The Chicago Market: Living and Giving names Executive Advisory Board members
Gift industry leaders will serve for the 2008-2009 term
-- Home Accents Today, 7/8/2008 8:01:00 AM
The Chicago Market: Living and Giving recently installed its 2008-2009 Executive Advisory Board of key gift industry leaders. The Board will meet three times a year to discuss strategic issues in Chicago and the broader gift industry.
“The Executive Advisory Board actively addresses the greatest opportunities we have as a market, challenging us as our customers and as stewards of the industry to deliver even more,” said Joan Ulrich, senior vice president, Merchandise Mart Properties Inc. “Focusing Chicago on the most critical issues and what they need to be successful, right now and for the long term, serves the best interests of all of our showrooms, exhibitors and retailers.”
Members of The Chicago Market’s Executive Advisory Board for 2008-2009 include:
Jennifer Brooks, principal of Charlie & Me, a 25-year-old sales agency that specializes in greeting cards and complementary gifts. Brooks and her husband, David, took over operations of Paper Cargo in 2003. Charlie & Me is a temporary exhibitor in Market Suite 8-4062.
Mary Jane Cashman, owner of Casa Bella, a home decor sales agency established in 1997. Cashman was president of Ivan Bloom & Assoc. for 13 years prior to starting Casa Bella. Casa Bella’s 7,000-sq.-ft. showroom, 1578, is located on the 15th floor of the Mart, and its corporate offices are located in Hinsdale, Ill. The company’s sales reps represent 15 vendors to more than 3,600 home decor buyers throughout the upper Midwest.
Steve Casso, General Manager of Burton + Burton, located in showroom 13-134. Casso has managed the day-to-day operations of Burton + Burton since 2002 in a role that includes overseeing three permanent showrooms in Atlanta, Chicago and Dallas, and 350 employees at the company's headquarters in Bogart, Ga. Casso has more than 20 years of experience in the gift and floral industries, previously serving as vice president and general manager of Betallic Balloon Company.
Dan Collier, Daniel + Richards, showroom 13-512
Basil Elliott, president and CEO of Enesco. Prior to being named to this position, Elliott served as executive vice president of Enesco’s Canadian subsidiary, N.C. Cameron & Sons, from 1982 to 2006. Before that, he served as vice president of Panhandler Shoppes Limited, a gift retailer he helped grow from three stores to more than 90 locations in Canada and the U.S. Enesco is a Market Suite temporary exhibitor in 8-3029A and B-3030A.
John Griffith, regional vice president for the merged OneCoast and OneCoast Midwest Home Agency. Griffith successfully operated his own manufacturer’s rep agency, JAG Associates, for 25 years. Three years ago, he sold JAG to OneCoast and merged the business with OneCoast Midwest Home Agency. OneCoast is a Market Suite temporary exhibitor in spaces 7-6122, 7-7122, 7-8112, 7-8114, 7-9106A and 7-9114A.
Barbara Gross, of Right Brain Enterprises, showroom 13-420. Right Brain Enterprises, which began in 1998, represents contemporary design-driven lines in the home decor and gift industries.
Stan Hinkley, of Max Bentley’s Rusty Blades, showrooms 13-200 and 13-105. Max Bentley’s represents 30 companies on the road, 16 companies in its Chicago showrooms, and has showrooms in Minneapolis and Columbus. Hinkley joined Bentley’s in the late 90’s.
Jon Levin, president of Orchard Street Associates, showroom 1570, has more than 25 years of experience in sales, product development, merchandising, marketing and operations in fashion markets and industries ranging from apparel and accessories to hobby, craft and gift. In addition to working as a senior manager with several well-known branded product lines, he has successfully acted as a consultant to a number of businesses.
Dan Loughman, president and CEO of Roman, showroom 1424. Loughman joined Roman in May, 1998, as a manager in product development/marketing. Over the next few years he assumed more responsibilities within the company and, in 2006, was promoted to president and CEO.
Blanche Nastovski, a principal of Sarm & Nastovski, showroom 13-203. Sarm & Nastovski has had a showroom in the Merchandise Mart since 1992. Nastovski’s own line of bags and travel accessories are sold at such locations as the Ritz Carlton Hotels, The Palms Hotel and Spa and numerous museums.
Dennis Nemcek, DNA (Dennis Nemcek Associates), showroom 1426. Nemcek started DNA in 1986 with just a few reps, a handful of manufacturers and no showroom. The company now has 16 reps, a full time sales management staff and two showrooms, one in Chicago and the other in Minneapolis.
Jack Puckett, The Haefling Group, Market Suite temporary exhibitor, 8-6106 and 8-6118. Puckett has been with The Haefling Group for 17 years. Four years ago, he bought the company from Bill Haefling, and last year merged it into the Lineworks Agency based in New York. Puckett is now the sales manager for The Haefling Group Division in the Midwest.
Craig Samuelson, Samuelson Associates, showroom 13-429
Mike Steidle, Ivystone Group, showroom 13-400. Steidle has been in the gift business since 1990. He started Sales Partners in 1993 and merged with Ivystone Group in 200, becoming one of Ivystone’s three owners. Ivystone Group covers 18 states in the Midwest and East Coast.
For more information on The Chicago Market: Living and Giving, visit www.shopchicagomarket.com.
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