Valdese promotes five

By Staff -- Home Textiles Today, 3/26/2008 1:20:00 PM

Valdese, N.C. – Valdese Weavers has promoted five executives to new management positions as a result of the company’s dramatic growth over the past few years.

L. Snyder Garrison, formerly senior vice president, administration, has been promoted to chief financial officer and chief administrative officer. He will be responsible for all financial and administrative departments and activities for all company brands.

Carson O. Copeland, formerly senior vice president of manufacturing, has been promoted to chief operating officer, responsible for all company brands at all of the facilities.

Blake E. Millinor has been promoted to the new post of president of the Valdese Weavers Contract division, responsible for all company functions in the contract market. He was senior vice president, contract.

Zachary D. Taylor, formerly vice president, marketing, has been promoted to senior vice president of sales and marketing, responsible for all sales and marketing activities in the residential markets under the Valdese Weavers and Home Fabrics brands.

Joseph P. Feege will continue as executive vice president. With Taylor’s promotion he will shift his priorities to selling activities across all company brands.

Anita B. Huffman, previously controller, has been promoted to vice president/controller with responsibility to execute all company financial strategies at the direction of Garrison.

“We recognize that since we made significant acquisitions last year and have had dynamic growth internally over the last few years, we are a different company with different management needs. We have promoted people to address these changes,” said Mike Shelton, president and chief executive officer.

Last year, Valdese acquired the Circa 1801/Doblin, Home Fabrics and Mastercraft contract fabrics divisions from the bankruptcy of Joan Fabncs. Earlier, it started a VIP division that produces fabrics off-shore.