Schwaab Elected Chairman of Furniture First

April 26, 2017  by Larry Thomas in Executive Changes, Industry   

Schwaab, whose company has been a Furniture First member since 2009, joined the board of directors in 2015.

Other executive committee members are Chris Cooley of Michael Alan Furnishings in Lake Havasu City, Ariz., who will serve as vice chairman; Eric Sinclair of Montgomery’s Furniture in Madison, S.D., who was elected secretary; and Steve Kloss of Kloss Furniture in O’Fallon, Ill., who will continue as treasurer. Kloss was one of the founding members of Furniture First in 1994.

The new officers were elected at the group’s annual meeting earlier this week at the High Point Market.

In addition to the executive committee members, the group also elected Todd Lehman of Interiors Home in Lancaster, Pa., to serve on the board of directors. 

Other retailers serving on the board are Pat Callan of Callan Furniture in Waite Park, Minn.; Larry Mark of Furniture Warehouse Design Gallery in Beaufort, S.C.; Mike Kordik of Mike’s Furniture in Joliet, Il.; Randy Coconis of Coconis Furniture in South Zanesville, Ohio; and Ron Deets of Deets Homestore in Norfolk, Neb.

“We are fortunate to have such strong retailers serving on our board of directors,” said Andrew Kauffman, the recently named CEO of the group. “The pressures facing the independent furniture retailer are only getting bigger. Our board is a fiercely devoted group of successful retailers who are dedicated to continually forge a positive direction for all Furniture First members.”

At the annual meeting, Furniture First also honored outgoing board chairman Art Scholet of Scholet Furniture in Oneonta, N.Y. Scholet will continue to serve on the board in a non-executive role.  In addition, outgoing board member Beckey Waldrop of Miller Waldrop Furniture in Hobbs, N.M., was honored for her service to the group.