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Sobel Is IHFRA's Steltemeir Award Honoree
February 27,
2012 by in UnCategorized 
By Home Furnishings Business in Special Events on February 28, 2012
The International Home Furnishings Representatives Association will honor Marty Sobel of the Midwest Furniture Club with the Rudy Steltemeir Award.
The annual award, which recognizes exceeding the "call of duty" as an IHFRA member and sales representative, is named for Rudy Steltemeir, a Tennessee sales representative for 66 years who passed away in 1993 at the age of 92; and credited for helping many representatives' success. The "Rudy" award honors an IHFRA member who has demonstrated the qualities of outstanding service to fellow representatives as exemplified by Steltemeir.
Sobel has been an active member of IHFRA for more than four decades. He began his career as a representative in the apparel industry in 1963 and moved on to the furniture industry in 1965. He has served as president of the Midwest Chapter for three terms, and has held numerous other offices in his tenure. He was first member of Midwest Chapter to be awarded the Dean of IHFRA Award, and was twice awarded the Midwest Presidential Service Award. He has started a mentoring program for new sales representatives at each factory that he represented.
While serving as President of the Midwest Chapter, Marty started the Bill Krause Memorial golf outing, raising funds for the school for the hearing impaired in Illinois. His fellow representatives describe Marty as a caring family man who is the mortar of the Midwest Chapters foundation. Marty has been married to his wife, Marilyn, for 49 years and has three children.
Sobel will receive the award at the IHFRA Presidential Gala and Awards Dinner in High Point on Friday, April 20, at 6 p.m. in the IHFC Ballroom. For more information, contact the IHFRA Office at 336.889.3920 or e-mail here.