Whitewood Industries Makes Leadership Changes

Furniture World News Desk on 5/24/2019

Furniture manufacturer and supplier, Whitewood Industries, announced that it has re-positioned leadership roles in two of its four divisions.

According to Jorge Mata, CEO Whitewood Industries, the repositioning is a strategic move to secure the company’s strength and ongoing growth, following the company’s sell to its employees through an ESOP (Employee Stock Ownership Program) in December of 2017.

Bryan Sprinkles, who joined the companies then casual dining division, John Thomas Furniture, in 2006 as Sales Manager, has been promoted to Vice-President Sales and Marketing. Upon joining, Sprinkles played an integral role in taking the company to new heights by increasing overall sales by forty percent in its then newly introduced custom finish program, SELECT and by incorporating a more whole home approach by adding bedroom and occasional.

In his new position, Sprinkles, based on company goals, will establish all programs and promotions to support sales objectives, as well as manage the company’s brand direction, marketing initiatives, and distribution channels.

Product development, in association with the company’s design team and factory partners, will also be under his direction.

Chris Morris, who joined Whitewood Industries’ contract division, Custom Contract Furniture, as National Sales and Marketing Manager, in 2013 has been promoted to Vice-President Sales and Marketing following the retirement of founder and president, Kim Crossman. His new responsibilities include overseeing factory operations and quality standards, product development and engineering, as well as managing the sales force,

“As our company enters into this next chapter,” according to Mata, “we’re excited to have such an
amazingly innovative team leading it.”
 

About Whitewood Industries: Founded in 1982 as a distributor of ready-to-finish furniture to retail stores throughout the eastern United States, Whitewood Inds. has evolved into a leading supplier of finished and unfinished furniture sold through leading retailers nationwide as well as designing and manufacturing for the hospitality and contract furniture industry.

Today, its four divisions include: Whitewood Ready-To-Finish (unfinished furniture), John Thomas Furniture (casual dining and custom finish programs), International Concepts (a supplier to specialty retailers) and Custom Contract Furnishings (designer/manufacturer contract upholstery).

Whitewood is headquartered in Thomasville, N.C., where it employs 300 workers and has manufacturing, warehousing, corporate office and showroom facilities totaling 578,000 square feet.

The company, now employee owned, was sold to its employees through an ESOP (Employee Stock Ownership Plan) in December 2017.

For more information, visit www.johnthomasfurniture.com or www.customcontract.com.