Natura promotes two to sales VP
Mattress and sleep accessories producer Natura World has promoted Mark Dentale to vice president of sales for the East Coast and Jim Lambert to vice president of sales for the West Coast.
The promotions recognize the significant sales–building accomplishments already made by both men, according to the Cambridge, Ontario–based company.
Dentale, who is based in Northport, N.Y., is a 28–year veteran of the mattress and home furnishings industries. He joined Natura in 2010 as a regional sales manager. His background includes senior sales roles at Ashley Furniture, Sealy, Simmons Bedding Co. and Spring Air.
Lambert is based in Cypress, Texas. He joined the company in 2009 as territory sales manager for that state. He has more than 30 years in the industry and has held executive sales positions at Sealy, Serta, Simmons and Tempur–Pedic.
“Mark and Jim have made tremendous contributions to our company in growing their regions and territories in relatively short periods of time,” said Ralph Rossdeutscher, Natura World president. “The key component in that success is their ability to work with new and existing dealers to help them get the most value and opportunity from their Natura relationship. In these new roles, they will be resources for more of our dealers and sales associates in helping us to continue to build our brand.”
‘Dr. Lisa, Sleep M.D.’ joins Carpenter team
Components supplier and sleep accessories producer Carpenter Co. in Richmond, Va., has tapped Dr. Lisa Shives, also known as “Dr. Lisa, Sleep M.D.,” as a sleep expert for its educational website www.sleepbetter.org, related marketing campaigns and product development.
“Lisa Shives is just what the doctor ordered, so to speak,” said Dan Schecter, Carpenter vice president of consumer products.
Shives is responsible for providing medical insights and offering tips for improving sleep health at the SleepBetter.org Facebook page, as well as for conducting original research and helping shape and endorse new SleepBetter product introductions.
“The SleepBetter product development process has evolved to a point where it increasingly translates data from sleep studies into technology–advanced bedding products,” Schecter said.
“This evolution created the need for an experienced physician as part of our team. Dr. Lisa is a leader in the burgeoning sleep medicine subspecialty and has thousands of her own patients. We are particularly excited by her interest in helping conduct original sleep studies and in participating in our new product development process.”
Shives is board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine and the American Board of Sleep Medicine and is the founder of Northshore Sleep Medicine in Chicago. She has served as a spokeswoman for the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and is a contributor to CNN’s medical blog, “The Chart.”
Boyd hires industry veteran Clark
Boyd Specialty Sleep, a maker of specialty mattresses and sleep–related products, has named John Clark regional vice president of sales, a newly created post.
Clark is based in Winter Haven, Fla., and is responsible for sales and sales development for sleep products and the company’s accent furniture line in 10 southern states and western Pennsylvania. He reports to Dennis Boyd, president and founder of the St. Louis–based company.
Previously, Clark was vice president of sales and marketing for mattress maker Southern Dreams. Prior to that, he was a sales and marketing executive for Paramount. His background also includes nearly two decades at Sealy as a national account executive and territory manager, as well as management and ownership positions at two food companies.
“John has a wide–ranging background with primary experience in the mattress and food industries,” Boyd said. “His expertise in marketing, sales and sales management will be very valuable to the further development of our southern region and the growth of our company overall.”
Anti–Defamation League honoring industry players
The Anti–Defamation League, a New York–based human rights organization, will present its American Heritage Award to Gary Fazio, chief executive officer of Simmons Bedding Co., and Kathy Ireland, chief executive officer and chief designer of Kathy Ireland Worldwide, a design and marketing company that licenses mattresses, home furnishings and other products.
Pasquale Natuzzi, president and chief executive officer of leather upholstery producer Natuzzi, will be presented the Lifetime Achievement Award.
The three will be honored at a dinner at the Grand Hyatt New York on June 23.
The American Heritage Award is a tribute to “business leaders who in their careers and their communities personify America’s democratic ideals and serve as a shining example to others for their leadership, dedication and energy,” according to the organization.
Fazio has served on the Anti–Defamation League’s National Home Furnishings Industry board for nearly 15 years. He has 38 years of experience in mattress manufacturing and retailing and joined Atlanta–based Simmons in 2009. Previously, he was CEO and then chairman of retailer Mattress Firm. Prior to that, Fazio spent 20 years at Sealy, where he rose to corporate vice president and general manager of the domestic bedding group. He and his wife, Annette, sponsor various academic scholarships at North Carolina State University and Ohio State University.
Ireland presides over the Los Angeles–based design and marketing firm she founded in 1993.
According to Forbes magazine, the Kathy Ireland Worldwide umbrella of licensed products—which includes everything from gardening supplies to mattresses—grosses more than $1.5 billion annually in retail sales. Ireland, a former model and actress, also is a published author of inspirational and children’s books. Her company aids a range of nonprofits with an emphasis on those that support women, children, health, education and the environment.
The dinner is an important fundraiser for the Anti–Defamation League, whose mission is to fight anti–Semitism and all forms of bigotry and to defend civil rights. Last year’s event raised more than $1 million and attracted more than 600 attendees. Individual tickets for this year’s dinner are $700. Tables are $5,500. For more information, contact Beth Katznelson at 212–885–7885 or [email protected].
Bedding veteran Magnusson dies
Robert Magnusson, former head of Simmons Bedding Co., died in early March. He was 79.
After graduating from high school in 1949, Magnusson enlisted in the Navy for three years. He attended the University of Idaho and graduated from the University of Illinois. His first job was for Shell Oil in Chicago. He then worked for Uarco Business Forms, which led to a job at the chemical company Celanese.
He entered the bedding industry when he became vice president of Stearns & Foster. He was named president of Simmons in 1979 and was named chairman and chief executive officer 10 years later. He retired in 1993. Magnusson was honored by the City of Hope in 1988.
Survivors include his wife, Kathleen; daughters Kelly and Mary Rose; son Norman; sister Louise Edwards; six grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to an educational endowment fund. For more information, contact Kristi Thelen at UBS financial services at 404–760–3050.
