Houseware vets join IHA board
ROSEMONT, Ill. The International Housewares Association has named four new directors to its board of directors. Sheldon Goodman, president of Spectrum Diversified Designs; Keith Jaffee, ceo of Focus Products Groups; Mary Ann Knaus, senior vp of strategic development and global marketing for Jarden Consumer Solutions; and Gavin Lam, ceo and president of Lynn Concepts have each been elected to three-year terms that begin on Oct. 1 and expire Sept. 30, 2010.
Goodman has more than 28 years experience in the housewares industry, having founded Spectrum Diversified Designs, a manufacturer of storage and organization products, in 1985. Prior to that, he was vp of finance/operations, for another housewares supplier from 1979-1984.
Jaffee started Focus Products Group in 2001. The company owns several housewares companies, including Amco Housewares, Chicago Metallic, West Bend Housewares and Back to Basics Products, with the last two companies comprising the Focus Electrics Group. Prior to founding Focus Products, Jaffee served as president of the Store Fixture and Store Products Group at Leggett & Platt from 1997-2001. Before that, he served as president of Amco Corp., a manufacturer of commercial storage systems and upscale housewares from 1982-97.
Knaus joined Jarden Consumer Solutions in 1998 as product manager for Mr. Coffee brand filters and accessories. Over the years she was promoted to positions of increasing responsibility in the areas of new product development, marketing and general management of the global appliance business, where she was responsible for the Mr. Coffee, Sunbeam and Oster brands. In 2003, Knaus was promoted to her current position of senior vp of strategic and global marketing. Prior to joining Jarden, Knaus held various marketing and new product development positions with housewares manufacturers including Anchor Hocking Plastics, then a division of Newell Rubbermaid, from 1997-98, and Mr. Coffee Inc. from 1992-94. From 1994-97 she served as product manager for County Line Limited/CPR Prompt, an entrepreneurial new product development company.
Lam created Lynns Concepts Inc. in 1991. The company manufactures and markets ceramic dinnerware and stainless steel cookware. Before starting Lynns Concepts, Lam was evp of C.C.A. International Inc., a supplier of ceramic dinnerware, from 1983-91 and served as marketing manager for Chinese Ceramic Arts I/E Co., Ltd. in Hong Kong from 1979-83. Lam also serves as chairman of several other companies: Tuxton China Inc., a marketer of vitrified chinaware for the food service industry, since 2000; Axa International Inc., a manufacturer of stainless steel cookware, since 1997; and Pinewave Development Group Inc., a real estate development company, since 1989.