Art Van Furniture Promotes Diane Charles To Vice President Of Corporate Communications

Furniture World News Desk on 3/24/2015

Art Van Furniture reported that it has promoted Diane Charles to vice president of corporate communications. The announcement was made by Art Van Elslander, founder and chairman of Art Van Furniture, and Kim Yost, CEO of Art Van Furniture.

Charles has served as the director of corporate communications for Art Van Furniture since 2009. Her responsibilities include elevating Art Van Furniture’s brand awareness and reputation through media relations, community partnerships, internal and external communications, and innovative event marketing. Charles is a member of Art Van Furniture’s senior executive team, and reports directly to Art Van Furniture CEO, Kim Yost.

“Diane’s genuine passion, strategic vision and extensive media expertise has been instrumental in forging strong connections in exciting, experiential ways between Art Van Furniture and our guests, the communities we serve and the media throughout the Midwest,” said Yost. “She is an outstanding talent, and hugely deserving of this recognition and promotion.”

Over the past six years, Charles has spearheaded the company’s extensive community relations initiatives such as Art Van Furniture’s presenting sponsorship of America’s Thanksgiving Parade®, Art Van Santa Parade in Grand Rapids, and Art Van Sports Complex. She launched an in-house television broadcasting network called AV/TV, which produces internal monthly telecasts known as the AV Insider as well as educational videos for its Product Knowledge Network. Charles and her team won a Telly Award for the Art Van Charity Challenge.

Charles also expanded the Midwest’s No. 1 furniture and mattress retailer’s event marketing initiatives in Michigan, Illinois, Indiana and Ohio with innovative, unpredictable programs that engage guests and drive sales such as Ladies Night Out and Art Van Wonderland parties, supermodel and sofa selfie contests, catalog launch celebrations, and in-store events with Motown artists, HGTV stars, and celebrities including Cindy Crawford, Nigel Barker and Zendaya.

Prior to joining Art Van Furniture, Diane spent more than 25 years in television broadcasting. She won more than a dozen EMMYS awards and National Gracie Award for her work on WXYZ-TV, NBC Network and HGTV. She currently serves on the INFORUM board of directors representing Art Van Furniture.

About Art Van Furniture: Art Van Furniture is the Midwest's largest furniture retailer and America's largest independent furniture retailer. The company operates 89 stores throughout Michigan, Illinois, Ohio, and Indiana, including freestanding Art Van PureSleep mattress stores, Art Van Flooring stores, and Art Van Furniture franchise locations as well as a full service e-commerce website. Founded in 1959, the company is family-owned and headquartered in Warren, Michigan. Visit artvan.com for more information.