KIAWAH ISLAND, S.C. – Richard Magnussen, CEO of Magnussen Home, New Hamburg, Ontario,, was elected 2017 chairman of the American Home Furnishings Alliance Board of Directors during the organization’s annual meeting in Kiawah Island, South Carolina, November 3-6.

Bill Wittenberg, CEO of Klaussner Home Furnishings, Asheboro, North Carolina, was elected first vice chairman, and Gat Caperton, CEO of Gat Creek Furniture of Berkeley Springs, West Virginia, was elected second vice chairman.

AHFA’s 2016 chairman, Kevin O’Connor of Samson Marketing, moves to immediate past-chairman of the Board of Directors for 2017. All of the new officers assume their posts on January 1.

Executives newly elected to three-year terms on the Board of Directors include: Doug Collier, La-Z-Boy Inc.; Eric Graham, Fine Furniture Design; Allan Palecek, Palecek; Glenn Prillaman, Stanley Furniture; and Todd Wanek, Ashley Furniture Industries Inc.

Continuing on the board with terms expiring at the end of 2018 are David Beckmann, Emerald Home Furnishings; Roger Bland, Southern Motion; Dan Bradley, Chaddock; Andy Bray, Vanguard Furniture Company Inc.; Jeff Cook, A.R.T. Furniture; Kurt Darrow, La-Z-Boy Inc.; Rory Rehmert, Castelle; and Ron Wanek, Ashley Furniture Industries Inc.

Continuing service with terms expiring at the end of 2017 are Doug Bassett, Vaughan-Bassett Furniture; Jeb Bassett, Bassett Furniture; Bruce Birnbach, American Leather; Roy Calcagne, Craftmaster Furniture; Karel Czanderna, Flexsteel Inds.; Michael Delgatti, Hooker Furniture; Todd Evans, Standard Furniture; Randy Ford, Leggett & Platt; and Eric Parsons, Gloster Furniture.

AHFA is based in High Point, N.C., and represents more than 200 leading furniture manufacturers and distributors, along with about 150 suppliers to the furniture industry worldwide.  AHFA serves as the residential furniture industry’s advocate in Washington, D.C., on all legislative and regulatory matters and leads the development of voluntary environmental, product safety and construction standards for home furnishings. Membership is open to all manufacturers and distributors of home furnishings for the U.S. market.