Brown Jordan Announces

Executive Appointment

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA

Brown Jordan has appointed Wendy Rhiger to vice president of Strategic Development and Communications. She will develop initiatives in support of the company's agenda for new markets, media, branding and emerging products, and will also develop and implement business growth strategies and oversee all Brown Jordan communications in order to strengthen its positioning, messaging and brand development.

Chris Carmicle, president of Brown Jordan, commented, "Rhiger's appointment is part of a series of changes being made to expand and revitalize the brand, and demonstrates Brown Jordan's ambition to take the company into the next phase of it's extraordinary journey."

Chief brand officer of Brown Jordan, Steve Elton, said, "Rhiger's proven business acumen, marketing savvy and passion for great design will be a valuable asset. I am confident that she will play an important role in furthering the Brown Jordan legacy and expanding the brand's reach into new markets both domestically and overseas."

Immediately prior to joining Brown Jordan, Rhiger was the director of Marketing for JANUS et Cie, leading all marketing and branding initiatives as well as all communications for the firm. With extensive experience in both the furniture and fashion industries, she is recognized for her ability to drive marketing and branding strategies for luxury brands.

Rhiger brings over 15 years of experience to Brown Jordan, having held key leadership roles in which she was responsible for brand management, public relations and communications that proved integral to the design-oriented brands' accelerated growth and prominence.

Wendy Rhiger is a graduate of Pepperdine University, the George L. Graziado School of Business and Management, where she received an MBA in International Business. She resides in southern California with her husband and son.

Carls Patio Hires Agency for New Brand 

BOCA RATON, FLORIDA  

MDG Advertising, a full-service Florida advertising agency with offices in Boca Raton and New York, has been selected as agency of record for Carls Patio, a member of the nation's premier patio furniture retail group. One of the agency's first assignments is to create an identity system and brand platform for the recently launched Fifth & Shore line, a signature concept the retailer hopes will revolutionize the industry.

MDG will be responsible for all creative services, media planning and buying, digital strategy, SEO, and social media for the company's 12 Florida stores, as well as the California-based Berks Patio stores and the company's e-commerce site, www.PatioFurniture.com.

According to Michael Del Gigante, president and creative director of  

MDG Advertising, "Our 360 deg approach to marketing was the perfect fit for Carls Patio, as they define and integrate multiple brands under a unified voice. It was a complex challenge, but we presented multiple solutions and the chemistry was right."

Paul Otowchits, chief operating officer of Carls Patio, agrees. "We were impressed by the depth of understanding MDG gained in such a short time. The solutions they presented demonstrated their insight into our industry and showcased the unique capabilities they could contribute toward attaining our diverse marketing objectives."

Carls Patio has served Florida since 1993 and currently has 19 stores in Florida and California. The Casual Furniture industry has rated Carls Patio as one of the top five outdoor furniture store chains for each of the last 15 years.