Executives
Tempur World
Lexington, Ky. —Ken Mitchell has been promoted to vice president of research and development at Tempur World, parent of visco-elastic mattress maker Tempur-Pedic. He was U.S. director of R&D, and joined Tempur World in 2001 as technical services manager for Tempur Production USA.
Mitchell previously worked as a chemist and manager at Fulflex, Foamex and Woodbridge Foam Fabricating.
Rowe Furniture
McLean, Va. —Andrea Banda has joined Rowe Furniture as director of merchandising, a new position. She reports to Corey Keifitz, vice president of merchandising.
She will be responsible for creative direction and design at the midpriced upholstery producer.
Banda has over 10 years of merchandising experience in upholstery and textiles. Most recently, she was director of furniture for Lillian August Designs, a Connecticut retailer, where she managed merchandising for upholstery, case goods and accessories.
Prior to that, she worked in merchandising for Furniture.com, Domain Home Fashions and Circle Furniture.
KoSa
Charlotte, N.C. — Polyester producer KoSa has named Gerold Linzbach president of its fibers business.
Linzbach, who reports to George Gregory, KoSa's chief executive officer, most recently was president of Celanese Acetate.
At KoSa, he is responsible for the polyester textile filament, nonwovens, fine-denier staple, tire cord and technical filament businesses.
He succeeds Thomas Fahnemann, who left the company earlier this year.
Managers
Naugahyde
Staughton, Wis. —Peggy Kalscheur has been named service manager at vinyl-coated fabric supplier Naugahyde.
She will be responsible for managing all aspects of the company's customer service and shipping departments.
Kalscheur previously worked as manager of customer service, shipping and production for Roto Zip Tool Corp.
She has more than 20 years experience in customer service, shipping and production scheduling in various manufacturing settings.
Sales
CFC International
Chicago Heights, Ill. Mark Mitravich has joined specialty coatings supplier CFC International as vice president of sales.
He will oversee the company's North American sales force and customer service department. He also will be responsible for growing CFC's business, focusing on key market segments, which include a variety of industrial and consumer products.
Mitravich reports to Greg Jehlik, CFC president and chief operating officer.
"We are very pleased to have Mark on board to help lead and drive sales growth within CFC," said Jehlik. "Mark has a proven track record of accomplishments, and brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to this position."
Mitravich has worked for The Pilcher Hamilton Corp., SGL Carbon Group and Hoechst Celanese.
FKQ Advertising
Clearwater, Fla. —Carrie McCannell and Leah Sung have been promoted at FKQ Advertising & Marketing, a full-service advertising, marketing and public relations firm whose clients include major Southeast retail chain Badcock Home Furniture & more.
McCannell has been named a senior account executive. Her responsibilities include daily operations and client management of several accounts, including Badcock. She also will manage two junior account executives.
Prior to joining FKQ in May 2000, McCannell worked at Prevent Blindness Florida and at WCTV-Channel 6 Tallahassee.
Sung has been named an assistant account executive. She joined the company as an intern in September 2001 and was promoted to account coordinator in February 2002.
Officers/Directors
IFTLC
Gardner, Mass. — Members of the International Furniture Transportation and Logistics Council, the trade group for furniture transportation and logistics professionals, recently elected officers and directors for 2004.
Officers elected to one-year terms were Leonard Smolinski, Simmons Co., chairman of the board of directors; Russell Matthews III, La-Z-Boy, president; Jeff Sears, Art Van Furniture, vice president; and Ray Bohman, Bohman Industrial Traffic Consultants, secretary-treasurer.
Elected to the board of directors for three-year terms were William Contaxis Sr., Purnell Furniture Services; Peter Ross, Restoration Hardware; Walter Scott, McArthur Express; Ron Choka, Roncho Logistics; and Bohman of Bohman Industrial Traffic Consultants and Sears of Art Van.
Continuing on the board are Smolinski of Simmons; Matthews of La-Z-Boy; William Hilash, Palliser Furniture; David Leach, Aspen Furniture; Fred Murrow, Murrow's Transfer; Michael Richard, Robb & Stucky; James Harwell, Harwell Distributing; and Richard Purnell, Purnell Furniture Services.
Contact Us
Retailers, manufacturers, suppliers and trade associations are invited to send releases and photographs for appointments, promotions and awards to: People/Today, P.O. Box 2754, High Point, N.C. 27261. Releases also can be faxed to (336) 605-1143. Please include a contact phone number. If you have questions about People/Today, call Fran Marshall at (336) 605-1044 or e-mail her at fmarshall@reedbusiness.com.
