Valdese Names 3 Executives

May 20, 2015  by in Executive Changes, Industry   

 

Christy Almond has been named vice president of product development and marketing.

Almond reports to Laura Levinson, chief creative officer, and is responsible for refining the overall design strategy and product introductions for the company’s brands. Almond also provides design direction for new business opportunities as Valdese Weavers diversifies its jacquard portfolio.

In Almond’s marketing role, she works under the direction of Blake Millinor, chief sales and marketing officer, to analyze brand strategies for Valdese Weavers, VIP, Home Fabrics, Circa 1801 and Dicey Fabrics. Almond is involved with key account initiatives and Crypton Home marketing, in addition to managing Valdese Weavers’ communication department.

Most recently Almond was vice president of design and merchandising for Robert Allen in New York, where she was responsible for the creative direction and product and merchandising for three business segments.

Prior to her work with Robert Allen, Almond was director of design for Craftex Mills. In this position, she oversaw creative direction and collaborated with sales on key accounts.  

Longtime Valdese Weavers designer Jennifer Franklin joins the Dicey brand as design director. Franklin is responsible for styling new designs, trend and color direction, and merchandising the newest line to join the Valdese Weavers family.

Franklin has been a senior styling coordinator with Valdese Weavers since 2004, working on residential, imports and research and development. Prior to that, she spent five years as a senior designer and design director for Mastercraft Fabrics. She began her career in 1993 as a designer for Valdese Weavers.

Parks Neisler joined Valdese Weavers this year as vice president of sales for the Dicey Fabrics brand. He is involved in all areas of the brand with a special emphasis on sales and design development.

From 2013 to 2015, Neisler was president of Dicey Mills, and before that served as the company’s vice president of sales for 25 years. He began his career as a sales representative for Dicey in 1980.