Brian Mehler joins Tropitone as design project manager

Mehler to act as point person for new products

-- Casual Living, 4/9/2007 6:55:00 AM

Tropitone Furniture Co. recently named Brian Mehler as design project manager. Mehler’s background in design as well as experience managing multifaceted seasonal product development are key to his new responsibilities, according to Peter Homestead, Tropitone’s vice president of design. 

      “Tropitone is bringing more new products to market over a shorter period of time every year while at the same time utilizing an expanding array of materials and managing various aspects of our production in Asia as well as the United States,” Homestead said. “We needed a ‘point person’ focused on overseeing each new product as it progresses from design concept through production and into the market. Brian is filling this role at Tropitone and is responsible for monitoring the progress of our new products throughout the design, development and manufacturing cycles.”       Mehler said he is looking forward to utilizing his experience in both design and manufacturing to support Tropitone’s ongoing commitment to designing fashionable, yet durable, casual furniture and delivering it to the marketplace in a timely way. Most recently, Mehler led product development at Small World Toys, a specialty and mass market developer of children’s toys and playground sports equipment. Prior to that, he directed product development at Maui Toys, a manufacturer and worldwide distributor of spring and summer children’s activity toys. He also led product development at Educational Insights, Inc., a developer of educational toys for both children and adults. With a bachelor of science in product design from California State University, Long Beach, Mehler also studied art, design and marketing at Loyola University Rome Center in Rome, Italy.  Earlier, he also owned a custom woodworking and design studio.