Haimsohn 1st Chairman, Howard 1st President of NAHFA

March 31, 2013  by in UnCategorized   

By Home Furnishings Business in Furniture Retailing on April 1, 2013

Howard Haimsohn of Lawrance Contemporary in San Diego; and Rick Howard of Sklar Furnishings, Boca Raton, Fla., will serve as the first chairman and president, respectively, of the new North American Home Furnishings Association.

The official start date of the organization, formed by the merger of the National Home Furnishings, Western Home Furnishings and the Home Furnishings Independents Associations, is May 1.

€œWith so many savvy entrepreneurs on each board, the selection process was lengthy and daunting€ said Sharron Bradley, the NAHFA's CEO. €œWe are so grateful to these talented people who give so freely of their time and knowledge. It is an honor to work for and with such passionate and committed members of the industry.€

Haimsohn and Howard are part of the organization's Board of Directors, which was announced Friday.

€œTo have the opportunity to participate in the development of this organization; integrating today€™s needs, knowledge and technology into our template and foundation is significant, and I knew I wanted to play a major role,€ said Howard. 

Other board members include: President Elect, Marty Cramer, Cramer's Home Furnishings, Ellensburg, Wash.; Vice President Steve Kidder, Vermont Furniture Galleries, Williston, Vt.; Secretary/Treasurer; Paul Sanford, Jerome's Furniture, San Diego.

Executive Committee at Large members include Jeff Child, RC Willey, Salt Lake City; David Davis, Provencal Home, Austin, Texas; David Lively, The Lively Merchant, Columbus, Ohio; Melissa O'Rourke, Charlotte's, El Paso, Texas; Cherie Rose, The Rose Collection, Los Gatos, Calif.; Chris Sanders, Everton Mattress, Filer, Idaho; and Marc Schewel, Schewel's Furniture, Lynchburg, Va.

Directors include Mike Albert, Pilgrim Furniture City, Southington, Conn.; Wogan Badcock, W.S. Badcock Corp., Mulberry, Fla.; David Beckmann, Emerald Home Furnishings, Tacoma, Wash.; Doug Brashears, Brashear's Furniture, Berryville, Ark.; Jesus Capo, El Dorado Furniture, Opa Locka, Fla.; Randy Coconis, Coconis Furniture, South Zanesville, Ohio; Chris Cooley, Michael Alan, Lake Havasu City, Ariz.; Karen Craig, manufacturer's rep, Houston, Texas; Casey Evans, Pedigo Furniture, Livingston, Texas; Jim Fee, Stoney Creek Furniture, Stoney Creek, Ontario; David Harkness, Harkness Furniture, Tacoma, Wash.; Kerry Lebensburger, Ashley Furniture Inds.; Claudia LeClair, Fiesta Furnishings, Scottsdale, Ariz.; Bobby Leon, Chesnick Furniture, Victoria, Texas; Alex Macias, Del Sol Furniture, Phoenix, Ariz.; Verona Mair, The Emporium, Ponca City, Okla.; Mark Navarra, Jerome's Furniture, San Diego; Stan Pickett, Quality Furniture & Appliance, Mesquite, Texas; Sherry Sheely, Sheelys Furniture & Appliance, North Lima, Ohio; Tom Slater, Slater's Home Furnishings; Modesto, Calif.; Gordy Wallenstein, Furniture Outlet USA, Sioux Falls, S.D.; Valerie Watters, Valerie's Furniture & Accents, Cave Creek, Ariz.; Seth Weisblatt, Sam's Appliance & Furniture, Ft. Worth, Texas; and John Wells III, Wells Home Furnishings, Charleston, W.Va.

The North American Home Furnishings Association€™s membership will encompass more than 10,000 stores in all 50 states and several foreign countries. Providing a unified voice, the organization will allow those in the industry to work more cohesively as well as increase negotiating power and cost efficiency. Three offices will serve the organization with locations in the East, West and Central United States.
 
Plans include a new Web site, a publication launched last spring, enhanced regional interaction, fresh educational offerings, innovative best practices resources and data and exciting opportunities for impactful involvement in the new trade community.