AFMA Hires Carter as New Vice President Public Relations

Furniture World Magazine

The American Furniture Manufacturers Association (AFMA) announced that Peggy C. Carter has been named vice president for public relations. Carter, who was senior director for legal, regulatory and science affairs for R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, assumed the new position on May 4. "This position was created by the Association to develop a new industry-wide public relations program and to direct its ongoing public relations activities." said Albert Prillaman, president of Stanley Furniture, and cochairman of AFMA's Blue Ribbon Committee. "A Blue Ribbon Committee consisting of furniture industry executives determined the need for an expanded public relations effort after exploring various options over the past year for educating consumers on furniture purchases and the value those decisions add to their lifestyles. We look forward to moving forward now with that charge." "We are excited to have Peggy Carter to lead this effort. Her experience and enthusiasm will be invaluable as we go through the process of selecting a public relations firm and developing a consumer oriented program." added Paul Toms, executive vice president of Hooker Furniture Corporation and cochairman of the Blue Ribbon Committee. "I am delighted to have Peggy join our already outstanding staff," said Douglas Brackett, AFMA executive vice president. "Working with her and the Blue Ribbon Committee to build an outstanding public relations program will be exciting as the entire industry closes ranks and unites toward a common goal." Carter joined R. J. Reynolds Industries, Inc. (now RJR Nabisco, Inc.) in 1983 as a public relations representative. She moved to Reynolds Tobacco in 1984, where she managed internal communications, community relations and media relations functions before being promoted to director of public relations. She was promoted to director of legal, regulatory and science affairs in 1996, and to senior director in 1998. Prior to joining RJR, she was director of marketing services for a New York Times publishing company and managing editor of the news bureau at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. A native of Winston-Salem, N.C., Carter earned a bachelor's degree in history from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a master's degree in journalism from the University of Georgia. The AFMA is a nonprofit, volunteer organization for U.S. furniture manufacturers with corporate members representing 150,000 employees and more than 75% of domestic and global shipments of U.S. furniture. Headquartered in High Point, N.C., the world's furniture capital, AFMA maintains a Washington, D.C., office to represent the interests of the furniture industry on legislative and regulatory affairs to the government. AFMA can be reached at afmahp@aol.com