Ed Gerken of Norwalk Furniture Elected President of AFMA

Furniture World Magazine

Top executives of the U.S. furniture manufacturing industry gathered in Bermuda to discuss issues affecting the industry at the 1997 Annual Meeting of the American Furniture Manufacturers Association (AFMA). In addition to educational sessions led by leading industry experts, the Association elected Officers and Board of Directors members for 1997 -1998. Ed Gerken, President and CEO of Norwalk Furniture Corporation will serve as 1997 -1998 AFMA President. Fred Preddy, President of Hammary Furniture Company will serve as First Vice President. The position of Second Vice President will be held by Ron Wanek, President and CEO of Ashley Furniture Industries. 1996-'97 AFMA President John Bassett, III, of Vaughan Bassett Furniture-Company will serve as Chairman of the Board. New members of the Association's Board of Directors are: Bob Byrd, Keller Manufacturing Company; Arny Decker, Sumter Cabinet Company; Jim Diffee, Brookwood Furniture Company; Fred Starr, Thomasville Furniture Industries; Doug White, The Alan White Company; Brent Kincaid, Broyhill Furniture Industries; Charles Bolick, Alexvale Furniture; Rob Sligh, Sligh Furniture Company; Bill Markowitz, Brown Jordan; Fred Schuermann, LADD Furniture, Inc.; David Schwartz, Jasper Cabinet Company; Hursh Keener, Leathercraft, Inc.; Jon Laun, A.A. Laun Furniture Company and D.E. Ward of Webb Furniture Enterprises. AFMA is a nonprofit, volunteer organization for U.S. furniture manufacturers, with 350 corporate members representing 150,000 employees and more than 75% of domestic and global shipments of U.S. furniture. Headquartered in High Point, North Carolina, the world's furniture capital, AFMA maintains a Washington, DC office to represent the interests of the furniture industry on legislative and regulatory affairs to the government.