Personnel News

Grand+Benedicts adds Wang to overseas team

Grand+Benedicts, a global retail fixture manufacturer based in Portland, Ore., recently expanded the company's team in China in response to steadily increasing demand.Vicky Wang, who has eight years of experience, joins G+B in China as a material sourcing manager. In addition, the company has enlarged its warehouse. “Increasing our capabilities abroad strengthens the way our U.S.-based and overseas production teams work together,” said President John Phillips.

Frank Mayer and Asssociates names Kerns account executive

Frank Mayer and Associates Inc. named Danny Kerns account executive. He was previously a sales associate. Frank Mayer and Associates is an in-store merchandising, interactive kiosk, and promotional marketing company based in Grafton, Wis.

Chute Gerdeman hires four

Columbus, Ohio-based strategic brand and design firm Chute Gerdeman has announced four new hires. Jamey Chinnock has joined the company as program director. In his new position, he will work to develop project management tools and resources, while managing key accounts for CG. Chinnock comes to CG from WD Partners, where he was architecture and design program director. Joining the Chute Gerdeman team as design development designers are Laura Krpata and Jaime Renard. Krpata and Renard will work closely with the environments designers to detail and document the design intent for CG projects. Krpata comes to CG from Banana Republic, where she was a merchandise presentation supervisor. Renard is a recent graduate of The Ohio State University with a degree in Interior Space Design. In addition, Natalee Brown joined Chute Gerdeman as graphic designer and integrated media strategist. In this dual role, she is responsible for creating a wide variety of marketing materials, ranging from direct mail and collateral to digital, social, and time-based media. Brown earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the Columbus College of Art and Design and has previously worked at Meyer Bennett Creative, MKSK Studios, and WD Partners.

Bowers elected to DSA's Self-Service Kiosk Council

Ronald L. Bowers of Grafton, Wis.-based Frank Mayer and Associates Inc. was elected by industry peers to serve as executive vice president of the Self-Service Kiosk Council for the Digital Screenmedia Association (DSA).
Bowers is responsible for developing the thought leadership for the association and integrating the uses of self-service digital technology for the retail, government, hospitality, and education sectors. The DSA is a non-profit association for digital signage, interactive kiosks, mobile, and self-service.

Hera Lighting adds West Coast sales representative

Norcross, Ga.-based Hera Lighting added Laura Martin as West Coast inside sales representative. She is experienced in account management and inside sales, and has a sales background in the medical field. Martin graduated from the University of Georgia.

Stratacache adds Young as senior VP of interactive, mobile experiences

Stratacache, based in Dayton, Ohio, added Russell Young in the newly-created role of senior vice president of interactive and mobile experiences. Young joins the company from SapientNitro and previously worked for Samsung.

Bob Croatt hired as TJ Hale president

Based in Menomonee Falls, Wis., TJ Hale appointed Bob Croatt to the position of president. Croatt joins the executive team and advisory board to continue TJ Hale's growth. Croatt has more than 25 years of experience in the retail fixture industry, most recently as president of Goebel Fixture Company.

Staff additions at EWI Worldwide

EWI Worldwide, based in Livonia, Mich., a global live communications company, hired Peter Hext to serve as executive vice president, omni-channel retail. Walter Miranda joins as executive vice president of new business development. Janis Healy has been promoted to vice president of retail strategy. These team members will provide strategic counsel and support new business growth among brands across all industries, including those in the consumer, lifestyle, and technology space. “The retail group is continuously looking for ways to deliver value to our client programs, whether it’s through a comprehensive retail strategy, design or flawless execution,” said Alan LaFreniere, president of retail at EWI Worldwide.

EB Display hires Sandler as account manager

EB Display, based in Massillon, Ohio, hired Eric Sandler as national account manager. He will handle design and sales for selected accounts throughout the Southeast. Sandler has more than 17 years of experience in creating, developing, and implementing a wide range of P-O-P displays and store fixtures for retailers including The Home Depot, Coca-Cola, and Exxon Mobil.

Architectural Systems hires Jacobs as account executive

Architectural Systems Inc., based in New York City, appointed Sam Jacobs as a new account executive. Jacobs said, "Bringing my industry experience and relationships to ASI and continuing to grow professionally and personally with an expanded product offering is very exciting."

FRCH Design adds two staff members

FRCH Design Worldwide, based in Cincinnati, added two staff members. Doug Frick has joined FRCH as a business development manager in the specialty retail design studio. He was most recently with Nordstrom, where he held a variety of positions in sales and management including department manager in Chicago. Frick earned a bachelor’s degree in public relations from Mount Mercy College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and a master’s degree in interior design from Harrington College of Design in Chicago. Emily Hamilton has joined the company as a marketing specialist. She is a graduate of Miami University, with a bachelor’s degree in social psychology. She comes to FRCH from Wolfe Domain, where she was director of digital media and marketing. Hamilton also has experience as a freelance web designer. She will assist with firm-wide marketing initiatives and maintain the FRCH website.

Prime Retail appoints Munoz director of operations

Prime Retail Services, based in Gainesville, Ga., appointed Frank Munoz as director of operations for Latin America. In addition, Munoz will serve as vice president for Prime Retail Services de Mexico based in Mexico City. Munoz brings more than 12 years of experience in the retail and wholesale markets of composite panels directly related to the construction and retail industries in Mexico. Prime President and CEO Donald Bloom said, “We are very excited about the addition of Mr. Munoz to the Prime team. His experience and knowledge of the retail environment in Latin America and Mexico are critical tools for directing the growth of Prime Retail Mexico.”

Stylmark adds King as design manager

Stylmark, based in Minneapolis, added Nadine King to its sales team as national design manager. She will also lead the effort to create Stylmark’s first continuing education program for architects and designers. King has over 20 years of interior architecture experience with an emphasis on designing and remodeling retail facilities. She has been responsible for all aspects of the design process: conceptual design, design development, construction documentation, signage, graphic and visual merchandising coordination, as well as incorporation of technology into public environments. King has worked for several major design firms and retailers including Walker Group/CNI, FRCH, and Luxottica. She comes to Stylmark from Macy’s where she has been a key member of the store design group for over 15 years, most recently as senior project designer. Stylmark President Kevin Hogan said, “Nadine has a comprehensive background and a strong understanding of the design principles needed to take on the challenges of today’s retailers. Her grasp of how brand continuity can impact and enhance a business will be a beneficial skill set to our customers. Nadine will make a great addition to the Stylmark sales organization."

Sumner selected as finalist for CFO award

Based in Seattle, Bryceon Sumner, Callison's chief financial officer, is a finalist for The Puget Sound Business Journal’s 2013 CFO of the Year Award. Sumner has been CFO of the global design and architecture firm for two years.

ALU appoints Cremese managing director

ALU Inc., based in Italy, has appointed Davide Cremese managing director. He will be based in New York and oversee ALU's expansion in North America. Cremese brings years of experience in the design industry. He worked for Snaidero USA in Los Angeles as director of business development, and also for Molteni & C.- Dada in New York as director of sales.

FRCH Design Worldwide adds three staff members

FRCH Design Worldwide, based in Cincinnati, added three staff members. Feras Afani joins as senior interior designer in the Department Store Studio, along with graphic designer Becca Vickery. Garrett Rice joins as senior graphic designer in the Specialty Retail Design Studio.

CDW Merchants names Winkelman business development manager

CDW Merchants, based in Lincolnwood, Ill., named Gregg Winkelman business development manager. Winkelman will be based in New York City.

Bishop Fixture + Millwork hires Ramirez

Bishop Fixture + Millwork, based in Balsam Lake, Wis., hired Andrew J. Ramirez as director of sustainability. Ramirez brings expertise in sustainable materials, specifically in wood products including hardwood lumber, panel products, Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), regional, and reclaimed material.

FLEETWOOD Hires Langer as VP of Sales

Leesport, Pa.-based custom fixture and furnishings provider FLEETWOOD Fixtures hired Gary Langer as vice president of sales. He will lead the sales and project management teams and will report to Don Doherty, president and CEO. Prior, Langer was president of Diversified Distribution Systems. He also served as vice president of eastern area sales for Moore Business Forms. “This enhancement to our management team reemphasizes Fleetwood's commitment to creating exceptional client experiences within every facet of our product and service offering. It will also allow us to continue enhancing our clients’ reach both in the U.S. and abroad,” said Doherty.

Modern Woodcrafts hires Schnitzel as VP of Business Development

Modern Woodcrafts, based in Plainville, Conn., appointed Michele M. Schnitzel as vice president of business development. She will be responsible for Modern’s clients across the industry sectors of retail, institutional, corporate, and hospitality, including business development and managing the estimating department. Prior to joining Modern Woodcrafts, Schnitzel spent 27 years in the retail industry in executive positions for Wolverine Worldwide, Cole Haan, Loehmann’s, Laura Ashley, and Godiva Chocolatier. She received awards from Chain Store Age, VMSD, and A.R.E. on the design and construction of Cole Haan and the Wolverine Company Store prototypes.

Inductees into the Retail Store Design Legion of Honor

January 14th, at the Retail Design Institute's 42nd annual International Store Design Awards Gala in New York, two industry professionals were inducted into the Retail Store Design Legion of Honor. Beven Bloemendaal, senior director for Global Creative Services, has been responsible for The Timberland Company's brand integrity in over 90 countries. The Global Creative Services Group he heads is comprised of four core disciplines; graphic design and copy, interactive design and development, environments group, and project management/account services. Bevan created Timberland's Brand Truths manual and implemented Global Creative Guidelines highlighting the design platform, photography style/art direction, color/finishes palette, and logo usage. Previous to The Timberland Company, Bevan had been director of visual merchandising and creative services for Kinney Corporation. His work has been recognized with numerous awards from industry organizations such as POPA/OMA, Chain Store Age Executive, VM+SD, and A.R.E. Inductee Marc Gobe, CEO and founder of Emotional Branding LLC, created the concept of "Emotional Branding" over 15 years ago as both a best-practice standard in building brands, as well as a summation of his branding philosophy. He began sharing his perspective and emotion-driven form of branding in 2001 with the publishing of his first book "Emotional Branding." It has since been translated into 17 languages and has been integrated into the MBA program of leading business schools worldwide. Among his best known work on a large scale was the interior styling of EXPRESS. His work has been recognized with numerous awards from industry organizations such as DDI, AIGA, RDI, and Chain Store Age Executive.

Adams Magnetic Products names Budnik general manager

Adams Magnetic Products, based in Elmhurst, Ill., appointed Larry Budnik as general manager of the flexible magnets and magnetic assemblies division. Budnik will oversee sales, production, marketing, and engineering. Prior to joining Adams, he managed operations, customer and product development, vendor relations, and corporate financial health for a variety of businesses including 1st Advantage Mortgage of Lombard, Ill.; Blackrockpm of London; and Kelly’s Construction Group, Inc. of Willow Springs, Ill. He also served as the owner and manager of 11 real estate developments and as a managing partner with Premier Land Group. Budnik graduated with honors with a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Illinois Benedictine College and earned his M.B.A. in finance.

Chute Gerdeman Continues to Grow

Columbus, Ohio-based Chute Gerdeman announced three promotions and three new team members. Rob Gallo joins the studio as vice president of business strategy and intelligence. Bonnie Kyle has been hired as construction manager. Maria Rosmarin joins as design development designer. Jay Highland assumes the new position of vice president, client creative partner. Formerly, Highland served as vice president brand and marketing. Matt Jeffries has been promoted to design director for Gerdeman's brand communications service offer. Steve Williams assumed the role of program manager.

Van Aiken retires from Nora Lighting

City of Commerce, Calif.-based Nora Lighting announced the December 2012 retirement of Lois Van Aiken. She was with Nora Lighting for 10 years, and her influence will be long felt.

Devlin joins DVUV

Cleveland-based DVUV, LLC, supplier of powder coatings, systems, and manufactured product solutions, named Patrick Devlin as sales representative. His territories will include the East Coast and the Southeastern U.S. Devlin previously worked for Acorn Manufacturing and founded Devlin Logistics. He will be responsible for identifying and qualifying new opportunities for powder coating on medium density fiberboard in the retail fixture, P-O-P, healthcare, office, and educational furniture markets. "Patrick's extensive knowledge and sales experience in the retail, store fixture, and P-O-P display markets will only help to further strengthen our market presence," stated DVUV President Michael Knoblauch.

Heikes joins Frank Mayer

Frank Mayer and Associates Inc., based in Grafton, Wis., appointed Pete Heikes as an account executive in its West Coast office. Heikes has more than six years of retail display marketing experience with a focus on consumer electronics and the home entertainment industry.

Zoerb retires from Frank Mayer

Frank Mayer and Associates Inc., based in Grafton, Wis., announced the retirement of David Zoerb, senior vice president of marketing effective Jan. 11, 2013. At FMA for 25 years, Zoerb started frequent shopper and loyalty programs for sales promotion and direct marketing campaigns to add value and marketing expertise to national clients.

Stoermer joins Advanced Cabinet Systems

Advanced Cabinet Systems, based in Marion, Ind., hired Dave Stoermer as director of retail sales. Stoermer has more than 10 years of experience in the retail store fixture industry and has managed numerous national accounts. At ACS, he will be responsible for developing new retail clients.

Leggett & Platt Store Fixtures Group fills two positions

Leggett & Platt Store Fixtures Group, based in Carthage, Mo., filled two positions. Russ Otten returns to the company as vice president of national accounts. He will be responsible for Leggett's national retail customers as well as developing new accounts. Otten previously served at Leggett as vice president of business development from 2002 to 2007. Matthew Purrington joins Leggett as project director. He brings nearly a decade of experience managing new projects, coordinating design, engineering, manufacturing, sales, marketing, and supply chain management teams. Purrington reports to Denise Waldo, senior vice president of sales and marketing.

Bergmeyer Associates promotes Matthew Hyatt

Bergmeyer Associates, based in Boston, promoted Matthew Hyatt, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, to principal. He directs design teams from research and idea generation through concept development and implementation.

Stylmark adds Mike Johnson to sales team

Stylmark Inc., based in Minneapolis, added Mike Johnson to its sales team. He will manage retailer relationships and work with fixture manufacturers throughout the Midwest and Southeast. Previously, Johnson worked at Stylmark as a technical customer service representative for more than ten years before pursuing a career in sales. Now he returns to Stylmark with six years of sales experience. “Mike is a results driven sales leader who will promote the Stylmark brand and our commitment to quality and service,” said Kevin Hogan, Stylmark’s president. “His extensive knowledge of retail fixturing combined with his design engineering background will benefit both our customers and internal sales team. We feel extremely fortunate to have Mike back on the Stylmark team."

Waltman AWI's 2012 Outstanding Supplier

Based in Grand Rapids, Mich., Stiles Machinery Vice President of Sales and Marketing Stephan Waltman is Architectural Woodwork Institute's (AWI) 2012 Outstanding Supplier recipient. The award was presented during AWI's 60th annual convention in October.

Visual Impulse powered by Moss hires Patterson

Based in Chicago, Visual Impulse powered by Moss hired Dan Patterson in the new position of executive vice president business development and chief marketing officer. Patterson was employed by George P. Johnson for ten years as senior vice president and general manager where he led two divisions including the company headquarters, and was responsible for the global delivery of conference, trade shows, exhibitions, and events. Prior, Patterson was president and general manager of Exhibitgroup/Giltspur Chicago. He holds a Master of Business Administration degree from Pepperdine University. Charles J. Corsentino, Moss chairman, president, and CEO said, “We are very pleased to have Dan join our organization. We are confident that his extensive leadership qualities and general management skills will have a significant positive impact on Moss’ business and will provide our customers with added value by enhancing our service and product offerings.”

Armstrong joins Universal Display UK

Universal Display & Design Inc., headquartered in New York with offices in London and China, added Lauren Armstrong to its office in England. Armstrong joins Universal Display UK with more than 15 years of retail experience in the VM industry, covering store planning, fixture design, and window development.

Tusco Display adds Ferrante as Chief Sales Officer

Tusco Display, based in Gnadenhutten, Ohio, added Tony Ferrante as its chief sales officer. His most recent position was senior vice president of sales and marketing for Garick, a distributor of sustainable natural resource products for consumer and professional lawn and garden markets. Ferrante has an Master of Business Administration from Case Western Reserve University and a Bachelor of Science in industrial and systems engineering from Ohio State University. “Tony brings a unique perspective to Tusco Display given his broad experience in the consumer goods, building materials and lawn & garden categories. We look forward to leveraging Tony’s category strength, retail channel experience, and his success in building high performing sales organizations,” says Tusco Display chairman Mike Lauber.

Prime Retail Services hires Nisbet in Canada

Prime Retail Services, based in Gainesville, Ga., appointed Grant Nisbet as director of Canada for Prime Retail Canada, based in Mississauga, Ontario. He brings 16 years of retail design and construction experience, which includes store design, new store builds, remodels, and project management for retail brands in the U.S. and Canada. Prime President and CEO Donald Bloom said, “We are very excited about the addition of Mr. Nisbet to the Prime team. His experience and knowledge of the retail environment in Canada are critical tools for directing the growth of Prime Retail Canada."

Phil Bowers moves into leadership at ACS

Advanced Cabinet Systems (ACS), based in Marion, Ind., announced that Phil Bowers will take leadership of the company as his father and founder Greg Bowers prepares for retirement, effective January 2013. Phil Bowers currently serves as vIce president of business development and has worked at the company since middle school and through his college years. Under Phil Bower's direction, ACS has more than doubled sales. Greg Bowers will stay on as an advisor. He said, "“I feel very confident with the team that is in place at both the construction company and manufacturing plant. We’ve got a young and aggressive leader, surrounded by a team of very smart people who have a concrete plan for growth.”

Gilliland joins Universal Display

Universal Display, headquartered in New York with offices in London and China, appointed Lisa Gilliland as director of sales USA. Gilliland has diverse retail experience.

FITCH adds Hemant Modi to team

FITCH, based in London, added global design consultant Hemant Modi, AIA, as director of architecture in its Phoenix office. Modi formerly served as senior associate and business leader at engineering, architectural and construction management firm SSOE for its Southwest retail team.

The Carlson Group hires Vander Mey

The Carlson Group, based in Lombard, Ill., hired Mike Vander Mey for its program development team. Vander Mey has 30 years of experience in design, material research, and advanced engineering. He is an expert in the technical development of in-store retail experiences and will facilitate the development of solutions which attract, immerse, and measure consumer behavior. Vander Mey's technical experience includes push/pull technology; interactive displays utilizing mechanical, touch, dual touch and multi-touch technologies; metric gathering and parsing, video and codec manipulation, custom lighting, voice modules, and custom wire harnesses.

Hera Lighting adds Shannon as Business Development Executive Manager

Norcross, Ga.-based Hera Lighting added Nathan Shannon in the new position of business development executive manager as part of the expansion of their headquarters. Shannon has more than seven years' experience in sales, marketing, and branding for both retailers and manufacturers, where his area of focus was in the home furnishing industry. Shannon attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's Kenan-Flagler Business School. Brad Stewart, director of sales said, "Combining Nathan's background in retail design, with his sales and business expertise, we know he is going to make a significant contribution to Hera and our customers."

DAVACO hires Sumrall as director of operations

Dallas-based DAVACO Inc., hired Karin Sumrall as director of operations. Sumrall will oversee the management and execution of high-volume programs for Davaco’s restaurant division. She brings more than18 years experience in project management, site planning, design, development, tenet coordination, and lease negotiation. Sumrall reports to Don Williams, vice president of operations.

Visual Impulse appoints Damian to board

Visual Impulse, based in Chicago, elected James Damian to its board of directors. He is the principal of James Damian Brand Integration Services and also serves as chairman of the board for Buffalo Wild Wings. Damian spent 12 years at Best Buy as its chief design officer. In 2010, he was inducted into the In-Store Marketing Institute’s Hall of Fame. In 2005, Damian received the Markopoulus award for contributions to the design industry. “His extensive experience will be invaluable as we continue to grow our retail business,” said Charles J. Corsentino, Visual Impulse’s CEO, chairman, and president.

Universal Display names Ahrens director of business USA

Universal Display, headquartered in New York with offices in London and China, appointed Nic Ahrens as director of business USA. Ahrens brings more than nine years’ experience in the retail industry with a focus on creative services within the fashion industry. His most recent position was director of retail and creative services for Winston where he worked with brands such as Tumi, Silver Jeans, HMX Group, and HTC.

Gensler hires Bornand as director of digital technology

Gensler, a retail design firm based in San Francisco, hired Andrew Bornand as director of digital technology in its San Francisco office. Bornand specializes in customized digital strategies and brings more than 20 years of experience in designing technology initiatives for clients including Fortune 100 companies and end-to-end solutions for smaller businesses. At Gensler, he will lead a digital technology strategy team that integrates design and technology. Bornand said, ““Retail is undergoing a transformation. Customers have embraced technology and shopping behaviors have evolved. Brands have new opportunities to use technology to create a connected store experience, build stronger customer relationships, enable seamless omni-channel commerce and realize operational efficiencies. Gensler has a long history of helping retail brands expand in new ways and understands the big picture issues retailers are facing. I’m excited to help expand these capabilities at such a pivotal time.”

Happel joins TRIAD as CFO

TRIAD Manufacturing based in St. Louis, Mo., hired Rick Happel as chief financial officer. Happel recently spent three months as an independent consultant for Triad, and will replace the previous CFO John Bartelt, who will move into a new role as Triad’s financial analyst. Other changes in the finance department include Michelle Kruschik moving from accounts payable to staff accountant, and George Johns moves from accounting manager to controller.

DAVACO promotes Hopkins to VP of corporate travel

Dallas-based DAVACO Inc., a provider of turnkey implementation solutions for global brands, promoted Lani Hopkins to vice president of corporate travel. She has more  than 20 years of experience in the travel industry.

Shull named senior project manager at Progressive AE

Grand Rapids, Mich.-based design firm Progressive AE hired David Shull, AIA, as senior project manager. He is a registered architect in Michigan and is a licensed member of the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards.

Prime Retail names Charles Jarvis construction manager

Gainesville, Ga.-based Prime Retail Services, promoted Charles Jarvis to construction manager. Jarvis joined Prime in 2011 with more than 30 years of construction experience managing all trades for commercial and residential projects.

Prime Retail promotes Heinze to business manager

Prime Retail Services, based in Gainesville, Ga., promoted Kristen Heinze to business manager. She has a diverse background and will manage critical areas within the company, said Prime CEO Donald Bloom.