Chattanooga, Tennessee, United States
Worked the past forty plus years in Senior Executive Roles including: National Sales Manager, Vice President Sales, Executive Vice President Sales and Marketing, President, Managing Director, CEO and led successful Private Consulting Practices. Experience working in both Privately Held and Publicly Traded Companies. Primary experience has been in the Hospitality Market, manufacturing and selling high end carpets and rugs, specifically Axminster, Wilton, Injection Dyed and Handtufted. Heavily involved in Product Development and responsible for introducing several innovative manufacturing techniques that became market leaders and drivers of sales growth. Expanded the traditional definition of the Hospitality Market as Carpet for Hotels, Restaurants, Theaters, Cruise Ships and Casinos to include: Convention Centers, Senior Living and the College/University market, with emphasis on Athletic Departments. Have hired, trained and mentored high performing Industry leading Sales Teams. Full Managerial responsibility for: Design, Planning/Estimating, Sampling, Administration, Marketing, Sales and Finance. Have traveled extensively as a member of Senior Management Teams in: USA, China, Thailand, Egypt and Turkey.
Established Branded PCT, LLC as a Resource for high end carpet and textile manufacturers to introduce value added products and services based on their current Axminster, Wilton, Velvet, Tapestry, and Tufting Technologies as well as Hand tufting and Hand woven capabilities. Also working with peripheral providers of backing systems including stabilized tile backings, attached broadloom cushion and clicking/tile cutting. Expanding the manufacturers reach to include Installation and Maintenance providers as part of the process necessary to enhance the total customer experience. Working with all these manufacturing techniques to maximize their product offerings through the use of Pattern, Color and Texture, again increasing their value and importance to the customer. Finally, involving the Architectural and Design Community; Furniture, Fixture and Equipment Purchasing Companies and End Users with a goal of tying the loop together through the Education process.
Joined this Manufacturer of Woven Vinyl Flooring, Wallcovering, Wool Handtufted and Machine Tufted products to establish a Hospitality Division. Worked extensively in product development for indoor and outdoor Woven Vinyl applications. Initiated a High End Wool Guestrooms program. Hired and Trained Hospitality specific Sales Agencies located in key Hospitality Market Cities across the USA.
Los Angeles based manufacturer of: Draperies, Roman and Roller Shades, Decorative Bedding Products, Wall Upholstery and Outdoor Products including: Cabanas, Outdoor Draperies, Cushions and Pillows. Serving the Hospitality Market: Three, Four and Five Star Hotels, Resorts, Gaming, Senior Living, Restaurants and Country Clubs. Providing Detailed Specifications, Technical Support, Manufacturing and Installation throughout the US and Canada. The Company was active primarily on the West Coast. My role was to conduct a study of viability for 5-Star to expand their business activities to include the entire US market. I identified the first key markets for the Company to expand and then participated in the hiring and training of Sales Agencies to represent those markets for the Company.
Joined the OW Hospitality Division and traveled to Cairo to establish working relationships between the US Group and the Egyptian based Operation including: Design, Product Development, Administration, Yarn Manufacturing, Dyeing, Weaving, and Finishing. Worked with both the Weaving and Dye Injected (Printing) Factories. Developed key Product Innovations that were incorporated into the US Market product offerings. Trained the Domestic Salesforce, Conducted regular tours of the GA based manufacturing facilities for visiting trainees and customers. Started the Company's Educational program including authoring, certifying and teaching the initial CEU Course to the Architectural/Design Community, FF&E Purchasing Companies and End Users around the US Market. Developed the Company's Axminster Carpet Tile program with third party backing and cutting operations. Traveled with the Salesforce to present to key prospects and customers.
Completed a thorough consulting exercise that entailed building the model for Nourison to establish a dedicated Hospitality Division. Accepted the position to join the Company as Managing Director of the Hospitality Division. Had full Managerial Responsibility for this Calhoun, GA based Division, reporting to the World Headquarters in Saddle Brook, NJ. Hired and trained key personnel and established the Hospitality Design Studio, Technical Services Department including Planning/Estimating and Sample production as well as the Administrative/Customer Service Team and Salesforce. Coordinated Finance, Shipping and Receiving through the Corporate Office in NJ and established Manufacturing protocols with four Company Factories in Mainland China. The team went on to establish the Hospitality Division as one of the leading providers of Axminster, Dye Injected Technology and Handtufted Carpets and Rugs to the US Market.