The International Home Furnishings Representatives Association announced that it will present long-time member and former President Mark Craven with its highest honor, the Harold P. Braun Distinguished Service Award. The award will be presented at the 16th Annual Furniture Industry Awards Gala this spring in High Point NC.
The Harold P. Braun DSA was founded in 1975 as IHFRA’s highest honor and award for a member. The DSA has been given annually for the past thirty-five years to a deserving representative. The recipient of the DSA is a sales representative who embodies certain qualities and character and has distinguished him or herself on behalf of IHFRA, sales representatives, the industry, and has enhanced by deed and action the image of home furnishings sales representatives in the community and the industry.
Mark is a native of Tennessee and received his Bachelors Degree in Business/Marketing from Christian Brothers University in Memphis Tennessee.
Upon graduation from Christian Brothers University in 1985, Mark began his furniture sales career working as an associate for R.A. “Tex” Craven covering the territory of Tennessee, Kentucky, Arkansas and Southwest Virginia for Fairfield Chair Company. Mark later served Fairfield Chair as a sales representative in the Maryland, Virginia and DC territory from 1987 to 2003. From 1995 to 2005 Mark was a sales representative for Hooker Furniture Corporation for the Maryland, Northern Virginia, Southern Delaware and DC, adding Bradington-Young Furniture line in 2003.
In March 2005 Mark accepted the position of Vice-President of Sales for Fairfield Chair Company. “I had many mentors throughout my sales career but none more vital or influential than my father, Tex Craven, who represented Fairfield Chair for 51 years until his death in June 2007. He gave me my start; taught me everything I know about being a good salesman; coached me; mentored me and supported me in every facet of my career. Most importantly, he was a good person, who loved his family, loved his work, loved his factories and loved his customers. All of which made it easy for me to follow in his footsteps.”
In 1985 Mark joined IHFRA as a member of the Tennessee Furniture Travelers before moving his membership to the Maryland/DC HFRA Chapter of IHFRA in 1987. Mark quickly became involved in the organization and went through the chairs to become President of Maryland/DC HFRA from 2001 to 2003. He received the Morris M. Chernoff Award in 2004 and Dean of IHFRA Award in 2003 from the Maryland/DC Chapter.
Mark Craven is passionate about education and completed the CHR (Certified Home furnishings Representative) course developed by Frank Galbrieth in October 1988. He was elected CHR Committee Chairman of the Maryland/DC HFRA Chapter in 1991 and completed the newly revised IHFRA CHR course in August 1994. Mark then went on to serve on IHFRA’s CHR committee from 1996 to 2007 and was instrumental in developing new curriculum, new instructors and marketing of the program. Mark completed IHFRA’s CHR course for the 3rd time in August 2002.
Mark Craven was elected to the Executive Committee of IHFRA in March 2002. He served as IHFRA’s 67th President in 2005 and Chairman of the Board in 2006.
Mark is married to his wife Linda for 23 years and they have 4 children, Patrick, Allyson, Sarah Ann and Scott.
The Furniture Industry Awards Gala will be held on Monday April 19, 2010 in the IHFC Ballroom on the 11th Floor of the Green Wing. The International Home Furnishings Representatives Association (IHFRA) and National Home Furnishings Association (NHFA) sponsor the event. For reservations to the Furniture Industry Awards Gala, contact the IHFRA Office at 336-889-3920 or e-mail ihfra@ihfra.org for more information.