Andy Gans & Richard Healy To Be Honored By GNYHFA

Furniture World News

Andy Gans of Gans Brothers and Richard Healy of The Place will receive the Jerry Gans Memorial Award at a Dinner Dance on Saturday November 19th at Leonards of Great Neck. 350 people will attend the sold out black tie affair. The award honors prominent members of the furniture industry for distinguished service and is presented each year by the Greater New York Home Furnishings Association. About Andy Gans: The Gans family name and the furniture industry have been linked since 1892, and Andrew Gans represents the third generation in the family business. Born to Jerry and Mona Gans in 1958, Andy was exposed to the family business at an early age. His grandfather, Ike Gans, along with his father and twin brother Larry were all in the business and conversations at family functions always turned to furniture. Andrew grew up in Scarsdale, New York with his sister Jamie, and attended Scarsdale High School. At the end of his sophomore year his spent the summer in Roanoke Virginia, working at the bedroom factory of Singer Furniture. All during his youth he would travel with his father to factories, customers, and the office. They always enjoyed a very close relationship. In 1976 Andy attended Boston University and graduated in1981 from their School of Management with a marketing degree. During these years he worked at Puritan Furniture, a major retailer at the time in the Boston market. He was already to accept a job with Proctor and Gamble when his father called in the summer of 1981 asking him if he wanted to join the business. He accepted, and started his career in the furniture business on September 1, 1981 with Singer Furniture Besides Gans Brothers the family also owned Triad Distributors, a very successful furniture warehouse distributorship in the metropolitan area. Under Jerry’s and Larry’s careful guidance Andrew quickly became their top salesman and began to make a name for himself. In 1984 Larry and Andrew joined Impact Furniture where they were the top shippers 10 out of the 13 years before they closed. In 1998 Andrew joined Presidential Furniture, which a few years later changed their name to Magnussen Home. As the company grewed, so did his contributions. In 1996 Andrew became the President of the GNYHFA (his grandfather Ike was their first President) after being a Board member and Executive Board Member for many years. He remained in that post until 3 years ago, and still remains a Board of Director and chairs many of the events that the association runs. He is also a member of MFA of New Jersey and an active member of the ADL Steering Committee. For all is accomplishments and achievements Andrew will tell you that one he is most proud of is his family. He is recently married to the love of his life, and best friend Sarah, and he has two children Kyle and Casey. An avid golfer, skier, and sports enthusiast, Andrew still loves to be active. Andrew is a past recipient of the Hal Meadoff Award for Sportsmanship. It is with great pride that Andrew accepts the Jerry Gans Memorial Award this evening on behalf of the entire Gans Family. About Richard Healy: Growing up in Rockville Centre, Richard learned at an early age the importance of hard work. After the loss of his mother, he lived with his father, a police officer who taught him to be honest, respectful and hardworking. It was then he decided that no matter what job he had he would work his hardest to be the best. At fourteen years of age he had the largest paper route in Nassau County. After high school graduation, Richard spent two years in the United States Army on a ten-month tour of duty in Vietnam. Following his arrival home, Richard was introduced to Mike Gold of Roman Company in Valley Stream. It is at Roman Company that he got his first taste of the furniture business. Richard loved it. He spent his days off at 200 Lexington Avenue listening to the sales reps sell to their prospective dealers. Richard brought this knowledge to the sales floor. This helped him earn his first management position at the age of twenty-five. In the mid 1970’s, Richard moved to Suffolk County and worked for Traub’s furniture in Patchogue. Traub’s furniture was the stepping-stone to his position as General Manager of Nanrich Furniture. Perseverance and a strong work ethic has been the common thread in Richard’s road to success. During this time he was also raising a family. His twins Michelle and Richard were born followed two years later by a son, Christopher. “Building a company is very much like raising a family. It’s a lot of hard work, but the outcome is rewarding and one of great pride”. Later on his abilities were recognized by the Seigerman family. Seigerman’s furniture brought Rich’s career to an even higher level. With yet another opportunity to use his talents, he started his position as Vice President General Manager of sales with the Regueiro family at The Place Furniture Galleries. The Regueiro’s are an honorable hard-working family with strong values. This is reflected in the way their business is run and the reputation for which they are known. The Regueiro’s have recognized Richard’s talent and have allowed and encouraged him to grow. Richard has taken each challenge and turned it into an accomplishment. He takes great pride in his successes as well as contributing to the growth of the company. He has totally committed himself to each new challenge as if the business were his own. In addition to pride in his career, Rich remains dedicated to his family; wife Judy, son Richard, daughter Michelle, and stepsons David and Trevor. Richard is very grateful to his family for all their support and understanding. Richard has great respect for all of the people in his extended furniture family who have worked side by side with him to help him obtain the reputation that makes him the man we honor this year.