Lexington Recognizes Gorman’s CEO Tom Lias at their Market Dealer Reception

Furniture World News Desk on 5/1/2023

Pictured left to right: Craig Spooner – COO, Lexington Home Brands Tom Lias – President and CEO, Gorman’s Home Furnishings and Phil Haney President and CEO, Lexington Home Brands.

At Lexington’s recent Sunday afternoon dealer reception at High Point Market, special recognition was given to Tom Lias – an industry icon and CEO of Gorman’s Home Furnishings in Detroit, who recently announced his retirement. Hundreds of attendees joined Lexington’s executive team in honoring one of the industry’s finest at his last Market.

“While Tom is known for his humility, we had no intention of allowing him to ease into retirement without a proper sendoff,” said Phil Haney, President and CEO of Lexington Home Brands. “He’s been a tremendous friend and mentor to scores of us in the industry for decades, and that calls for recognition by his peers. A warm spring evening on our outdoor patio provided the perfect backdrop to express our thanks and appreciation.”

Born and raised in Youngstown, Ohio, Tom graduated from The Art Institute at the Pittsburgh School of Design. He was vice president and general manager of a group of Ethan Allen stores in Michigan and Ohio before moving on to become co-owner and president of eight La-Z-Boy stores in Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey. Tom joined Gorman’s in 1983 and was elevated to the position of CEO in 2017. In a career spanning 53 years, he has been both a tireless student of the industry and a respected teacher.

In 2022, Tom was honored as Michiganian of the Year for his legacy of philanthropic work with The Arc of Oakland County – a nonprofit which serves people with developmental and intellectual disabilities. He served on the board of directors, as president, and a tireless fundraiser. Tom’s son David has a developmental disability, which further fueled his passion and advocacy. Tom, his wife Chris, and their son David plan to move to the Orlando area in retirement.

“A career spanning 53-years in any industry is exceptional,” continued Haney. “What sets Tom apart is his remarkable breadth of experience; his capacity to bridge the disciplines of marketing, merchandising and executive leadership; and his enthusiasm for mentoring anyone following in his footsteps. Rare is the individual in business who finds great success, and then works equally hard in sharing that knowledge with others. Tom has been a great friend and retail partner to all of us at Lexington, and we wish he, Chris and David the very best in retirement. He’ll be greatly missed.”

About Lexington Home Brands
 Lexington Home Brands is a global manufacturer and marketer of residential and contract furnishings, recognized as an industry leader in design innovation and lifestyle merchandising. With a legacy dating back to 1903, the company's diverse assortment includes wood and upholstered furniture at medium-to-upper price points across every relevant style category, from classic to contemporary. The company’s portfolio of brands includes Lexington®, Tommy Bahama Home®, Tommy Bahama Outdoor Living®, Sligh®, Artistica Home® and Barclay Butera®. Products are distributed through home furnishings retailers, interior design professionals, to-the-trade showrooms and select Internet retailers. Headquartered in High Point, North Carolina, the company has showrooms in High Point, New York, and Denver. For more information, visit lexington.com.