IHFC (High Point) Restructures Executive Team, Adds Staff

Furniture World Magazine

Tom Lindh, President and CEO of the International Home Furnishings Center®, announces a restructuring of his executive team as well as the addition of three key staff – moves at the beginning of the year designed to enhance IHFC®’s capacity to respond to exhibitors’ needs as well as to the changing dynamics of a global industry. “This restructuring puts our talented, experienced executives in the best positions to work on behalf of our exhibitors, the High Point Market and the broader industry,” Lindh says. “The relationship we have with exhibitors is far more than just landlords. We help them promote their businesses, and we help them with special showroom needs. This restructured IHFC® team is absolutely the best in the business at meeting these challenges.” Opening in 1921, IHFC® was the original showroom building in High Point and after 86 years of expansion, remains the centerpiece of the world’s largest home-furnishings trade show. With 3.5 million square feet, IHFC® accounts for nearly a third of the High Point Market’s 11.5 million square feet. IHFC® is home to 650 of the leading home-furnishings manufacturers of furniture, decorative accessories, lighting, rugs and framed art. Following is the newly organized executive team: Tom Loney, Executive Vice President – Leasing. He will be responsible for meeting needs for showroom space for current and prospective furniture exhibitors, including 13 of the industry’s top 20 manufacturers that already showcase their new products in the building. Loney joined IHFC® in 1984. Martha Stewart, Vice President – Accessory Leasing. She will continue to accommodate the expanding demand for IHFC® space among existing and prospective accessory manufacturers. Stewart joined IHFC® in 1980. Carroll Springer, Vice President – Sales. She will direct the sales team and manage advertising sales in IHFC®’s five popular market publications: Furniture Preview, Accessory Preview, Designer Preview, Market Resource Guide and Pocket Directory. Springer is a 27-year veteran at IHFC®, most recently as Director of Interhall Leasing. Lee Kemp, Vice President – Creative. She will manage production and public relations as well as editorial, photography and printing services related to the company’s five publications produced twice a year. Kemp joined IHFC® in 1989. Gaye Outlaw, Co-Director – Interhall Leasing. She will work with Carroll Springer in the leasing of popular one-market spaces in IHFC®’s Interhall, located on the first floor of the Hamilton wing. Outlaw will continue as a Sales Executive and coordinate educational seminars. She joined IHFC® in 1986. Kelly Quillen, Vice President – Operations. Quillen, who joined IHFC® in 1999, will be responsible for all aspects of Operations in IHFC®’s 3.5 million square feet of showrooms every spring and fall. In addition, IHFC® has added three members to its marketing staff: Allison Akes, Brittany Vance and Jenny Ragsdale. Akes comes to IHFC® from Showplace!, where she was responsible for Marketing. Vance previously served in Product Development for Magnussen Home Furnishings. Ragsdale was previously an Account Executive in the women’s apparel industry.