WHITE PLAINS, N.Y.–Trade-show manager GLM has named Penny Sikalis vice president of business development, in charge of researching and evaluating new trade-show launches and potential show acquisitions.

In her new role, Sikalis reports directly to Charles McCurdy, GLM’s CEO. She also maintains her current position as vice president and show manager of Surtex.

ONEIDA, N.Y.-Jim Joseph has resigned as president and CEO of Oneida to become an Executive in Residence at LeMoyne College. His last day at Oneida will be Jan. 31, 2012.

Joseph said he will continue to work with Oneida on “strategic projects” as a member of the flatware company’s newly created board of directors.

WOODS CROSS, Utah–Candle Warmers Etc. has promoted Brett Heyland to the newly created position of vice president of sales. In his new role Heyland will direct the company’s in-house sales team to exceed revenue, sales profitability, and budgetary objectives.

GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass.–Kim McGuire is the new vice president of sales and marketing for tabletop company Michael Wainwright.

McGuire most recently was director of international and domestic sales at Jay Strongwater. She succeeds Pamela Burke, who joined Prouna as vice president of sales and marketing last month.

FRANKFURT, Germany—Messe Frankfurt has appointed Yvonne Engelmann as director for the Tendence and Ambiente team, as of Sept.  1.

 Reporting to Nicolette Naumann, vice president for Ambiente and Tendence, Engelmann will take over the Giving section and assume responsibility for organizing that part of the show, revolving around individual gift ideas, trendy lifestyle products and high-end jewelry.

CANNON FALLS, Minn.–Midwest-CBK announced today that president Frederic Contino is departing the company and Troy Propes, president of parent group MVP Group International will assume leadership of the company.

Propes led the MVP Group International purchase of Midwest-CBK in May. Headquartered in Charleston, S.C., MVP Group International has offices around the world.

TOLEDO–Libbey has appointed Stephanie A. Streeter CEO. Streeter, a former public company CEO and a former member of the United States Olympic Committee, succeeds John Meier, who is retiring after 41 years with Libbey.

Streeter will be elected to the Libbey Board of Directors effective August 1.

LOS ANGELES–Tabletop and cookware company Lynns Concepts has named Michael Byrne to the newly created position of president.

Byrne will work with Lynns’ partners overseas and will be the principle driver of all Lynns’ North American operations, according to a statement from the company. Byrne will also be the principal driver for the company’s new production facility in northern China and will manage sourcing and distribution channels for the company’s American stainless steel cookware and ceramics businesses.

MOSS BEACH, Calif.–Linda Kinkler has been appointed to the newly created position of vice president sales at Red Pomegranate. Red Pomegranate, a division of II Sisters, based in Moss Beach, Calif., specializes in gilded glass tableware manufactured in Turkey.

OAKLAND, N.J.–After serving in the tabletop industry for 65 years, Raymond Zrike has retired as chairman of The Zrike Company as of April 1.

He joined the tabletop industry in 1946, after his discharge as a naval officer in World War II, and took a position with Royal Worcester USA, eventually becoming its president. He retired from Royal Worcester in 1972, and then founded Kosta Boda USA to distribute the products of the Swedish glassware company.

SOUTH DEERFIELD, Mass.-The Yankee Candle Company has promoted Deborah Norris to vice president and general merchandise manager for merchandise planning and allocation. In addition, Hope Margala Klein, senior vice president of brand, design and innovation, will assume responsibility for the gift and accessory development teams.

MANCHESTER, Mass.—Stanley Reeve is the new chief executive officer of tabletop manufacturer Mariposa.

Reeve was previously the vice president of finance and operations for Rare, an environmental non-profit organization that helps protect biodiversity. Reeve’s career history also includes 14 years with Illinois Tool Works, a specialty industrial products company.

Mariposa’s handmade  aluminum tableware, glassware and gift accessories feature designs by local artisans worldwide using 100-percent recycled materials.

ASHEVILLE, N.C.–Biltmore has appointed Donnette Miller as licensing director for home furnishings.

In this role, Miller oversees the Biltmore House’s home-furnishings licensing activities and developing new business within the brand. She reports to Tim Rosebrock, vice president and general manager, and Christy Hodgins, director of marketing. She succeeds Elizabeth Ford, who has moved to Biltmore Inspirations, a new brand developed by the historic site which will include foods and other home products, and which is slated to launch later this year.

NEW YORK–Rogaska has named Brent McDaneld to the newly created position of vice president of sales and marketing of its U.S. affiliate Rogaska America, Inc. He reports to Bostjan Leskovar, president of Rogaska America.
 

SLEEPY HOLLOW, N.Y.–Tabletop executive Michael Jeansson has been named a partner and vice president of sales for NGL associates, a sales representative firm, effective Jan. 1, 2011.

Jeansson has been the president of Sagaform USA since 2005, and previously worked for Orrefors Kosta Boda for 20 years in a variety of management positions in the United States and Sweden.

CHICAGO—Merchandise Mart Properties Inc. has appointed Nancy Michael senior marketing and strategy director for the gift and home decor industry, effective Jan. 3, 2011. In her new role, Michael will be based in Chicago working directly with Trisha Schultz, marketing director, and the entire Chicago Market team, as well as coordinating and leveraging marketing activity across all three locations: Los Angeles, Chicago and New York.

DAYTON, N.J.–Marguerite “Maggie” Riegel has been promoted to vice president of product and design at Artland.  This is a newly created position in which Riegel reports to William Flaherty, executive vice president.

“In her eight years at Artland, Ms. Riegel has been responsible for all product and design, which is the driving force in a company like Artland,” Flaherty said. Riegel is a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design and previously held design positions at Lenox and Boston Warehouse.

OMAHA, Neb.—Stewart Kasen and James A. Shea have been appointed to the board of directors of Gordmans Stores.

Kasen is the retired president and chief executive officer of S&K Famous Brands, a chain of menswear stores. He has also served as CEO of retailers Thalhimers, Emporium-Capwell, Best Products, Factory Card Outlet and Schwarzschilds. Shea recently retired as executive vice president of merchandising, marketing and supply chain of AutoZone, and was the co-founder of Internet retailer Portero. He was also CEO and a director of Party City.

DAYTON, N.J.–Gregg Gershon has joined tabletop company Artland as vice president of sales, a position that had been vacant for several years. Gershon, a former Hampton Forge executive, reports to Bill Flaherty, executive vice president.

“I am very excited about joining Artland and being able to help expand our business,” Gershon said. “We have an outstanding group of reps who will help us grow our business. Like every executive who is joining a new company I look forward to bringing new ideas and sparking new relationships for Artland.”

NEW YORK–Barry Leonard has left Croscill, Ex-Cell Home Fashions/Glenoit and will become president and chief executive officer of Welspun USA.

Leonard will formally take his new post on Sept. 6, and will be responsible for the Indian textiles giant’s entire U.S. operations. He will report to Dipali Goenka, executive director of Welspun Global Brands, in these newly created positions.

CRANBURY, N.J.—High-end tabletop company Mottahedeh has named Lyle Stevens to the new position of brand director for sales and marketing.

Stevens has more than 20 years of experience, including 15 as a showroom owner in Atlanta.

“We are immensely proud of what Mottahedeh stands for as a company and of what we have achieved in our 80 plus year history,” said Wendy Kvalheim, chief executive officer.”

LAS VEGAS–World Market Center has designated 10 executives to lead the division for the Gift + Home show, which will make its debut Aug. 2-6.

Georgia Davis, former executive vice president for Dallas Market Center, has been named vice president of Gift + Home, and is responsible for the strategy, sales and growth of the show.

NEW YORK–7 W New York announced that Toni Toreno has been appointed as the building’s new director of trade show sales.

In this role, Toreno will be responsible for all trade show activity on the 11th floor of the building.  This includes 7 W-produced events like the upcoming NYC Baby & Kids Fair, as well as external shows.

ATLANTA–Brett Austin has been named vice president in charge of AmericasMart marketing and sales services, according to Jeffrey L. Portman, Sr., president and chief operating officer of AmericasMart Atlanta and its AMC, Inc., parent entity.
 
Austin’s appointment as vice president elevates and expands his previous position as AMC marketing and publishing procurement/production director, in which for the past four years he has managed all goods and services acquisition and directed production of all print material.

NEW YORK–After 20 years—and over 40 New York Tabletop Markets—Deborah Brown Elliott, Forty One Madison’s marketing and communications arm is retiring.

SECAUCUS, N.J.–Joseph Taylor has been named chairman and chief executive officer of Panasonic North America, effective April 1.
Taylor has also been promoted to managing executive officer of the parent, Panasonic Corp. As chairman and CEO of Panasonic North America, he will succeed Yoshi Yamada, who will move to Japan to head the parent company’s global industrial sales sector.

MONTGOMERY, Ala.–Chad Beasley has joined Caffco as its national sales manager for the independent and specialty retail market. Most recently, Beasley served as OneCoast’s southeastern regional sales manager.
Earlier this year, Caffco named Tim Matt its product development/designer. His work history includes stints with Transpac Imports, Clay Art and Pacific Rim.

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y.–GLM has appointed Melissa Engongoro and Randi Mohr to sales-manager positions connected with the New York International Gift Fair.

LOS ANGELES–Merchandise Mart Properties, Inc., has named Mark Furlet vice president and general manager for the L.A. Mart, where he will oversee all operations, marketing, leasing and building support for the nearly 250 showrooms housed there. He replaces Michael Kessler, who left earlier this month to pursue other interests.
Furlet was previously the leasing director for The Chicago Market: Living and Giving at Chicago’s Merchandise Mart. He will begin his new role immediately.

PITTSFIELD, Mass.–Tonio Palmer has been named chief executive officer of the Annie Selke Cos.
In this newly created position, Palmer has assumed responsibility over the company’s infrastructure, with a focus on maintaining the company’s culture as it expands and leverages its design and sourcing functions.