(CLEVELAND, OH) . . . Bengt Gerborg, president and CEO of VSM Sewing Inc. for nearly 20 years, has formally announced his plans to retire at the end of 2005. Under Gerborg’s leadership, the company has experienced more than 18 years of growth. From a company of 40 employees to now more than 900 across North America, Gerborg has worked relentlessly to maintain the company’s mission to keep the world sewing.
“Over the years, our exceptional results and opportunities have been made possible by the cooperation of our outstanding dealer-partners,” says Gerborg. “Their feedback and willingness to share have been invaluable to both me and the success of our businesses. It’s an achievement we should all be proud of.”
Gerborg was sent to the United States in 1986 to head up what was then Husqvarna Sewing Machine Company. His objective was to improve sales. Through the years, the company merged with White Sewing machines and acquired one of the industry’s strongest European brands, Pfaff.
Gerborg began his career with Husqvarna AB in Huskvarna, Sweden, as manager of production planning and materials management and held several positions of increasing responsibility including director of marketing for sewing machines worldwide and executive vice president.
While at VSM Sewing, Gerborg was honored as the Mercurius of the Year award for 2002 by the leading Swedish business newspaper Dagens Industri. He was the first ever to receive this honor which acknowledges ground breaking sales efforts. He was also a finalist in the Ernest & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Chairman’s Award.
Under Gerborg, VSM Sewing received the Pillar Award for Community Service from Smart Business and in 1995 was honored by Her Royal Highness Queen Silvia of Sweden, when the company received The Annual Achievement Award from the Swedish Trade Council for Marketing Excellence.
Taking over the reigns on January 1, 2006, is Charlie Bayer, who was recently appointed executive vice president. For the past seven years, Bayer has led the company’s new business development group. The group’s focus has brought tremendous growth and profit to VSM Sewing by focusing on the development of the company’s lease department program with the nation’s largest fabric chain, Jo Ann Stores Inc. Through his own business experiences, Bayer has been a resource for VSM Sewing dealer-partners via his selling, training, education and management programs. In an essence, he has worked closely with the entire VSM retail network to help sharpen business know how, selling skills plus enrich educational programs and events.
Before coming to VSM Sewing, Bayer worked as a senior vice president with Jo Ann Stores Inc. During his career with Jo Ann’s, Bayer held many positions of increasing responsibility including heading up both the special products and housewares divisions and spearheading the initial development of the current super store format. In addition, he owned and managed Showcase Drapery companies in northeast Ohio and Virginia, manufacturing and selling custom window treatments.
“Under his direction, Charlie will ensure our current strategies and way of doing business will continue,” says Gerborg.
In addition, two experienced staff members of VSM Sewing are being recognized for their excellent contributions to the overall success of the organization as well as their business and industry knowledge. As of January 1, 2006, accepting the new position of president of Husqvarna Viking dealer business is Stan Ingraham. Continuing in his position, Ingraham will oversee the development and continued growth of Husqvarna Viking dealer business via lease department expansion, sales and marketing programs, dealer training, education and consumer motivation, publicity, event planning, and website development. Ingraham has been with the company since 1979 and having worked in the sewing industry for over 35 years after graduating from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Sue Hausmann is also accepting a new position beginning January 1, 2006, as the executive vice president of consumer motivation. Hausmann has been instrumental in developing an awareness of the Husqvarna Viking brand via educational selling events. She has spearheaded the VSM Sewing Inc. education teams, produced and starred in a multitude of instructional and motivational consumer videos including two television series, America Sews with Sue Hausmann and America Quilts creatively, both airing nationally in over 70 million households and travels the globe sharing her love and joy of sewing. Hausmann is an inductee into the American Sewing Guild Sewing Hall of Fame. She has been with VSM Sewing since 1986.
Both Ingraham and Hausmann will report directly to the new president, Charlie Bayer.
“It feels good to leave a company with an experienced leadership and management team in place,” concludes Gerborg.
August 2005