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CDWA Elects New Board

The Chicagoland Drapery Workroom Association (CDWA) elected new members to its board in April. The new officers are:

Kathy Ellingson, president; Jon Cervantes, first vice president; Steve Bicouvaris, second vice president; Tim Plauck, corresponding secretary; Janinne Simard, recording secretary; Robert Zank, treasurer; and Barbara Vincent, Many Ann Luessi and Bob Sherlag, directors.

The CDWA is an assembly of workrooms, fabricators and suppliers to the drapery industry. Its purpose is to provide a forum encouraging the exchange of knowledge among its members, to promote the professional growth of the industry and to encourage unified standards of quality.

Gilliatt Joins Decorating Franchise

Acclaimed interior designer and author Mary Gilliatt has become the newest member of the management team at Decor & You, Inc., Southbury, CT.

A native of England, Gilliatt began her career as the home design and architecture columnist for the Times of London and home editor and senior feature writer for the Sunday Telegraph. She has been a regular contributor to several British and Australian magazines while starting her own decorating firm. In 1965 she was commissioned to write her first book, English Style, which was simultaneously published in England, France and the United States. She since has written some 30 other books including a companion guide to her 13-part public television series, which first aired in 1992.

Gilliatt will serve as curriculum director for the company's Decor Designer Franchise Training Program as well as a speaker, conference coordinator and instructor for design classes and seminars.

Comfortex Names Dooley Finance Director

Comfortex Window Fashions, Maplewood, NY, announces the appointment of Michael Dooley to the newly created position of director of finance. Dooley will be responsible for the company's financial reporting, and be instrumental in measuring the performance of the company's widening product lines and expanding channels of distribution.

Dooley is a certified public accountant. He received a Masters degree from the University at Hartford, CT, and comes to Comfortex from Husky Injection Molding Systems, Inc. where he served as controller.

ADO Adds Uporsky to Sales

ADO, Spartanburg, SC, has appointed Mike Uporsky as the agent for a sales territory that includes parts of southern California, Arizona and Las Vegas, NV. Uporsky has worked with and sold both soft and hard window coverings in the past and brings years of sales and customer service experience to his new position.

Self Western Regional Sales Manager at Elero

Dennis Self has joined Elero USA, Dallas, TX, as regional sales manager for its western territory. Based in the Los Angeles, CA, area, Self will support clients in California, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, Oregon, Idaho and Washington.

Self has years of hands-on experience in the window coverings industry and comes to Elero after four years at Mark Window Products where he served as district sales manager. Prior to that he was account executive for Newport Window Fashions.

Brewster Welcomes Hackett

Brewster Wallcovering Co., Randolph, MA, welcomes sales representative Dana Hackett, the newest member of its southern sales team. Hackett will service retail customers in Tennessee. She brings 13 years of experience in sales to her new post with the past three years as a sales representative for a major wallpaper distributor.

Boot Heads Waverly Marketing

Waverly, New York, NY, has announced the appointment of Marie-Antoinette Boot to the position of director of marketing.

In her new position, Boot is responsible for planning and executing the Waverly marketing programs targeted to retail. Previously she was director of marketing for L'Amy, Inc. and has held the position of marketing manager for Christofle Silver, Inc.

 

Lary Joins Skandia

Dan Lary, formerly with Conti Window Fashions, Houston, TX, has joined the sales team at Skandia Window Fashions, Tallahassee, FL.

Lary will serve as district manager for northern Texas and Oklahoma. He brings more than 23 years of service in the window coverings industry, both in retail and wholesale.

Yates Named Regional Sales Manager

Source Window Coverings, Inc., Woodinville, WA, has named Gerry Yates to the newly created position of regional sales manager. Yates will be responsible for sales and market development in eastern Washington, Idaho and Montana. He has formerly represented Hunter Douglas, Blind Design and, most recently, FashionTech.

Verosol Appoints Hodges

Verosol Window Fashions, Pittsburgh, PA, has appointed Shannon Hodges to the position of western region sales manager. Hodges will be responsible for all sales and account development in the western half of both the United States and Canada. His focus will be on servicing existing customers as well as targeting key growth areas for expanding the distribution of new and existing products. He brings more than 23 years of experience in the window coverings industry to his new post. Prior to joining Verosol, Hodges held the position of executive vice president for Windo-Shade Distributors, Houston, TX.

Najdek Hired at Sidney Davis

Sidney Davis Fabrics, San Francisco, CA, has hired Adam Najdek as sales consultant for its greater Northwest territory. Najdek will service independent window coverings dealers in Oregon, Washington and western Idaho. In addition to designer fabrics, he will offer the design community the company's new line of alternate treatments including blinds, shades and specialty window coverings.

Najdek brings more than 20 years of service to his new position. He has sales experience both in the residential and commercial fabric industries while he was employed with Fabricut and, most recently, with Sierra Textiles.

Houlès Announces Two Appointments

Houlès-U.S.A., Los Angeles, CA, has hired two new corporate executives, Lisa Japy and Christophe Roger.

Japy has been named corporate merchandising manager. For the last 13 years she has worked as visual merchandising director for a major home furnishings manufacturer in Paris, France. She will be responsible for the space plan and layout and design of new showrooms as well as updating existing showrooms.

Roger has been named marketing assistant manager. He will create and implement the sales effort for the new Nicodecor collection of trims, fabrics and design accessories to the retail market.

Seabrook Adds Three Sales Execs

Three new account executives have been added to the sales team at Seabrook Wallcoverings, Inc., Memphis, TN.

Julie Chesney of Houston, TX, has been hired as the new contract account executive for Houston and the surrounding area. She brings 10 years of sales experience and seven years of interior design service to her new post.

Following nine years of experience in sales and interior design, Emily McGiboney of Montevallo, AL, is Seabrook's new contract account executive for Alabama and the Florida Panhandle areas.

Louis Ruffino will serve the company's customers in southern Lousiana and southern Mississippi. He has several years sales experience in the wall coverings industry.


DWCdesigNET | DWC Magazine | Index to Articles | Back Issues | June '98