Home furnishings execs head new generation list

Staff -- Home Textiles Today, 2/26/2001 12:00:00 AM

NEW YORK -Bea Spires and Barry Leonard are two of five textile industry executives cited by Textile World as "the new generation of leaders" for 2001-a noteworthy moniker because they are home furnishings executives.

Spires, vp, styling and design for Quaker Fabric, Fall River, MA, was cited for "helping transform the company's product line that also resulted in the launch of the Whitaker Collection."

Leonard, president and coo of Spartan International, and before that a 20-year Springs Industries veteran, joined Spartan in 1999 "and set the course for the company to become a global marketing and merchandising company," moving it away from its manufacturing roots.

Interestingly, Textile World last year cited Quaker's ceo Larry Liebenow for his leadership qualities.