NEWSMAKERS
ZABEL, FAWCETT PROMOTED
AT SPRINGS WINDOW FASHIONS
Ron Zabel has been named CEO of Springs Window Fashions, Middleton,
WI. He also joins the company’s board of directors. This move
will allow Zabel to spend more time on the strategic direction of
the company (see D&WC, October 2003, page 22). Scott Fawcett
has been named the new president and now is responsible for the
daily operations of the company acting, in essence, as its COO.
The promotions follow a decision by Springs Industries to separate
into two companies: Springs Global, the textile home furnishings
business, and Springs Window Fashions, the window coverings business.
Both continue to be owned by the Close family and Heartland Industries.
Springs Window Fashions is a leading manufacturer of blinds, shades
and drapery hardware marketed under the brand names of Bali®,
Graber® and Nanik® as well as many private label brands.
“Springs Window Fashions has had an outstanding performance
record over the past five years, and I am sure they will continue
to build on this record,” stated Crandall Bowles, chairman
of the board.
2006 ADDITIONS TO WCAA BOARD
OF DIRECTORS
The Window Coverings Association of America (WCAA) elected new directors
during its winter board meeting. The 2006 slate of new directors
includes: Bruce Knott, Springs Window Fashions; Ed Hopkins, Exciting
Windows by Verticals; and Jeanelle Dech, Adaptive Textiles.
The WCAA was founded in 1987 and is the nation’s leading organization
representing window coverings designers, decorators, retailers and
workrooms. Its goals are to make available educational and motivational
opportunities, to work for the betterment of the interior fashions
industry and to encourage a code of ethics for fair business practices.
ITA APPOINTS LEDESMA MARKETING DIRECTOR
Reinforcing its efforts to help customers market its growing array
of window fashion products, ITA, Inc., Saint Augustine, FL, has
named Henry Ledesma to the newly created position of Director of
Marketing.
Ledesma will be responsible for strengthening the company’s
flagship Meridian Home® brand, a diversified collection of innovative
products. He will also provide dedicated, expert support to fabricators
seeking to build their own brands based on ITA products.
ITA customers can look to Ledesma for expertise in private label
programs, direct mail campaigns and retail pull marketing strategies.
He also will offer assistance with sampling programs, promotional
literature, lead generation and referrals, Web strategies, advertising
and co-op programs.
Ledesma brings to the new position several years of experience as
a multifaceted, tech-savvy marketing executive operating in a globally
competitive environment. Before joining ITA he launched and directed
numerous e-commerce and other worldwide marketing initiatives for
contact lens maker Vistakon, a Johnson & Johnson company. Before
that, as a consultant for the state of Florida’s water management
districts, he introduced new information technology to streamline
operations.
MILLER JOINS WINDOW FASHIONS
INC. AS SALES REP
Jayne Miller joins Window Fashions, Inc., Cheswick, PA, as Sales
Representative for part of Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Well known
in the industry, Miller’s initial introduction to retail was
on the ground floor and as she moved through the ranks into management
she has come to understand the window coverings industry on every
level.
Miller has more than 20 years experience in hard window treatments
and related products and continues her education by attending seminars
and training sessions.
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