IHFRA announced that Michael More of the Midwest Furniture Club in Chicago received IHFRA’s Rudy Steltemeier Award of Excellence at IHFRA’s 71st Annual Presidential Gala held on April 24.
Michael More spearheaded the Midwest Club’s efforts to build a local furniture show in the Chicago area. The show is held each August. It grew from a 25,000 square-foot show attracting around 80 dealers the first year to a 30,000 square foot show last year, to a 45,000 square foot show this year. The Midwest Furniture Show has allowed the Midwest Furniture Club to expand their presence in the Chicago furniture industry, has generated a lot of business for its members (adding benefits for those manufacturing representatives who are members of IHFRA) and has helped the Midwest Furniture Club expand their membership when many chapters across the country are losing members.
In addition to coordinating the annual show, Michael has been a long-time member of IHFRA, serving in many capacities on the Midwest Furniture Club’s Board of Directors, as well as remaining a cornerstone supporter of the Midwest Members Guide that goes out to membership. He has worked long hours and has been at the forefront of expanding what it means to be an IHFRA member.
The Rudy Steltemeier Award of Excellence was named in honor of Rudy Steltemeier, a home furnishings representative for 66 years, who was generous with his help to other representatives and retailers. He was proud to be a furniture salesman and often told other reps, “you make your living selling furniture and you must support your association.”
To be eligible for the award, a nominee must be a home furnishings representative who is a member of IHFRA and who has demonstrated the qualities of outstanding service to fellow reps as exemplified by Rudy Steltemeier.