World Market Center adds industry veterans to lead Gift + Home division

Home Accents Today Staff -- Home Accents Today, 8/30/2010 2:08:52 AM

WITH A RENEWED focus on the gift industry, World Market Center Las Vegas is now backed by an assembly of executives who have more than 100 years of combined industry experience in its Gift + Home Team.
     World Market Center Las Vegas will debut its first-ever gift-focused event inside of Las Vegas Market, with the launch of Gift + Home, Aug. 2-6. Newly-signed exhibitors include Russ Berrie, Demdaco, Silvestri and Yankee Candle, plus longtime Las Vegas tenants Global Views, Midwest-CBK, Andrea by Sadek and others. More than 300 gift and home exhibitors in total will appear at Gift + Home at Las Vegas Market, with more than 1 million square feet of dedicated space.
     "It has always been our foremost goal for World Market Center to diversify our base of categories and evolve into a ‘total home' market.
     With the extensive breadth of experience and talent within our new gift team, we are excited to be well on our way," said Robert Maricich, president and CEO, World Market Center Las Vegas. "This seasoned team was carefully assembled not just to develop new partnerships through their extensive relationships within this segment, but to successfully establish this division as a natural extension of the Las Vegas Market through their thought leadership and knowledgeable and varied perspectives."
     The 10-person Gift + Home division includes:
     Georgia Davis, vice president, Gift + Home: Davis has served as a new business development consultant at World Market Center Las Vegas. She now leads the Gift + Home Division and is responsible for the strategy, sales and growth of this show segment.
     Randy Eller, Gift + Home consultant: Eller operates Eller Enterprises, a consulting firm primarily serving the home accent, furniture and giftware industries. He will bring his 35 years of expertise in the gift arena to assist World Market Center with its growth plan as the new hub for suppliers and buyers.
     Ron Radin, consultant: Radin leads business development for the Lighting division at World Market Center Las Vegas.
     Gerry Seibel, director, business development, Gift + Home: Seibel has been with World Market Center Las Vegas for three years as a director of design-focused events. His new duties include leasing permanent gift and decorative accessory showrooms
     Boyd Tasker, director, business development, Gift + Home: Tasker's current duties include leasing permanent decorative accessory and lighting showrooms.
     Margaret Powers, director, business development, Gift + Home: Powers served as the director of leasing at MMPI for the L.A. Mart, 7W New York and the Chicago Market. Her current duties include leading the sales team for the Gift + Home temporaries.
     Sheri Makransky, business development, Gift + Home: Makransky has been with World Market Center Las Vegas for nearly four years. Her current duties include leasing permanent gift, rug and decorative accessory showrooms.
     Keith Davis, business development, Gift + Home: Davis was previously at the L.A. Mart. His current duties include sales for the temporaries.

     Lindsay Pearson, business development, Gift + Home: Pearson was formerly the director of sales for the Beckman's Handcrafted Show at the Chicago Market. Her current duties include sales for the Gift + Home temporaries.
     Michelle Ovalle, brand manager, Gift + Home: Ovalle is responsible for developing and executing marketing programs and events, as well as leading a team of retail specialists focused on gift buyer acquisition.