People
Staff -- Gifts & Decorative Accessories, 2/1/2001
Wade Ceramics Ltd., manufacturer of handcrafted porcelain, appointed Robin Barbaree director of retail sales for Wade Ceramics USA, headquartered in Acworth, GA. Barbaree was previously regional visual director for 13 Parisian department stores. His main focus at Wade will be developing new products for the U.S. market and increasing visibility of the Wade name through retail sales. Barbaree will also be in charge of key accounts.
Mike Stein joined the Geo. Z. Lefton Co., Chicago, as executive vice president of sales. He will oversee all sales-related functions. Previously, Stein served as director of marketing for Enesco Corp. David Boxer was named vice president of marketing and public relations for Lefton. Most recently, he was employed by Norwalk-The Furniture Idea.
Terra Cotta Corp., Oklahoma City, OK, hired Joe Keener as vice president of sales and marketing. His first priority will be to get the TerraCuddles line into retail outlets in all 50 states and Canada. Prior to joining Terra Cotta Corp., Keener was vice president of sales for Colorbok LLC. Terra Cotta Corp. markets a line of terra-cotta art decor and gift items. The company also named Joe Bohrer art director. Bohrer was formerly product director and designer for United Design.
The Boyds Collection Ltd., of Gettysburg, PA, announced two management promotions. Peter Frost was promoted from vice president of finance to chief financial officer. He will lead Boyds' finance operations, with expanded responsibilities in the areas of external reporting, treasury management, and investor relations. Before joining Boyds in 1999, Frost served as corporate controller for Enesco Corp. Daniel Mislak joined Boyds in 2000 as director of sales following a stint as director of business analysis and operations for Black & Decker. As Boyd's new vice president of sales, he will oversee telemarketing and coordinate the company's showroom management and trade show presence. The Boyds Collection is a designer and distributor of collectibles and specialty giftware products.
Album and gift product manufacturer C.R. Gibson of Nashville, TN, appointed Frances Salamon chief operating officer and executive vice president of Thomas Nelson Inc. Salamon will focus coordinating sales and product development. Salamon joins C.R. Gibson from Ingram Industries, where she was president of Spring Arbor Distributors.
Irene Schyberger joined The Royal China & Porcelain Company Inc., Moorestown, NJ, as vice president of sales, Specialty Stores division. Previously, Schyberger served as vice president of retail sales for Royal Scandinavia, and president of Hackman Tabletop. She will be developing special programs and product ranges targeted for the specialty store market. The Royal China & Porcelain Company is the U.S. corporate headquarters for the Royal Worcester and Spode brands of fine bone china, porcelain, and giftware.
Gloria Duchin Inc., East Providence, RI, manufacturer of metal Christmas ornaments and business accessories, appointed Wayne Ballard vice president of sales for special markets. He was previously vice president of sales and administration with Russ Berrie and Co., and most recently worked with Cyber Dialogue Inc.
Joe Patalano was appointed vice president of merchandising for Reliance Trading Corp. of America and Artistry Designs. He will be based in the Great Neck, NY, executive office. Patalano, who was most recently vice president of marketing for Caffco, will be responsible for development and implementation of floral lines.
Chris Collins joined Candle Corporation of America as senior vice president of sales. In his new position, Collins will re-engineer the company's market strategies to provide a more diversified approach to retailer service. Prior to joining Candle Corp., Collins served with Russ Berrie & Co., most recently as vice president of sales. Candle Corp., Chicago, manufactures several brands of candles, candle accessories, and home fragrance products.
Woodstock Percussion, Shokan, NY, hired Tony DiNatale as sales manager for the Woodstock Music Collection, the company's line of playable musical gifts. DiNatale brings over 20 years of experience in the gift industry to this newly created position, most recently as vice president of sales at KazooCo., the toy division of Brimms Inc. DiNatale will be responsible for growing and marketing the Woodstock Music Collection line.
Whereoware.com, a business-to-business Web site focusing on the gift and home industry, added three new employees to its team. Robbin Wilson Wells was named executive vice president of sales and marketing after ten years with the Dallas Market Center, most recently as the executive vice president of sales for the International Apparel Mart. James D. Senker joins Whereoware as the senior vice president of business development. Senker launched the award-winning meta-auction Web site AuctionOctopus.com, and served as that company's CEO. Tabitha Bowling, who comes to Whereoware from George Little Management's MIS department, was appointed director of marketplace implementation for the company. In addition to the new hires, John Frazer was promoted to national sales director for Whereoware, which is based in McLean, VA.
The Encore Group, a gift and collectibles designer and marketer based in suburban San Diego, appointed three industry sales veterans to newly created positions within the company. Ken Siemer, top right, named vice president of sales, was an executive managing director of sales at Russ Berrie since 1997. He will be headquartered at The Encore Group corporate offices in Poway, CA. Kevin Draws will be regional vice president of sales for the company's Eastern operations in Winston-Salem, NC. Geoff Cerese was named the new Midwest regional vice president. Cerese will be based in the company's corporate showroom in the Chicago Merchandise Mart. Cerese and Draws both join the company from Russ Berrie. In addition, the company promoted Saverio Barbiere to the newly created position of vice president of corporate relations.
Awards and Honors
Kurt S. Adler Inc., designer of holiday gifts, ornaments, and accessories since 1946, honored more than a dozen employees who have enjoyed long-term careers with the firm. At a recent dinner, chairman and founder Kurt S. Adler recognized Josephine Badalamenti, James Stremple, Madeline Salgo, Raj Taneja, Carmen Soto, Peter Saalman, Jerry Kantor, Charlie Wormley, Beverly Blye, Roger Gruen, Marcia Garcia, Peter Trovato, Mary Crawford, Louis Benjamin, Benedicto Rivera, and Michael Ross for their years of service.
Sales Appointments
Mud Pie Inc., Stone Mountain, GA, designer and marketer of color-coordinated home decor and gift collections, retained a new West Coast sales organization and expanded the territory for its Minneapolis-based sales representatives. Sales Producers will now cover the southern California and southern Nevada regions. Sales Producers has a permanent showroom in the L.A. Gift Mart, suite 451. Giftstreet Inc., with a permanent showroom at B-149 in the Minneapolis Gift Mart, will now cover retailers in Michigan, as well as the states of Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota, and South Dakota, which they currently represent.
Gift Street Inc., a gift industry sales agency, announced that it has expanded into Michigan, with five representatives serving manufacturers in that state. Gift Street has a sales force of 14 representative in Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Iowa.
Giftware manufacturer Bouquet Ents., of Kellogg, MN, hired Greatest Gifts to represent the company in Illinois.
