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Glenn Prillaman |
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
By GINNY WRAY - Bulletin Staff Writer
Glenn Prillaman, who joined Stanley Furniture Co. Inc. in 1993 as a sales representative, was named its president and chief operating officer on Tuesday.
Prillaman most recently was executive vice president–marketing and sales and has been one of the three members of the company’s Office of the President since September 2008.
The other members of that office, Douglas I. Payne, executive vice president–finance and administration, and Stephen A. Bullock, executive vice president–operations, now will report to Prillaman.
Prillaman said he will be responsible for sales and marketing as well as operations, which includes manufacturing and engineering, supply management, purchasing and other aspects. He added that he will continue to work closely with Payne and Bullock.
“Our focus is going to be on our two domestic plants, mostly. We have some overseas sourcing, but the vast majority of our production is in Virginia and North Carolina,” he said.
Prillaman said he does not envision major changes at Stanley.
“I am committed to our current strategy ... we are going to thrive as an American manufacturer. That’s really the best way we feel we can serve our customers and differentiate ourselves from most other people in our industry,” he said.
In a news release, he stated, “I look forward to addressing the challenges we and the industry face. We continue to like our position in the marketplace as an American manufacturer of better goods and remain confident in our longer-term growth prospects through a combination of gaining market share and an eventual recovery of the industry in general.”
Albert L. Prillaman, chairman and chief executive officer of Stanley and Glenn Prillaman’s father, said having three men serve as president was a temporary step that “gave everybody more seasoning. At that time, we didn’t anticipate such a severe recession. It’s tested everybody.
“The board is very pleased with how they’ve handled it. ... But we still have our work cut out. Glenn is the right person to lead us,” Albert Prillaman continued. “It’s just time (to make the change). He’s earned it. He’s ready for it. ... The board felt it was time to consolidate behind one person.”
Albert Prillaman will continue as chairman and CEO of Stanley, focusing on strategic issues. He lives in Hilton Head, S.C.
Both he and Michael P. Haley, chairman of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee of Stanley’s board, noted Glenn Prillaman’s role in building the company’s Young America line of youth furniture.
“Glenn has been a driving force in developing the company’s Young America product line into the industry leader in infant-to-teen furniture. He has also led the company’s adult product line efforts towards differentiation through brand licensing and semi-custom finish offerings,” Haley said. “Glenn’s knowledge, experience and understanding of all aspects of our business coupled with his vision will help to prepare the company for continued future success.”
Prillaman, 38, grew up on Nottingham Lane, a quarter of a mile from Stanley’s main office in Stanleytown. He graduated from Roanoke College in Salem in 1993, the year he joined Stanley. Previously, he had been a manufacturing trainee with Stanley.
He has since held various management positions in product development, marketing and sales for the past 10 years. He now lives in Greensboro with his wife, Carli.
Prillaman readily admitted that some people will think he got the promotion because of his father.
“There were those who said that when I worked in the factory in the summers. I’ve dealt with that all my life,” he said. “I was always taught that in any healthy organization there has got to be people who are pushed up. You can’t be pulled up or it creates the wrong culture throughout the company. ... It all comes down to performance.” |
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