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WMC Assembles 10-Member Team for Gift + Home
July 19,
2010 by in UnCategorized 
By Home Furnishings Business in Executive Changes on July 20, 2010
The World Market Center Las Vegas has named a 10-person team to lead its new Gift + Home division.
The Market will be hosting its inaugural Gift + Home market concurrent with the Las Vegas Market Aug. 2-6.
Georgia Davis has been named vice president, Gift + Home. She is the former vice president of the Dallas Market Center where she was for 20 years. Davis has been working with the World Market Center as a new business development consulting position for the last three years. In her new position, Davis is responsible for the strategy, sales and growth of the Gift + Home division.
Randy Eller has been hired as a consultant for the division. Eller operates Eller Enterprises, a consultancy for the home accent, furniture and giftware industries. Eller's background includes a stint as president and part owner of CBK, and prior to that he was with Russ Berrie & Co. Eller will assist the World Market Center with its growth.
Ron Radin will be a consultant for the team. Radin is currently business development for lighting division at the World Market Center. He is also the owner and publisher of Homestyle Publications. Prior to this, Radin held sales/marketing positions with several lighting companies including Adjusta Post Lighting, North Shore Lighting and Casablanca Inds.
The market has named three people as director of business development for Gift + Home. Gerry Seibel, Boyd Tasker and Margaret Powers. Seibel and Tasker are responsible for leasing permanent gift and decorative accessory showrooms, and Powers is responsible for leading the sales team for the Gift + Home temporary space.
Seibel has been with the market center for three years as a director of design-focused events. Prior to World Market Center, Seibel was vice president and general manager and later vice president of show development for the L.A. Mart. Prior to those positions he served as vice president of Chicagos Merchandise Mart for 12 years.
Tasker's background is in media and publishing in the gift and accessory marketplace. He was an executive director of sales and marketing with Whereoware; group publisher with Hoyt Publishing; and associate publisher with Ziff-Davis Publishing.
Prior to her new position, Powers was director of leasing at MMPI for the L.A. Mart, 7W New York and The Chicago Market: Living and Giving. Powers also was director of marketing for Hub Group and director of merchandising for Enesco Group.
Sheri Makransky, Keith Davis and Lindsay Pearson have been named to the position of business development for Gift + Home. Makransky is responsible for leasing permanent gift, rug and decorative accessory showrooms. Davis and Pearson are responsible for sales for the market's temporary space.
Makransky has been with World Market Center for almost four years. Her background also includes directing leasing and marketing for Venture Development Group, a Nevada-based commercial developer, and 18 years in retail management for companies including Polo Ralph Lauren and Ann Taylor.
Davis has previously worked at MMPIs L.A. Mart prior to his arrival at World Market Center. From marketing to leasing, Davis has held positions in procuring exhibitors to the trade show complex.
Pearson was formerly director of sales for Beckmans Handcrafted Show at the Chicago Market Living and Giving before joining World Market Center. Pearson oversaw the development and execution of all sales and marketing initiatives.
Michelle Ovalle has been named brand manager for Gift +home. She was previously director of marketing, gift and home furnishings for the L.A. Mart. She is responsible for developing and executing marketing programs and events, and she leads a team of retail specialists focused on gift buyer acquisition.
It has always been our foremost goal for World Market Center to diversify our base of categories and evolve into a total home market. With the extensive breadth of experience and talent within our new gift team, we are excited to be well on our way, said Robert Maricich, president and CEO, World Market Center. This seasoned team was carefully assembled not just to develop new partnerships through their extensive relationships within this segment, but to successfully establish this division as a natural extension of the Las Vegas Market through their thought leadership and knowledgeable and varied perspectives.