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Newsmakers

RUIZ NAMED TOP ADO SALES REP Richard Ruiz was named top sales agent for 1998 by ADO, Spartanburg, SC. He was honored at the company's sales meeting in January. Ruiz is the company's sales rep for the Chicago, IL, area. He is a 10-year ADO veteran who has continually built and developed the ADO trademark of 118-inch seamless goods in his region. COOPER HEADS NEW GULF COAST AMERICAN DIVISION Gulf Coast American Blind Corp., Naples, FL, has added Robin Cooper to head its newly organized Shutter Division. Cooper brings sales and marketing experience to her new post along with more than 15 years experience in business management primarily in production, quality control and customer service. Working in the fibers, fabrics and plastics industries, she has acted as a key person responsible for day-to-day management. Additionally, she has more than 10 years experience in manufacturing, process and product control, quality control, maintenance, production planning and inventory control. Since 1994 Cooper has been a Certified Quality Auditor and holds membership in the American Society of Quality. PAREKH NAMED TO JOHNSTON POST Johnston Industries, Columbus, GA, has announced that Dhan Parekh has been named director of new business development for the company's Finished Fabrics Division. In his new position Parekh will focus on expanding current business and developing new markets for the division's industrial, home furnishings and hospitality fabrics. An engineer and inventor, Parekh holds several patents related to coated fabric products and warp knit technology. PASSARELLI HEADS AM-SOURCE SALES, MARKETING Am-Source International, Wauconda, IL, has announced the appointment of Bill Passarelli as director of sales and marketing. Passarelli will be responsible for overseeing sales activities to Am-Source distributors and dealers as well as overseeing new product development and introduction. Passarelli has a 35-year history in sales and marketing management in building construction products and the electronics industry. BTX APPOINTS KEHLER BTX Window Automation, Dallas, TX, has appointed Rick Kehler as electronic controls engineer. In his new position, Kehler will be in charge of new electronic product development, testing and implementation as well as improving current electronic products. STEIN JOINS SOMFY MARKETING Cory Stein has recently joined Somfy Systems, Inc., Cranbury, NJ, as a graphic artist in the marketing department. He will be responsible for assisting with graphic support for marketing materials, electronic control documentation, displays and other support tools. BREWSTER WELCOMES JOHNSTON Brewster Wallcovering Co., Randolph, MA, welcomes Jeff Johnston as the newest member of its Southwest Central sales team. Johnston will service retail customers in Oklahoma and the Texas Panhandle. KIRK NAMED ASTRUP PRESIDENT The Astrup Co., Cleveland, OH, announces the election of Jeffrey W. Kirk as president. Kirk has been the company's corporate secretary and will continue to serve in that position as well. Kirk is a past board member and past chairman of the United States Industrial Fabrics Institute (USIFI), a current member of the board and of the executive committee of the Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI) and a current member of the board of the Awning Division of IFAI. SEABROOK ANNOUNCES SALES AWARD WINNERS Seabrook Wallcoverings, Inc., Memphis, TN, has named Susan Young the company's 1998 Account Executive of the Year. The award is based on sales performance in book plans, stock and contract as well as overall increased sales. The company's Mississippi Valley region won the Region of the Year award. Members of the group include Hunter Seabrook, Lulu Clark, Tim Green, Anna Paris, Gary Ritter, Robert Roll and Kathy Young. Teresa Roh received the Book Placement Award, while John Martin won the Contract Award and Steve Moses won the Stock Award. The awards were announced during Seabrook's 48th annual sales conference held at the Whispering Woods Hotel & Conference Center, Olive Branch, MS. HARKINS JOINS THIBAUT Jenny Harkins has joined Thibaut Wallcoverings, Newark, NJ, as southeast sales representative. In her new posting she will be responsible for serving retail accounts and expanding sales for the company's wall covering and fabric collections. She will cover the Atlanta, GA, area as well as Alabama and Greenville, SC. Harkins comes to Thibaut with 20 years of experience in the home fashions and design industry in both retailing and distribution. Most recently she was with Hunter Wallcoverings in North Carolina.