Sauder Woodworking Announces Executive Promotions

Furniture World Magazine

In an effort to more effectively support recently announced expansion plans, Sauder Woodworking Company has promoted two members of its marketing team. John Yoder has been promoted to vice president - marketing and sales having recently served as director of international sales and director of marketing. Since joining Sauder in 1991, Yoder has been instrumental in directing the company's significant international growth and overseeing Sauder's advertising and marketing programs. Prior to Sauder Woodworking, Yoder gained broad base experience in marketing, international sales and general management through various positions at The Aro Corporation, an Ingersoll-Rand company. Yoder holds a bachelor of arts in economics from Goshen College in Indiana and an MBA in marketing from Michigan State University. "John's expansive background and knowledge in marketing and international activities is especially valuable as Sauder enters a period of enhanced consumer marketing initiatives and expanding global sales," said Kevin Sauder, executive vice president. "We are fortunate to have such a versatile leader in our ranks. " A six-year veteran at Sauder, Susan Dountas has been appointed director of marketing, having formerly served as director of product planning. In this position, she will be responsible for a broad range of marketing activities, including the direction of product design and marketing communications, as well as advertising, showroom and product planning efforts. Joining Sauder in 1992 as sales manager for the Furniture Division, Dountas has been instrumental to the company's remarkable growth in furniture store sales. Her retail-oriented expertise is a result of 18 years experience in marketing, advertising and buying for Sears, Roebuck and Company. Dountas earned a Juris Doctor from Loyola University of Chicago School of Law and a Bachelor of Science degree from Dana College in Blair, Nebraska. "Susan has a very deep understanding of our mission and solid knowledge of how to accomplish our goals because of the perspective she brings from her furniture retail background," said Sauder. "She has a valuable insight into the backbone of our business - assessing and successfully implementing what both retailers and customers want and need." In August, Sauder announced its comprehensive expansion plan for major changes in its manufacturing and distribution capabilities at its Archbold, Ohio headquarters. The plans include adding more than 1.4 million square feet of factory and warehouse space, creating more than 1,000 jobs in the next four years and adding significantly to manufacturing capacity. Based in Archbold, Ohio, Sauder Woodworking is the nation's leading manufacturer of ready-to-assemble furniture and the eighth-largest furniture manufacturer in the country.