Maricich Gets AHFA Distinguished Service Award

November 9, 2017  by Larry Thomas in Industry, Special Events   

The award, which was presented last week during AHFA’s annual meeting, is conferred annually to an industry executive selected for his or her contributions to the home furnishings industry, to the AHFA and to their local community. Maricich is the 51^st recipient of the honor.

Maricich served many years on AHFA’s board of directors during his 11-year tenure as president and CEO of Century Furniture, and was elected chairman of the AHFA Board in 2006.

Two years later, he was named CEO of the World Market Center in Las Vegas, but remained involved in the group as a supplier member.

He oversaw the trade complex’s expansion as the premier home furnishings market in the western United States, and was instrumental in envisioning and developing the strategy for the creation of International Market Centers in May 2011, when several major High Point showroom buildings were merged with the World Market Center.

IMC now encompasses over 11.7 million square feet of exhibition space.

In presenting the award, Ethan Allen Chairman, CEO and President Farooq Kathwari cited Maricich’s “inimitable ability to communicate his vision and ideas in a way that people around him believe in his strategy and want to be a part of the team that makes a difference.” This leadership has resulted in an established record of building companies into internationally respected brands, he said.

“A highly regarded leader, he is respected for making the good better and the best exceptional,” said Kathwari.

AHFA noted that, while Maricich is widely respected for his innovative leadership and exceptional business acumen, he also is dedicated to giving back to the industry and to the wider community.

In 2000, he was appointed by the Governor of North Carolina to be chairman of North Carolina Furniture Export Council, a position he held until 2004.

Maricich currently sits on the executive committee for the City of Hope’s Home Furnishings Group, and on the board of directors for Opportunity Village, a Las Vegas-based charity dedicated to serving the disabled.

He was honored in 2013 by the Tri-State Home Furnishings Association as their Man of the Year and was recently honored with the American Heritage Award by the Anti-Defamation League.