NEWS MAKERS
FIT PRESENTS HOPKINS WITH OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Marv Hopkins, president and CEO of Hunter Douglas, Upper Saddle River, NJ, received New York’s Fashion Institute of Technology’s (FIT) Outstanding Achievement Award at the school’s annual Scholarship Awards Breakfast to support the college’s Home Products Development program. The event was held on, April 23 in New York City.
Hopkins was introduced by George Martin, a 14-year New York Giants veteran and one of the most distinguished men ever to play in the National Football League. Martin is a co-founder and chairman of the executive board of Minority Athletes Networking (MAN), the Paterson, NJ-based youth mentoring organization of which Hunter Douglas is a longtime supporter, as well as vice president of AXA Sports Financial Services in New York City.
In accepting the award, Hopkins saluted the FIT Class of 2007 and the scholarship award winners saying, “As new members of the home furnishings industry, you are at the nexus of creativity and commerce—a most stimulating place to be.” He also recognized “the many, many terrific people at Hunter Douglas and our extended family of fabricators, dealers and designers who have earned this award for me.”
Other industry leadership awards went to Peter Cameron, CEO of Waterford Wedgwood PLC, and Mitchell Gold and Bob Williams, co-founders and chairman and president of design, respectively, of Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams.
HAYDUK NAMED AVENO SALES MANAGER
Aveno Window Fashions, Inc., Atlanta, GA, has announced Bill Hayduk has joined the company as its national sales manager. He brings more than 21 years of window coverings sales and marketing experience to this position, most recently a management role with the Hunter Douglas National Accounts Group.
Hayduk will be responsible for Aveno’s sales and marketing programs to strengthen relationships with current customers and building business with new customers.
BTX PROMOTES FISHER TO MANAGER OF MANUFACTURING OPERATIONS
BTX Window Automation, Dallas, TX, has promoted Navarro Fisher to the position of manager of manufacturing operations.
Fisher, who joined BTX in the Technical Support/Customer Service department in 2002, has extensive experience in motorization and automation of a wide range of window coverings systems and controls. In his new role, Fisher will further expand on BTX’s drive for providing superior customer service, quality control and timely and accurate delivery of BTX products. The combination of his technical expertise and extensive experience in customer service and management makes Fisher ideally suited for this position.
WARREN STEVEN ADDS KERPAN, SPREMO
Warren Steven Window Fashions, Minneapolis, MN, has added two to its sales staff to service customers in the Midwest.
Diane Kerpan is the company’s new representative in Illinois. She comes to Warren Steven with 16 years of background experience in retail with the window coverings industry working as both a designer and, most recently, a shop-at-home dealer.
Dana Spremo will serve the company’s Wisconsin territory. She came to Warren Steven in 2006 with a 10-year background in commercial contract furniture and design.
PLATT NAMED WAVERLY PRESIDENT, MAFFEI TOOLAN REMAINS DESIGN VP
Following completion of its acquisition of Waverly in May, NexCen Brands, Inc., New York, NY, has announced the appointment of Richard L. Platt Jr. as president of the Waverly brand. It also announced that Pamela Maffei Toolan will remain vice president of design for the Waverly Lifestyle Group.
Platt comes to NexCen from Official Pillowtex, LLC, where he served as managing director and was responsible for brand direction and merchandising strategy for brands including Cannon, Fieldcrest, Royal Velvet, Charisma, Bugle Boy and Delia’s. He has also served as senior director of retail sales and marketing for the National Football League Properties, the NFL’s $3 billion consumer products division.
“NexCen Brands is committed to increasing brand presence and profitability for each of our consumer products brands through our marketing, operations, merchandising and licensing expertise,” commented Robert W. D’Loren, NexCen president and CEO. “We are confident that [Platt] will successfully manage the team of home products designers and licensing professionals at Waverly to grow and elevate the company’s leadership position in the home furnishings industry.”
Maffei Toolan has been responsible for creating best-selling collections of signature prints, wovens and finished products for many recognized brands. She has served as vice president of design for Waverly Lifestyle Group since 2000 and has consistently launched successful home collections with leading retailers including JC Penney, Target, Jo-Ann Fabrics and Hancock.
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