Valdese Weavers Promotes 2

April 17, 2013  by in UnCategorized   

By Home Furnishings Business in on April 18, 2013

Fabric supplier Valdese Weavers has promoted two to expanded executive positions.

Blake Millinor has been named senior vice president and chief marketing officer, and Laura Levinson has been named senior vice president of design and merchandising.

Most recently, Millinor was president of the company's contract division. He joined Valdese Weavers in 2001.

"Blake's dynamic leadership has established Valdese Weavers, through the exceptional development of our VW Contract division, as a market leading supplier to all of the leading brands in the various segments of the contract industry," said Mike Shelton, president and CEO. "Blake's transition, to include under his direction the company's residential sales and marketing efforts, has been enhanced through the interaction he has experienced for the past five years working closely with Laura Levinson and Zack Taylor (former company VP/ Residential, and now president of Wesley Hall Inc.) to fashion the overall product, sales, and marketing strategies across all markets that have resulted in the substantial growth that Valdese Weavers has experienced. I have absolute confidence in Blake's ability to help lead our company to even greater heights, for many years to come."

Millinor began his textile career at Milliken, and held a variety of responsibilities in the contract units of Mastercraft and Tietex prior to joining Valdese Weavers. 

Levinson is responsible for all creative aspects of the business. She most recently was senior vice president of product development and design.

"Laura has for many years provided the creative impulse for the design and development of our products," Shelton said. "This has undeniably been the predicate for our growth and allowed for our significant gains in market share. Her vision and leadership has inspired the individual design and development directors and staff at each of our brands: Valdese Weavers, Circa 1801, Home Fabrics, Valdese International Products (VIP), and Valdese Weavers Contract. Beyond this responsibility, Laura has a unique skill set that has established her also as a great business leader inside our company and in our industry. Her broader role within our executive team will give us the benefit of her vision across a broader range of disciplines inside Valdese Weavers."

Levinson joined Valdese Weavers as a design associate in 1990. She received a masters of fine arts from the Rhode Island School of Design in 1995. She relocated to New York and established a design studio for Valdese Weavers to enable enhanced design integration with key customers' creative teams. Laura was named the first female vice president in Valdese Weavers' history, and relocated to North Carolina in 2001. 

Further announcements will be forthcoming from Millinor and Levinson concerning organizational changes to their departments in the wake of their promotions.