The Board of Directors of the American Furniture Hall of Fame Foundation Inc. has elected new officers and board members, as well as appointed new members to the Hall of Fame Legacy Board.
“Continuing in our tradition of industry leadership, our new Boards represent the best of the best of this industry as we move to a new level with plans for exciting and needed new programs,” says Don Belgrad, Foundation president. “These new Boards also demonstrate our commitment to diversity as an international organization which embraces the entire industry across all categories including retailers, manufacturers, suppliers and vendors. We are moving forward with strength and momentum.”
Elected as Board president are Don Belgrad, Schnadig Corporation; as first vice president, Jeff Cook, Broyhill Furniture Industries; as second vice president, Kurt L. Darrow, La-Z-Boy, Inc.; and as secretary-treasurer, Donald D. Dreher, DMI Furniture, Inc.
New directors serving a six-year term are Aminy Audi, L. & J. G. Stickley; George Cartledge, III, Grand Home Furnishings; Randy Ford, Leggett & Platt; Roger Friesen, Casana Furniture Company Ltd.; Bill Kimbrell, Star Furniture; and Dennis Novosel, Stoney Creek Furniture.
Re-elected members serving an additional six-year term are Russell Bienenstock, Furniture World; Art Van Elslander, Art Van Furniture; Eric Hinshaw, Kingsdown, Inc.; and Donald C. Marks, Badcock Home Furniture & more.
Joseph Carroll, Furniture Today, will serve as chairman of the Legacy Board, which provides counsel and aids in fundraising efforts for new Foundation projects.
“We are fortunate that our Legacy Board members, who bring so much history and experience, also share an interest in preserving our history and with making it available to others,” says Belgrad. New Legacy Board members are: William Child, R.C. Willey Home Furnishings; J. Don Coleman, Hickory Springs Manufacturing Co.; O. William Fenn, Jr., LADD Furniture; W.G. Holliman, Jr., Furniture Brands International; Fred Schuermann, Jr., LADD Furniture; Wayne Wickstrom, Leggett & Platt; and Melvyn Wolff, Star Furniture.
The American Furniture Hall of Fame Foundation is open to all home furnishings industry companies, organizations and individuals that do business in the United States. Membership includes eligibility to vote for inductees into the American Furniture Hall of Fame, and the opportunity to help preserve the history and heritage of the industry. Memberships are $250 at the individual level, and $500 and $1,000 at the corporate level. All contributions are tax deductible. Checks should be made payable to American Furniture Hall of Fame Foundation Inc. and sent to P.O. Box 2011, High Point, N.C. 27261.
The 2009 inductees – individuals who have made significant contributions to the growth and development of the U.S. furniture industry – will be honored with the American furniture industry’s highest honor at a gala banquet on October 18 at the High Point Market. For information, call 336.882.5900.