The International Home Furnishings Representatives Association announced that it will honor Jeff Cook with the Pillar of the Industry award at the 16th annual Furniture Industry Awards Gala this spring in High Point NC. Jeff is the President of Broyhill Furniture Industries.
The Pillar of the Industry Award is presented to an industry leader who has distinguished himself with creative work and effort to improve, enhance and benefit relationships among representatives and other segments of the industry. This person’s actions and deeds have shown their commitment to the home furnishings industry, their community, and to mankind.
Jeff Cook started out in the furniture business 33 years ago unloading trucks at the furniture market in Hickory and serving as an errand boy for the Brookwood Furniture Company sales force during markets.
Cook worked his way up in sales and sales management positions after earning a bachelor’s degree from Lenoir-Rhyne College. He became senior vice-president of sales and marketing for Design Horizons, a division of Lea Industries. With the success of being promoted to general manager of Design Horizons, Cook was then promoted to executive vice president of sales and marketing at Lea Industries.
Cook then became vice president of sales and marketing for Sumter Cabinet Company, a special niche manufacturer of solid wood bedroom and dining room. Most recently, he served as president and chief executive officer of Magnussen Home Furnishings from 2002 to 2007 after joining the company as president in 1998. During his time at Magnussen Home the company doubled in size three times.
As the new president of Broyhill Furniture Industries, a division of Furniture Brands International, Jeff Cook says it’s like “coming home” or completing the circle. Cook joined Broyhill in early 2007 and serves on Furniture Brands’ Executive Leadership Team. Broyhill’s customer service is at the highest levels achieved in years and all new products have been developed through a proprietary process that uses industry-leading consumer insights and testing.
Cook serves on the Board of Directors of the American Furniture Hall of Fame Foundation and the Board of Directors of the American Home Furnishings Alliance. For the City of Hope, he serves on the Advisory Board and served as the Grand Marshal for the High Point Hike for Hope in March 2007. He also has served on the Board of Directors for The String & Splinter Club and the WithIt Board of Governors.
The Furniture Industry Awards Gala will be held on Monday, April 19, 2010, in the IHFC Ballroom on the 11th floor of the Green Wing. The International Home Furnishings Representatives Association (IHFRA) and the National Home Furnishings Association (NHFA) sponsor the event. For reservations to the Furniture Industry Awards Gala, contact the IHFRA Office at 336-889-39920 or e-mail ihfra@ihfra.org for more information.