The year featured some high-profile executive moves. By Dianne M. Pogoda
NEW PRESIDENT AT SALONE: Maria Porro was named president of Italian furniture fair Salone Del Mobile. She was formerly president of Assarredo, the Italian trade association for furniture manufacturers, where she was the first female president — a distinction that she holds in her new role at Salone del Mobile.
POGGENPOHL TAPS SPEER: Marcia Speer took the helm as president of the German cabinet manufacturer’s North America division. She has more than 25 years in the high-end European cabinetry market, serving in roles including director of retail sales, director of market development and showroom manager.
CEDIA’S NEW PRESIDENT: Former GRAMMY exec Daryl Friedman became global president and CEO of CEDIA. Friedman spent more than 30 years in nonprofit leadership roles, having overseen membership, advocacy, industry relations and the technical wing for the 25,000-member Recording Academy, producer of the GRAMMY Awards and representing technical and creative music professionals.
NARI CEO IS OUT: David Pekel left his post as CEO of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry. The departure came at a challenging time for the association, as six of its chapters separated from the national organization since the beginning of 2021, with 10 others expressing issues with the group. The chapters that separated formed new independent trade groups in their respective areas under the umbrella PRO: the Professional Remodeling Organization. NARI’s Board appointed Elsie Iturralde to serve as interim CEO. She has served as the association’s chief operating officer for over 20 years.
HIGH POINT TAPS NEW CHAIR, VICE CHAIR: Alex Shuford 3rd was named Chair of the Board of Directors for the High Point Market Authority. He is CEO of Rock House Farm Family of Brands and Century Furniture and has served on the HPMA board and executive committee since 2018. He succeeds Dudley Moore Jr., president of Otto & Moore, who served as Board Chair for three years and now moves to the role of immediate past chair. Christi Barbour, founder of Barbour Spangle Design, assumed the role of Vice Chair after serving on the HPMA board and executive committee for three years and as chair of the board’s curated entertainment task force.