From top left: Christi Barbour, Jordan Beck, Garrett Bowman, Tiffany Bowman, Nathan Cressman, Jess Flanders, Kyle Hoff, Chelsea Hughes, Jill John, Tara Massood and Luke Silver
Christi Barbour, Barbour Spangle Design Co-founder of award-winning Barbour Spangle Design in High Point, Christi Barbour and her partner Christi Spangle lead a team of 14 designers working with clients around the globe for residential, showroom, commercial and educational installations. In 2020, Barbour was recognized with the Triad Business Journal’s Outstanding Women in Business award, honored for her efforts to endorse High Point’s revitalization and her work on various local boards. She was the first interior designer to be named to the executive committee of the High Point Market Authority and the second designer ever to be on the board.
Most recently, Barbour Spangle Design moved into one of the firm’s own design projects: Congdon Yards, a former 100-year-old hosiery mill and furniture showroom building in High Point. Jordan Beck, Heritage Sleep Concepts Jordan Beck is the fifth generation to take an executive role at Rome, Ga.-based Heritage Sleep Concepts, a mattress manufacturer. At 25, he is chief operating officer of the company where he wears a number of hats, including product development, sales and marketing. He learned the business through his parents — both employed at the company — and his grandfather Terry Spears, who owned Spears Mattress, a predecessor to Heritage Sleep. Beck says he has “spent countless hours talking shop with his grandfather and credits him with the knowledge he has gleaned in the past three years.” Passionate about the bedding industry and its success, Beck is looking to develop and network with other young professionals in the category and is interesting in starting a professionals group for young executives in the business.
Garrett Bowman, Gulfstream Shippers Assn Tiffany Bowman, Bluewater Logistics
Logistics and supply chain are “all in the family” for this husband and wife. They are, respectively, president and CFO of ocean-shipping buying association Gulfstream Shippers Assn. and CEO of domestic supply chain services provider Bluewater Logistics. Tiffany, who joined Bluewater in January after three and a half years working with Bernhardt Furniture as import/export manager, literally grew up around the logistics end of the industry. Her father, Freddie Davis, is a longtime supply chain professional. Before Bernhardt, she spent eight years with Global Shippers Assn., the ocean-shipping specialist Davis founded in 2005. While at Appalachian State University, she worked as an intern with ocean carrier MSC as well as at GSA. This year, she received an MBA from Wake Forest University. Garrett, 30, began working with Davis, at Global Shippers Assn. and as an intern at Charleston, S.C.-based United Cargo Management while still at Wake Forest University and Applachian State. After graduation, he spent almost three years working in procurement and buying with Georgia Pacific, before getting back into logistics with e-tailer Modtempo, where he became chief operations officer. In 2018, he joined Gulfstream Shippers, which Davis established in 2018 after retiring from Global Shippers Assn. With experience beyond their years, Garrett has become a go-to resource at GSA for a couple of years now when Furniture Today takes on supply chain issues, while Tiffany has served as a featured speaker at industry events including a presentation at this year’s AHFA Logistics Conference on attracting Millennial talent to furniture logistics operations. Nathan Cressman, Magnussen Home Furnishings As president and CEO of Magnussen, Nathan Cressman is credited with leading the company “to continue to raise the bar of excellence.” This year, he has begun building a team with an eye on developing a new brand for the company. In March, he brought on Eric Graham, bringing his product development and supply chain experience, and in June he added Adam Tilley, another case goods product development talent. With this new fire power, Cressman has his eye on pursing product line extensions, new manufacturing partners, integrated product development processes and different price points “to become the preferred vendor for today’s retailer,” as he told Furniture Today. Jess Flanders, Lloyd Flanders Vice president of marketing for the venerable outdoor home furnishings company, Jess Flanders has recently taken on her father’s mantle as chair of Lloyd Flanders’ board of directors, continuing the family legacy begun when Don and Dudley Flanders bought Lloyd Manufacturing in 1982 to form Lloyd Flanders and to produce its contemporary loom furniture. Flanders, the third generation of the family to take an executive management role, began attending Casual Market Chicago when she was 15, but she only joined the company in 2015. Since then, she has been responsible for marketing initiatives and showroom design, as well as assisting with product development and having an ever-expanding role in overall business strategy. Kyle Hoff, Floyd Kyle Hoff, CEO of the Detroit-based direct-to-consumer furniture brand, founded the company along with current chief operating officer Alex O’Dell in 2013. They started with a single product, The Floyd Leg, as a reaction to disposable furniture. Floyd’s products are designed in-house in Detroit, and manufactured through a simplified U.S.-based supply chain. Hoff said they set out to design products that last through timeless design, honest materials and adaptability for how people live. The company has grown to more than 50 employees and has raised $25 million in capital. Floyd recently launched a new circular online marketplace called Full Cycle that will offer used and imperfect furniture to consumers nationwide. Hoff has a Master’s degree in architecture from the University of Michigan.
Chelsea Hughes, Weekends Only Furniture and Mattress
Chelsea Hughes, the current vice president of merchandising, marketing and digital experience for Weekends Only, believes that uniting those three areas under one umbrella enables the retailer to be agile and innovative like never before. “In an ever-evolving retail environment, I’ve learned that creating an end-to-end experience for customers is paramount,” Hughes said. “I am focused on putting the customers’ needs first and committed to enhancing the shopping experience, at every phase, in every channel.” Hughes has previously worked with Pier One Imports, JCPenney, the May Company and L’Oréal. She was named as the 2020 Woman on the Rise by Women in Retail Leadership Circle and serves on the Customer Experience Advisory Board for Missouri State University.
Jill John, Interior Define
Jill John has been the chief customer officer at the direct-to-consumer custom furniture brand for nearly two years. Her role centers on establishing the voice and visual identity of the brand and creating a genuine connection with consumers. John said her integrated approach puts the customer at the center of all decisions. With more than 20 years of experience in sales and business development, John has been successful in driving growth and innovative customer experiences across the luxury home décor category. Prior to joining Interior Define, John spent five years as senior vice president of customer experience and brand marketing at home brand Serena & Lily. She has also previously held the position of director of sales and business development at Williams-Sonoma where she focused on the development of B2B channels.
Tara Massood, Massood Logistics
Tara Massood, vice president of Massood Logistics, is another young executive with furniture in her blood. She represented the third generation of her family in the business, first when she joined Thomasville Stores of New Jersey’s East Hanover location as assistant business manager in 2007. She’s the daughter of Eddie Massood, who also was a principal in MGM Transport, the carrier founded by his father, the late Michael Massood Sr. She joined Massood Logistics, the 3PL Eddie founded in 2010, first as general manager. Since then she’s run the day-to-day operation. Under her leadership, Massood has expanded its warehouse and fulfillment network with the recent opening its new 300,000-square-foot headquarters in Archdale, N.C., which now serves as its distribution hub for central North Carolina and the East Coast. Furniture Today Staff // Staff Editors • September 6, 2021
Luke Silver, Steve Silver Co.
Luke Silver, named president of the full-line furniture importer this summer, is another continuing a family tradition. In 1983, his father, CEO Steve Silver, founded the company, which has grown to a sourcing powerhouse with a network including 60 personnel in five Asia offices. In 2012, the younger Silver joined the company to lead its China office. He moved back stateside in 2018 to lead purchasing and product development. Today, he oversees all sales, marketing and purchasing operations, allowing his father to transition into managing strategic direction and day-to-day operations of Steve Silver Co.’s Texas warehousing. Now Silver will be instrumental in implementing a five-year growth plan at Steve Silver Co., which since 2018 has seen considerable growth in motion upholstery to complement its case goods and occasional furniture. That plan includes this year’s addition of a 400,000-square-foot warehouse in Mesquite, Texas, to support its motion business.
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