LOS ANGELES–L.A. Mart has named Jennifer Mascari its new director of marketing.

Mascari joined the L.A. team on May 1st and will direct the execution of strategic marketing and communications initiatives, media relations and steward the forward thrust of L.A. Mart and L.A. Mart Design Center, the company said. Mascari also is charged with continuing the momentum created by the renaming of the gift & home markets now known as GALLA, Give and Live LA. She succeeds Trisha Schultz, who has taken a position outside of the industry.

NEW YORK-Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia (MSLO) has named Janet Stein senior vice president of merchandising.

In her new role, Stein focuses on the company’s license partnership with Home Depot, which encompasses furniture, window treatments, area rugs, drapery hardware, paint, wallpaper and wall decor. She reports to Patsy Pollack, senior executive vice president of merchandising, and has succeeded Melinda Cooke, who has left MSLO to take an executive position with Li & Fung Ltd.

ROSEMONT, Ill.–Urban Expositions has announced the exhibit sales team for the Windy City Gift Show, its new semi-annual exhibition that will debut here next January.

Led by Show Executive Director Marilyn Anderson-McGriff, the team will also include Show Director Stacey Barrett, who comes to Urban from Merchandise Mart Properties Inc.’s Chicago Market, and sales associate Lindsey Anderson. The team will report to Joan Ulrich, vice president of new business development for Urban Expositions.

DALLAS—Dallas Market Center announced that Meredith Hite has been named vice president of corporate communications.

 In her position, Hite is responsible for leading Dallas Market Center’s internal and external communications including public relations, direct marketing, social media and employee communications.

NASHVILLE, Tenn.–DesignWorks Investments, a private investment firm focused on expanding business opportunities for personal care and gift product companies, has promoted Jessica Whitehead to vice president of specialty sales.

Whitehead will report to Joe Moore, CEO of DesignWorks Investments and president of Paddywax and Olivina Napa Valley. This is a new position at the company.

DALLAS–Dallas Market Center has named Kevin Strawbridge executive vice president of marketing and technology. In his position, Strawbridge will be responsible for integrating marketing and technology efforts to best serve both buyers and sellers.

“Kevin is an experienced and acknowledged leader and we’re thrilled to welcome him to our team,” said Cindy Morris, chief operating officer, Dallas Market Center. “He will lead the marketing and technology strategy to further establish Dallas as a marketplace with cutting-edge digital resources.”

LAS VEGAS–Looking to streamline its gift and home décor team, International Market Centers (IMC) announced several staff changes, including the promotion of Lee Hershberg to vice president of Gift and Home Décor.

WOODS CROSS, Utah–Candle Warmers Etc. has named former Hallmark associate home fragrance buyer Amanda Wrigley an account representative. Wrigley will also take on the position of brand manager for the candle manufacturer’s Jamie Clair candles, wax melts, and home fragrance oils.

DALLAS—Arteriors has appointed Steve Davis as president, succeeding Rich Beckert, who has been interim president since March 2011.

BRENTWOOD, Tenn.–Industry veteran Terry Stewart has founded a consulting firm, TStewart Enterprises, offering companies expertise in sales focus, structure, organization and operations strategy, management and marketing. This comes after Stewart spent 10 years at CBK, now Midwest-CBK, most recently as executive vice president of sales, Midwest-CBK.

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y.—John Kelly has been named sales manager for the General Gift division of the New York International Gift Fair, tasked with developing and executing sales strategies for the Fair’s largest division, which includes some 750 exhibitors. Reporting to Christian Falkenberg, NYIGF director and GLM vice president, Kelly succeeds Scott Kramer.

WASHINGTON D.C.-Whereoware, a provider of e-commerce, mobile development and online marketing services to the gift and home industry, has named Tara Dikos to the newly created post of vice president of sales. 

HIGH POINT, N.C. and LAS VEGAS–International Market Centers has named Pedro Zapata chief operating officer.

Zapata will be responsible for integrating multiple functions, people and processes across 18 properties in Las Vegas and High Point, N.C.

ATLANTA–AmericasMart Atlanta has appointed Mark Furlet senior vice president/leasing for Building One home category permanent showrooms, a newly created position.

Furlet joins AmericasMart from dual appointments at the Chicago Merchandise Mart, where he served as vice president in charge of all gift and home business, and at the L.A. Mart, where he held the position of vice president and general manager responsible for the L.A. Mart, the L.A. Mart Design Center and California Gift Show brands.

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y.-Christian Falkenberg, vice president of GLM, has been named director of the New York International Gift Fair.

The move gives Falkenberg complete oversight over NYIGF, including strategic development, brand positioning, sales, audience marketing, public relations and operations. He reports directly to Charles McCurdy, GLM’s CEO, and succeeds Dorothy Belshaw, who left GLM earlier this month to become president of the gift division of International Market Centers.

NEW YORK-Longtime GLM executive Dorothy Belshaw has been named president of the gift division of International Market Centers.

Belshaw thus assumes charge over the Gift+Home Show in Las Vegas, and reports to Robert Maricich, IMC’s CEO. Reporting to Belshaw will be Margaret Powers, vice president of Tradeshow/Las Vegas, and the five-person trade-show sales team. Belshaw will also manage World Market Center’s permanent gift-leasing team, consisting of leasing managers Sheri Makransky and Cassie Catania.

ATLANTA-AmericasMart, looking to fuel its growth in the global trade show arena, has appointed Douglas Broward to the newly created office of AMC senior vice president/branding.

Broward is charged with creating and sustaining AmericasMart brand continuity across all shows, markets and business lines through all marketing communications channels and in the AmericasMart on-site brand presence.

Broward previously served as chief creative officer at Grizzard Advertising, which is part of the global advertising and marketing firm Omnicom Group.

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y.–Trade-show manager GLM has named Penny Sikalis vice president of business development, in charge of researching and evaluating new trade-show launches and potential show acquisitions.

In her new role, Sikalis reports directly to Charles McCurdy, GLM’s CEO. She also maintains her current position as vice president and show manager of Surtex.

HIGH POINT, N.C. and LAS VEGAS-International Market Centers has promoted four members of its High Point- and Las Vegas-based leasing teams.

Julie Messner, Craig Staack, Lee Hershberg and Margaret Powers were promoted to vice presidents, responsible for advancing new business opportunities.

NEWPORT NEWS, Va.-C&F Enterprises has appointed Kari Phillips senior designer, responsible for developing new categories for the seasonal line of Gallerie II, C&F’s sister company.

In this newly created position, Phillips reports to Cindi Steele, creative manager for both C&F and Gallerie II. Her 25-year career includes design positions with California Floral and Home, Uwharrie Chair Co., Taylor Linens, India Home Fashion and Home Style Co.

FRANKFURT, Germany—Messe Frankfurt has appointed Yvonne Engelmann as director for the Tendence and Ambiente team, as of Sept.  1.

 Reporting to Nicolette Naumann, vice president for Ambiente and Tendence, Engelmann will take over the Giving section and assume responsibility for organizing that part of the show, revolving around individual gift ideas, trendy lifestyle products and high-end jewelry.

LOS ANGELES–Jeff Sampson, vice president of marketing for the L.A. Mart Design Center, has been designated to steward the branding of the California Gift Show.

NEW YORK–Su Hilty, vice president of marketing for 7 W New York, will retire in June.

Hilty joined the showroom building in 2004, after serving as vice president of marketing for the 225 Fifth Ave. showroom building. A statement from MMPI, 7 W New York’s owner, credited her with for playing a crucial role in establishing the building as a showroom location for vendors in the gift, home-furnishings, tabletop and textiles industries.

CHICAGO–Jamie Gragg has been appointed director of market suite sales for the Chicago Market at MMPI.

Gragg is responsible for leasing temporary booths at the market, and reports directly to Sara Dahlstrom, managing director of market suite sales.

Gragg joined MMPI in 2007 as leasing director of permanent showrooms in High Point. During her tenure, she has overseen daily leasing activity at other MMPI properties including Historic Market Square, Market Square Textile Tower, Hamilton Market, Furniture Plaza, Plaza Suites and the National Furniture Mart.

ASHEVILLE, N.C.–Biltmore has appointed Donnette Miller as licensing director for home furnishings.

In this role, Miller oversees the Biltmore House’s home-furnishings licensing activities and developing new business within the brand. She reports to Tim Rosebrock, vice president and general manager, and Christy Hodgins, director of marketing. She succeeds Elizabeth Ford, who has moved to Biltmore Inspirations, a new brand developed by the historic site which will include foods and other home products, and which is slated to launch later this year.

ATLANTA — Brownlee Currey has been named president of the 22-year-old home furnishings manufacturer Currey & Company, succeeding Barry Wabler. Currey is the son of the company’s founders, Robert and Suzanne Currey, and has worked at the company since 2001, and in every department. His most recent position at Currey & Company was heading the recently created contract and international sales department.

Before joining the company, Currey worked for Crate & Barrel for five years in Chicago and Detroit.

CHICAGO—Merchandise Mart Properties Inc. has named Katherine Skelton director of leasing for L.A. Mart Gift.

LAS VEGAS–World Market Center has designated 10 executives to lead the division for the Gift + Home show, which will make its debut Aug. 2-6.

Georgia Davis, former executive vice president for Dallas Market Center, has been named vice president of Gift + Home, and is responsible for the strategy, sales and growth of the show.

ATLANTA–Brett Austin has been named vice president in charge of AmericasMart marketing and sales services, according to Jeffrey L. Portman, Sr., president and chief operating officer of AmericasMart Atlanta and its AMC, Inc., parent entity.
 
Austin’s appointment as vice president elevates and expands his previous position as AMC marketing and publishing procurement/production director, in which for the past four years he has managed all goods and services acquisition and directed production of all print material.

MONTGOMERY, Ala.–Chad Beasley has joined Caffco as its national sales manager for the independent and specialty retail market. Most recently, Beasley served as OneCoast’s southeastern regional sales manager.
Earlier this year, Caffco named Tim Matt its product development/designer. His work history includes stints with Transpac Imports, Clay Art and Pacific Rim.

PITTSBURGH–SnapRetail, the recently formed consumer-products e-marketing firm, has rounded out its management team with the hiring of Kelly Gunn as vice president of business development for the gift and collegiate industries.

HUNTINGTON PARK, Calif.–Contemporary lighting and home decor company Nova has named Daniele Semeraro product design manager, where he will oversee the design process from development to completion.
Semeraro has previously worked at a Swedish car interiors company that developed materials for Volvo and Volkswagen, among other cars, as well as hospitality design company Hirsch Bedner Associations in the U.S. His background also includes extensive work in lighting design as well as the launching of his own company in Italy, which produced a stemless wine glass.

UPPER SADDLE RIVER, N.J.–Hunter Douglas has appointed Michele Watson director of brand management for its Metal & Alternative Wood Blind business unit.
In this newly created position, Watson now oversees all product design, color development, merchandising support, sample and display programs, price lists, marketing direction, promotions and systems coordination for all Metal & Alternative Wood Blind products and programs. She reports to Kevin Armstrong, vice president and general manager of Hunter Douglas’ Horizontal Blinds division.

KINGSTON, N.Y.–Nancy Meyer, the former senior editor of furniture, lighting and home decor for HFN, has been named editor of New York House, a monthly magazine covering residential real estate, construction, design and green living in New York.
Meyer will oversee repositioning New York House for growth in green and sustainable home building, design and furnishings, as well as enhancing its home furnishings coverage.
She reports to Jonathan Schein, publisher of New York House and president and chief executive officer of ScheinMedia.

LOS ANGELES–Merchandise Mart Properties, Inc., has named Mark Furlet vice president and general manager for the L.A. Mart, where he will oversee all operations, marketing, leasing and building support for the nearly 250 showrooms housed there. He replaces Michael Kessler, who left earlier this month to pursue other interests.
Furlet was previously the leasing director for The Chicago Market: Living and Giving at Chicago’s Merchandise Mart. He will begin his new role immediately.

ATLANTA–The Vera Company, a contemporary lifestyle brand founded by artist Vera Neumann, said it has created a Home division and appointed Kathleen Schaag Haffamier as division vice president.
With more than 30 years of experience in the home decor industry, Haffamier will assist in revitalizing the Vera brand in the home arena, and will develop licensing relationships with manufacturers and retailers.

DALLAS–Cyril Ip, a co-founder of Oriental Accent Inc., has taken on the title of president of the decorative accessory importer.
He takes over the title from his brother and co-founder Richard Yip, who continues as chief executive officer. Ip reports to Yip.
Ip, who founded the company along with Richard Yip and his sister-in-law, Trea Yip, has overseen product development and traveled to factories for Oriental Accent since 1979. Ip will continue to manage the product development team for Oriental Accent.

RONKONKOMA, N.Y.–Sculpture and home decor company Austin has announced that Maura Murphy has rejoined the company as director of marketing, reporting to Andrew Cymrot, senior vice president. She formerly served as district manager and director of special markets, where she gained experience in territory and product development and marketing. She also worked at Ellery Homestyles as merchandising manager of the decorative pillow, throw and bedding division.
In her new position, she will provide a greater level of service to Austin’s customers and sales team.

ROCKY MOUNT, Va.–Uttermost has added two additional designers, Matthew Williams and David Frisch, to support the company’s growth. Williams and Frisch began at Uttermost on a freelance basis in May 2007, and their initial product introductions will debut at the January markets.