having been sales manager of the export department at Barrow
Industries, Norwood, MA. He later started his own business representing
a number of textile clients in southern Florida.
BONINI NAMED PRESIDENT OF FSC WALLCOVERINGS
Daniel J. Bonini has been named president and general manager of the
FSC Home Interiors Group. He will oversee the Gramercy, Village and
Waverly wallpaper brands as well as Waverly Place, the company’s
marketing and merchandising program.
Bonini previously worked for ICI Paints North American, Cleveland,
OH, where he was senior vice president of marketing. Prior to that
position he had already worked for F. Schumacher & Co. as vice
president of marketing for Waverly and also for FSC Home Interiors
Group.
IIDA ELECTS NEW BOARD, OFFICERS FOR 2003-04
TERM
The New York Chapter of the International Interior Design Association
(IIDA) announced the election of nine new members to its board of
directors and re-elected seven directors. It also has appointed
officers.
Dina Frank, president, Mancini Duffy, was elected president of the
organization for a one-year term. Gerard (Guy) Geier, principal,
NBBJ, was elected vice president/president elect. Other officers
are: Dennis Cahill, vice president, communications; Joan Blumenfeild,
vice president, membership; and Neville Lewis, vice president, professional
development.
Others newly elected to the board are: Elisabeth Post-Marner, commercial
forum director; J.J. Falk, facilities forum director; Elizabeth
Cornish and Beverly Bennis, hospitality forum directors; David Wilklow,
health care forum director; Thomasin Foshay, associate member representative;
and Ayana Montgomery, student member representative.
Those continuing on the board are: Cahill, Carl Bethge, Blumenfeld,
Larry Berger, Thomas Mathewson, Rob Volzer and Peter Conant.
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