International Market Centers Announces Promotions in Leasing Divisions
International Market Centers, L.P. (IMC), the world’s largest operator of premium home furnishings, gift and home décor showroom and exhibition space, announced promotions of four key members of its High Point N.C.- and Las Vegas-based leasing teams. Julie Messner, Craig Staack, Lee Hershberg and Margaret Powers were promoted to Vice Presidents responsible for advancing new business opportunities for IMC’s iconic portfolio of properties while offering more value to its showroom partners.
Julie Messner, a High Point native and formerly Vice President of Publication Sales for International Home Furnishings Center since 2008, will now serve as Vice President of Business Development handling home furnishings leasing for IMC’s High Point properties. Prior to joining the IHFC, Messner spent three years as the Director of Leasing for MMPI High Point responsible for leasing temporary showrooms in the Suites at Market Square and the Plaza Suites buildings. Messner, a graduate of High Point University and active on many community boards, also brings with her more than 10 years of furnishings retail sales experience.
Craig Staack, a senior level furniture executive with a successful 30 year track record in retail, management, product development and marketing, has been named Vice President of Business Development handling home furnishings leasing for Las Vegas. Before joining World Market Center’s Leasing team in 2009, Staack owned and operated three furniture stores in Las Vegas. Previously, Staack served on the Executive Committee of a Fortune 500 company and held the SVP/GMM post of three top retailers including Montgomery Ward, Heilig-Meyers and Homelife.
Messner and Staack report to Tom Mitchell, IMC President of Home Furnishings.
IMC has also announced the promotion of Lee Hershberg to the position of Vice President of Home Décor. Based in High Point, Hershberg most recently served as IHFC’s Vice President of Accessory Leasing since 2008 where he was responsible for the 100 percent occupancy rate for 560,000 square feet of space. Previously, Hershberg spent more than seven years at Nielsen Business Media (formerly VNU Expositions) in Atlanta as a sales executive for the successful Kitchen/Bath Industry Show (K/BIS), and was ultimately promoted to Show Director.
In addition, Margaret Powers has been named Vice President of Tradeshow/Las Vegas and will oversee the sales and management of the Temporaries Division at Las Vegas Market. Powers is a 20-year veteran of the gift industry holding top merchandising and corporate retail positions with Hallmark Cards, Enesco and Hershey. Before joining World Market Center as Director of Business Development in 2008,she served as a Director of Leasing for Merchandise Mart Properties handling exhibitor sales for LA Mart, 7W New York and The Chicago Market.
Hershberg and Powers will report to IMC’s President of Gift+Home, currently held in an interim capacity by Georgia Davis.
“We are confident in the track records of these key team members. They represent some of the very best talent in the country and are incredibly in tune with the business, our industry and our customers. We believe in their abilities to lead IMC’s leasing teams to success in both cities and nationally,” said Tom Mitchell, IMC’s President of Home Furnishings.
IMC’s portfolio consists of 11.5 million square feet in 18 showroom venues in High Point N.C. and Las Vegas. Through a series of transactions announced in May, all assets in the portfolio have been recapitalized with significant equity investments, providing for long-term stability and creating a growth platform for the industry.
International Market Centers owns and operates the following facilities: Building A, World Mark et Center Las Vegas
Building B, World Market Center Las Vegas
Building C, World Market Center Las Vegas
World Pavilions, World Market Center Las Vegas
International Home Furnishings Center (IHFC), High Point (comprised of the Hamilton, Green, Commerce, Wrenn, Design Center and Main Wings)
Historic Market Square, High Point
Market Square Tower, High Point
Suites at Market Square, High Point
Plaza Suites, High Point
Furniture Plaza, High Point
National Furniture Mart, High Point
Hamilton Market, High Point
300 South Main, High Point
Showplace, High Point
howplace West, High Point
200 N. Hamilton, High Point
320 N. Hamilton, High Point
330 N. Hamilton, High Point
Photographs of IMC’s newly promoted leasing executives and its properties are available on the IMC website (imcenters.com).
About International Market Centers, L.P.
International Market Centers, L.P. (IMC) is the world’s largest operator of premier showroom space for the furnishings, home décor and gift industries. IMC owns and operate 11.5 million square feet of world-class exhibition space in High Point, N.C. and Las Vegas. In addition, IMC operates the Las Vegas Design Center, a year-round resource open to both the design trade and consumers which is comprised of more than 40 showrooms and hundreds of designer brands. IMC’s mission is to build and operate an innovative, sustainable, profitable and scalable platform for the furnishings, home décor and gift industries. For more information on IMC, visit imcenters.com.
