Patio Parties

Casual leaders let their hair down

Nicole Crews -- Casual Living, 10/1/2012 2:00:00 AM

CHICAGO - The 2012 International Casual Furniture & Accessories Market was a whirlwind of activity Sept. 20-23, with four floors of the Merchandise Mart teeming with product, dealers and manufacturers. Between order writing and showroom touring, attendees found information and entertainment in the form of seminars, speakers, cocktail parties and numerous breakfasts, luncheons and dinners throughout the show.

	Lane Venture celebrated its 40th Anniversary on opening day with a champagne breakfast set to the sounds of a jazz trio. President Gary McCray, Kristin and Douglas Shearer of Paine’s Patio and Teresa Buelin, sales and marketing manager toast the occasion.
Steve Ellington of Tri Vantage; Dave Swers, VP and assistant general manager, Merchandising Manager Marcia Blake and Suzie Roberts, senior VP – all of Sunbrella with designer Joe Ruggiero on the 8th Floor at the Merchandise Mart.	Steve Ellington
	Casual Living Publisher Norman Hamilton, Treasure Garden COO Margaret Chang and Agio President Bob Gaylord gather at the annual Apollo gala held at the Field Museum.
Bill Heckman, sales rep for Pride Family Brands and NorthCape International, and Pride Family Brands President Steve Lowsky at the Apollos.
	Dirk Rogers of OW Lee shares a cocktail with retailer Doug Sanicola of Outdoor Elegance at OW Lee’s 10th annual ‘A World of Martinis’ party.
Jean Liu, president, Woodard; Kristin O’Brien, national sales manager, Casual Living; Kate Carret, president, Seaside Casual; Tami Newton, senior VP, Palm Springs Rattan; Ashley Nolan, senior VP, Leader’s Casual Furniture; Maggie Bederian, president, Beka Casting; Casual Living Executive Editor Nicole Crews; Houri Bederian, senior VP, Beka Casting; Victoria Dawson, director of design and merchandising, Brown Jordan; Suzie Roberts, senior VP, Sunbrella; Connie Lineberry, senior VP, marketing, Sandow Media and Margaret Chang, COO, Treasure Garden. Also at the table were Casey C. Ramage, VP of marketing, Brown Jordan, along with Wendy Rhiger, VP of strategic development and communications, Brown Jordan and Cinde Ingram, Editor in Chief, Casual Living, for a Women in the Industry dinner at 321 Chicago.
	John Brennen, executive VP, MMPI, and wife Betty Ann take a seat for the Apollo Awards and ensuing entertainment.
Buyer Cory Hermann and Kyle Johansen of HOM Furniture at the Green Door Tavern – the traditional reps’ night out hot spot.
	Laurie Rudd of Laurie Rudd Public Relations & Marketing, Pride Family Brands CEO Jamie Lowsky, Casual Living’s National Sales Manager Kristin O’Brien and Editor-in-Chief Cinde W. Ingram make their way to the table at the Apollo Awards dinner.
MMPI’s Madeline Tullier, Amy Killory and Jaclyn Kelly welcome HGTV design star and Casual Market keynote John Gidding with open arms.
	Matt Biagi, Brian Lawrence and Stephanie Everett of Emigh's Casual Living, Sacramento, Calif., pause at Poly-Wood's Poly-Nesian Party.
ABSCO Fireplace & Patio founders John and Catherine Galbreath with their daughter, current ABSCO Owner Cathy and son-in-law Scott Buzbee.
	Roberta Cioci and Greg Johnson of JDG Sales at the Green Door Tavern gathering where Agio’s Andy Sokol joined the band with his harmonica and Tropitone rep Fred Gilbert was on drums.
The powerhouse women of Gensun Casual Living: from left, Christy Dase, Priscilla Trinkley, General Manager Sherry Cal and President Lisa Zhou.
	From left, Doug Hertel, Lauren Hodges, Doug Rassi and Mark Phillabaum with Poly-Wood’s showroom merchandising award