HWAM North America announces the appointment of Loretta Dolan & Associates to represent them in the Mid-Atlantic market.
 
"We are thrilled that Loretta Dolan will be bringing her unique 'spark' to our hearth customers in the Mid-Atlantic region," said Stephen Rhodes, general manager of HWAM North America.

HWAM North America is an importer and distributor of hearth products to North  America: Hwam wood stoves (Denmark), Amesti wood stoves (Chile), Wunderblitz fire lighters (Germany), Burner fire lighters (Denmark), and Wetterlings Axes (Sweden). The company is based in Plymouth, New Hampshire.

* HWAM North America is a division of DLD Inc, a hearth products distributor and manufacturer.

Loretta Dolan & Associates is an independent sales agency based in Glen Mills, Pennsylvania, representing Rasmussen Logs, Amantii Electric Products, Alaska Coal Stoves, Mendota, Valor, BDM, Mt. Vernon Mantels, Thermo Rite Doors and St. Croix Pellet Stoves.  Prior to starting her own agency in 2010, Dolan was with Peirce-Phelps Distribution for 22 years. From 1998 to 2010 she developed a hearth division there and was able to grow the business to $8 million dollars in sales. She has been on the board at the HPBA for several years and is the incoming chair for 2014.

Agio-USA recently named Douglas J. DeFouw as senior vice president, Product Design. Bob Gaylord, president, Agio-USA, made the announcement.

"This promotion is a testament to Doug's tireless work," he said, "his keen eye and design instincts with Agio over the past decade. It greatly pleases me that this key position was filled from within our own ranks."

DeFouw came to Agio-USA in 2004 and has led some of the brand's most successful design endeavors. He has manned Agio's gas firepit projects, stone top tables and several of Agio's most successful high-end dining and deep-seating collections. DeFouw has also led teams on some of Agio's most successful custom programs for the company's largest customers.

"Agio earned its reputation by improving the outdoor living experience," DeFouw said. "Our ultimate goal is to meet and exceed the customer's expectations through innovative design solutions.

"Agio has one of the industry's strongest design teams which will help us achieve our goals. I'm incredibly excited to lead this group," he added.
 
A graduate of Kent State University with a BS in Industrial Design, DeFouw started his career designing custom office furniture. For nearly two decades, he rose through the product design management ranks of leading commercial and residential lighting manufacturers such as NL Corporation, Genlyte and Progress Lighting. He has also owned his own design consulting company.