by He initially will work with AHFA Vice President of Membership Mike Padjen, who is retiring at the end of this year
HIGH POINT — The American Home Furnishings Alliance has hired industry veteran Gene Clark as vice president of membership and associate member relations. He also will serve as executive director of the AHFA’s Solution Partners and Specialized Carriers divisions.
Initially, the AHFA said, Clark will work alongside its current vice president of membership, Michael Padjen, who is retiring at the end of this year.
Clark comes to the AHFA from youth furniture specialist My Home Furnishings, which he helped establish in 2013. One of the company’s investors, he also has been managing partner, handling sales and marketing. Clark said he remains an investor in the company, which is in the process of bringing on additional staff following his departure.
“We are not going anywhere. This was just an opportunity for me to move into something different,” he told Home News Now, noting the company’s ability to hire additional staff “gives us an opportunity to broaden our reach.”
With roots in the industry dating back to the late 1920s and 1930s when his grandfather worked for Stanley Furniture, Clark started his career with Bassett Furniture in 1987, where he was Southeast regional sales manager for about three years. From there, he became assistant vice president and regional sales manager for case goods manufacturer Vaughan-Bassett, where he worked for about five years before becoming director of galleries for Bassett Furniture for about three years.
He then returned to Vaughan-Bassett, where he was vice president and assistant merchandise manager for about seven and a half years before joining Ligna USA, the U.S. marketing arm of Indonesia-based case goods manufacturer Ligna Furniture. He worked there for nearly seven years as president of U.S. operations before helping start My Home Furnishings.
“I am looking forward to doing something different,” Clark said. “It is going to be a good opportunity for me to expand my relationships in the industry.”
In his new position, he reports to Andy Counts, chief executive officer of the AHFA.
“We are thrilled to have Gene join the AHFA team,” Counts said. “His depth of experience in the industry will be an asset as we continue growing our membership and serving our supplier community.”
