HFN's TOP 40 UNDER 40

We are very honored to announce that our very own Vice President, Colleen Daly, was named one of the Top 40 under 40 in our industry by HFN Magazine! It is no doubt that she is #1 in our book! Since beginning with Howard Elliott 9 years ago, she has been the epitome of hard work and dedication. She has quickly become one of the faces of Howard Elliott and has helped mold our company into what it is today.

"I have worked with Colleen for 12+ years. Since the first moment she walked into the office at The Chicago Textile Corporation, I knew she was special," says Cheryl Bever, Graphics & Photography for Howard Elliott, "and she hasn't proved me wrong yet."

President Brian Berk says, "Colleen has been instrumental in establishing and growing several key accounts and creating customized programs with various top 100 furniture retailers including Lazyboy, Jeromes, Walter E Smith, Z Gallerie and Art Van.  Colleen has also in succeeded in growing Howard Elliott’s E-Commerce business 400% over the past few years. Not only is Colleen focused on profitability and sales growth but she is the liaison to many charitable activities. This versatility makes her a significant value within our organization.

Here is the article from HFN:

Colleen Daly's path to the home furnishings industry is one of the more unusual ones - after earning a psychology major with minors in criminal justice and sociology, her earlier jobs included one of a domestic violence agency in Chicago, where she fave presentations to 3,000 people annually, she said. Later in her career, her brother, who supplied corrugated to the Chicago Textile Company, knew that his sister was perfect for sales and told her about an inside sales job available at CTC, though the job was really for the Director of Sales position. He misled her, he later said, because he knew she would psych herself out. She landed the job and started in October of 2006, just 3 days before the High Point Market! The Howard Elliott Collection acquired CTC in 2009 and Daly began working at what she thought of at first as "an old man mirror company". But the company has evolved so much since then, and she learns from Brian Berk, the president, every day, she said. "We play well off of each other." Daly was even surprised by a promotion to Vice President last fall from Director of Sales. "Brian is so good about recognizing my contributions to the company," she said, admitting that "I am a champion for others, I'm not one for myself." And Daly still participates in social causes through the company's involvement with ARTS, the organization for the Home Decor Industry.
~ HFN May Issue pg 39

We are so proud of Colleen for this recognition. It is well deserved! Be sure and congratulate her when you see her at the next Market.