CHICAGO - Chuck Saylor, founder and CEO of izzy+, a manufacturer of contract furnishings, assumed the role of president of the Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturers Assn. at BIFMA's annual breakfast meeting held June 13 during NeoCon.

Saylor succeeds Stan Askren, chairman, president and CEO of HNI, who served two consecutive one-year terms as BIFMA president.

Making his final speech as BIFMA president, Askren recalled the mission the board of directors began two years ago. "It started with the question, 'Why do we (BIFMA) exist?" Askren said. That question led the board to dive deeper and take a close look at what the association "should stop doing and start doing" in order to "keep BIFMA relevant."

Saylor picked up where Askren left off. He noted that a new statement of purpose was adopted tied to the tag line, "The Industry Voice for Workplace Solutions."

In addition to adopting a new mission statement, Saylor said much effort was made to "strategically think about the roles of BIFMA board members."

Saylor also noted that BIFMA is in its strongest financial position in its history. He added that some of these funds will be used to promote BIFMA and its programs, including its level certification program for commercial office furniture.

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