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From Home Furnishing Business
Home Furnishings Business Names Forty Under 40 Class of 2019
June 20,
2019 by Laurie Northington in Business Strategy, Industry 
Millennials may bear some of the blame for what ails the furniture industry, but Home Furnishings Business (HFB) has identified 40 Millennials on the road to success who are doing their part to keep the industry thriving for decades to come.
HFB hit the road in search of the best and brightest and found a select group of individuals who are making decisions that will affect the course of the industry well into the future. The prestigious list, selected by the Home Furnishings Business judges from nominations made by readers, is a diverse group that is turning purpose into performance. These talented professionals hail from all corners of the industry and are an inspiration to their colleagues and peers. They have set new benchmarks, exceeded goals and performed in ways that moved their brands and their customers forward.
“Once again our expectations were exceeded by the number of nominations we received. The selection process was challenging due to the outstanding quality of all of those nominated,” said Bob George, publisher and editor-in-chief of Home Furnishings Business. “This Forty Under 40 list represents the brightest young people in our industry who have stood out, taken risks, harnessed their knowledge and pushed their teams to new heights. We congratulate them on their accomplishments and are honored to spotlight their achievements.”
Profiles and photos of each honoree will be available in the July print and digital editions and on the magazine’s website, www.hfbusiness.com. The Class of 2019 will also be celebrated at a reception held during the High Point Market in October.
In the meantime, here are the names of the 2019 Class of Forty Under 40:
Dhyey Acharya
Company: Purple Innovations
Position: Principal, Industrial Design Engineer
Melissa Alonso
Company: El Dorado FurniturePosition: Public Relations Specialist
Jana Angel
Company: Uniters North America
Position: Brand Ambassador
Eric Beiter
Company: Beiter’s
Position: General Manager
Brad Bonham
Company: Walker Edison
Position: CEO
Cain Brodie
Company: International Market Center
Position: Director of Marketing, Home Furnishings
Madison Bruns
Company: Cozzia USA
Position: Director of Social Media
Jay Bush
Company: HSM
Position: Corporate Director of Project Management
Will Carpenter
Company: Ecommerce Sales Partners
Position: Senior Associate
Gabriel Cohen
Company: Classy Art
Position: CEO
Jonathan Cohen
Company: Classy Art
Position: CFO/COO
Rhett Crockett
Company: Sales Manager
Position: Yuma Furniture Company
Andrew Crone
Company: Chaddock
Position: CEO
Ashley DeMara
Company: Greenington Fine Bamboo
Position: Customer Service Representative
Jackie DeRegis
Company: Dunk and Bright Furniture
Position: Ecommerce Sales Manager
Jordan Haws
Company: Malouf
Position: Global Logistics Manager
Bobby Huber
Company: Oskar Huber Furniture & Design
Position: Sales Manager
Mark Kinsley
Company: Englander
Position: President
Jessica Lee
Company: FurnitureDealer.Net
Position: Content Strategist
Brian Lundstrom
Company: Spring Air International
Position: Director of National Accounts
Samantha Meridieth
Company: R & A Marketing
Position: VP, Branding & Business Development
Christina Naumann
Company: At Home Group
Position: Senior Director of Merchandising Operations
Christina O'Brien
Company: Home Meridian International
Position: National Accounts Marketing Coordinator
Jonathan Payton
Company: Walker Furniture
Position: General Store Manager
Shaun Pennington
Company: Diamond Mattress
Position: President
Gui Peres
Company: Ergomotion
Position: Director of Global Sales
Michael Petersen
Company: The Furniture Training Company
Position: Marketing Director
Benjamin Pou
Company: W.S. Badcock Corporation (Badcock & More Home Furnishings)
Position: Director of Supply Chain
Doddy Rafieha
Company: Abbyson
Position: Executive Vice President
Robert Rosenberg
Company: Planned Furniture Promotions
Position: President
Denise Salcido
Company: AICO
Position: Sales Support Manager
Eric Sears
Company: PERQ
Position: Account Executive, Home Furnishings
Carol Sham
Company: Coaster Company of America
Position: Director of Marketing
Ashley Shaw
Company: Manager, Client Services
Position: ecUtopia
Alexandria Thompson
Company: Micro D
Position: Digital Account Manager
Miquel Valle
Company: El Dorado Furniture
Position: General Sales Leader
Travis Wagner
Company: Ashley Furniture Industries
Positions: Senior Vice President of Global Manufacturing
Shannon Williams
Company: Home Furnishings Association
Position: Director of Membership & Programs
Jessica Wynn
Company: High Point Market Authority
Position: Director of Operations
Michael Yarbrough
Company: Lexington Home Brands
Position: Director of Digital Marketing
In addition to the latest winners, HFB is taking a look back at four individuals who previously made the Forty Under 40 list. This group has continued to impress their colleagues and have furthered the purpose of the Forty Under 40 mission which is evidenced through their continued service in the industry as well as their communities.
These five are:
Elana Stone Anderson
Company: BedMart Mattress Superstores
Position: Vice President of Marketing
Brian Cattin
Company: Gallatin Valley Furniture
Position: Managing Partner
Kyle Doran
Company: President/CEO
Position: R&A Marketing
Jonathan Kashanian
Company: FJ Kashnanian
Title: Vice President
Jay Lorenzo
Company: AICO
Position: Sales Professional
Home Furnishings Business’ 2019 Forty Under 40 is proudly sponsored by Storis, a leading retail software solutions company.
Nominations for the Class of 2020 are now open at http://hfbusiness.com/Fortyunder40