O’Connor Named 2016 Chairman of AHFA

November 17, 2015  by in Executive Changes, Industry   

He succeeds Kevin Sauder, president and CEO of Sauder Manufacturing, in the position. The change was announced during the AHFA Annual Meeting in San Antonio, Texas, last week.

Samson Marketing is the U.S. marketing arm of Samson Holding, parent company of Universal Furniture, Smartstuff by Universal, Craftmaster Upholstery, Legacy Classic Furniture and Legacy Classic Kids.  

Richard Magnussen, CEO of Magnussen Home Furnishings, was elected first vice chairman, and Bill Wittenburg, CEO of Klaussner Home Furnishings, was elected second vice chairman.

Sauder becomes immediate past-chairman of the board of directors for 2016. The new officers assume their posts on Jan. 1.

Executives newly elected to three-year terms on the board of directors include: David Beckmann, Emerald Home Furnishings; Roger Bland, Southern Motion; Dan Bradley, Chaddock; Andy Bray, Vanguard Furniture Co.; Gat Caperton, Gat Creek; Jeff Cook, A.R.T. Furniture; Kurt Darrow, La-Z-Boy Inc.; Ron Wanek, Ashley Furniture Inds.; and Al Wiygul, American Furniture Manufacturing. 

Based in High Point, AHFA represents more than 200 furniture manufacturers and distributors, along with about 150 suppliers to the furniture industry worldwide. The organization serves as the residential furniture industry’s advocate in Washington, D.C., on all legislative and regulatory matters and leads the development of voluntary environmental, product safety and construction standards for home furnishings. Membership is open to all manufacturers and distributors of home furnishings for the U.S. market.