Manufacturing

Early in Don's career a great manufacturing  mentor John Bassett III established and facilitated the reality,  to be succesfull in furniture, you must know manufacturing and product development as well  as sales & marketing during the Bassett and Natioonal/Mt.Airy career period.

Later at Ethan Allen in the Knob Creek/Kling division,  as general manager, Don managed the upholstery plant in  Morganton and  was deeply involved in the Ethan Allen caegoods plant operations that later with Ethan Allen management responsibilites expanded as well and  included upholstery, lighting and accents.. Don played a key role in repositioning manufacturing to blend sourced/manufactured  product to maximize efficiencies, as wella sdeterminingh where products were prpduced. Don played a key role in the Ethan Allen transition to casegoods custom "just in time"  production  "supermarket of  parts" demand planning where every item was built to order. Don played a key role in updating the Ethan Allen manufacturing "standards of operations"  in conjuctions with engeneering and merchandising.

Don's responsibiliies as Vice President of Product Development/Souricng resulted in him developing and working closely with the "best of the best" Asian manufacturers as well as key doemstic manufactuers.  He understands manufacturing operations in all the home furnishing product categories.