Sauder Woodworking Names Kevin Sauder CEO

Furniture World Magazine

Kevin Sauder, serving for nearly two years as president and chief operating officer for Sauder Woodworking, has been named the company's chief executive officer. Kevin is the third generation to lead the family business since its founding in 1934 by grandfather Erie Sauder. Maynard Sauder will remain active in his position as chairman of Sauder Woodworking Co., providing leadership and counsel for Sauder and its subsidiaries. "Since being named president, Kevin has been very involved in all aspects of our company and has provided exceptional leadership to the management team as they developed strategic initiatives to take the company forward," Maynard Sauder said. "Whether it's his schedule of working one day a month in various factory departments, a major marketing program to identify consumer buying habits or face-to-face contact with retail accounts, he has been able to effectively comprehend and address the needs of our retailers, consumers and employees. As our sixty-seven-year old company enters a new global era, this caliber of leadership is crucial to advance the company's goals and to maintain the integrity of the company's name." With the company for 13 years, Kevin, age 40, joined Sauder in 1988 as marketing and sales manager for the office products division where he directed a national sales force and initiated programs to grow Sauder's business with office superstores. He was later promoted to director of marketing where he initiated a major brand awareness effort including national advertising and public relations campaigns, which have helped to make Sauder one of the most recognized brands in the furniture industry. In the past few years serving as president and COO, he has continued to introduce new technological advancements to meet company goals and objectives. The newly completed 1.4 million-square-foot, state-of-the-art Erie J. Sauder Distribution Center (EDC), the final phase of a $ 1 $100-million-dollar expansion, is an example of his ability to address the changing retailer and consumer environments. Prior to joining Sauder Woodworking, Kevin worked as a marketing and systems analyst with Nortel Networks in Raleigh, North Carolina, for three years. Kevin holds an MBA from the Fuqua School of Business at Duke University and a bachelor's of science degree from Miami University, Oxford, Ohio. Located in Archbold, Ohio, Sauder Woodworking is the nation's largest manufacturer of ready-to-assemble furniture and the seventh largest furniture manufacturer in the nation. Sauder Woodworking Co.'s subsidiaries include Sauder Manufacturing Company, a leader in church and institutional seating, and Archbold Container Corporation. Total corporate revenues in 2000 were $575 million.