Craig Cleveland, CHR Honored with Distinguished Service Award

Furniture World News

The International Home Furnishings Representatives Association will give long-time member and former president Craig Cleveland its highest honor, the Harold Braun Distinguished Service Award. Criteria for the award is: To be presented to an IHFRA member in good standing who through his individual efforts and abilities has distinguished himself on behalf of IHFRA and has enhanced and benefited the image of the home furnishings representative. Craig began his career in the furniture industry in a retail store in Valdosta GA. What started as a part time job ended up as a career. Craig began his career as a manufacturer’s representative in Florida working for several companies, including Richardson Brothers with whom he enjoyed 17 years of service. Craig is now with GSC International and Mac Motion. For many years, Craig worked tirelessly for the International Home Furnishings Representatives Association. He served as the legislative chairman from 1995 to 1999. During that time he worked with many other IHFRA members to lobby congress to enact legislation that would benefit the self employed. With the hard work, dedication, and support of other sales representatives many accomplishments were achieved. These included the reinstatement of the home office deduction, increased deduction for health insurance, and a larger depreciation allowance for office equipment and software. Craig served on the IHFRA Executive Committee and was the 63rd President of IHFRA in 2001. Craig has also been very active in the Florida Home Furnishings Representatives Association. He is Past President of the Florida HFRA, National Chairman of Rep Pac (a political action committee developed to lobby congress for the rights of sales representatives), member of the Board of Directors of the Florida Furniture Market promoted by Larry Karel, and former member of the Board of Directors of the Florida Retailers Association. Craig and his wife Susan have two daughters and reside in Indialantic, Florida. They are licensed foster parents and have devoted much time supporting and nurturing homeless children. Craig Cleveland, CHR will be presented the Harold Braun Distinguished Service Award at the Twelfth Annual Furniture Industry Awards Gala on April 27, 2006. The Gala is sponsored by the International Home Furnishings Representatives Association and the National Home Furnishings Association.