AIS, a leading manufacturer of commercial office furniture and seating, has expanded and strengthened its presence coast to coast with the recent hiring of new sales team members serving California, Michigan and the Carolinas. The hirings are part of AIS’s ambitious growth plans, according to Nick Haritos, AIS executive vice president of sales and distribution.
Brian Castellanos
Brian Castellanos joins the AIS sales team as the company’s new territory manager for Southern California. Based in Los Angeles, he comes to AIS with more than 11 years of contract interior sales experience in the L.A. market.
In his new role, he will be responsible for supporting the AIS dealer network and growing market share as the company continues in growth mode in Southern California. He is responsible for all aspects of AIS’s marketing, sales and strategic relationships in the L.A. region.
Before joining AIS, Castellanos was strategic business development manager for Workrite Ergonomics and, prior to this role, a sales executive for Tangram Interiors in Southern California. He was educated at the University of California – Los Angeles (UCLA) and holds certifications in ergonomics from The Back School of Atlanta.
“Bringing the latest workplace strategies to clients, and exceeding their expectations, is my goal. With the broad product mix that AIS offers, I’m looking forward to helping my clients achieve their desired design within their workspaces and creative environments,” Castellanos said.
Jason Lauro
Jason Lauro joins AIS as the new regional sales director for AIS in Northern California. Lauro has more than 12 years of sales and management experience in the Northern California and West Coast markets.
Before joining AIS, he worked as a national sales manager for Fríant & Associates, as channel sales manager (national accounts) for AMQ, and as business development and government (GSA) territory manager for Knoll. He holds a degree in psychology from Menlo College.
In his new role with AIS, Lauro will chart a new course for AIS in Northern California, which will include developing sales and distribution strategies for growth.
“Leveraging client relationships to gain insight into unmet needs, I serve as a partner to offer viable, relevant product solutions to enhance businesses,” Lauro said.
Lisa Hulbert
Lisa Hulbert has joined AIS as a direct-sales representative and territory manager covering Michigan. Based in Midland, she will be responsible for educating dealers and growing market share in the state.
Before joining AIS, Hulbert worked as an independent furniture representative for Workplace Resource Inc. where she represented AIS. Hulbert also worked as the North America workplace strategy manager for CBRE on the Dow Chemical account. Before that, she co-owned SPACE, Inc., a Haworth dealership, for 15 years. She holds a degree in interior design from Central Michigan University.
“I have a passion for furniture, and I’m excited to be with AIS and helping designers and account managers to find solutions for their projects,” Hulbert said.
Anthony Heim
AIS also welcomes Anthony Heim, a new territory manager for North Carolina and South Carolina. Based in North Carolina, Heim especially will focus on the Raleigh region to strengthen dealer relationships and grow the AIS business in the area.
Heim has been in the office products/commercial furniture industry for over a decade. Most recently with Storr Office Environments, he served as director of sales for the pre-owned furniture division. Other past positions include sales manager for Commercial Works, Inc., and sales roles at W.B. Mason Company in upstate New York.
“Customer service and satisfaction are my highest priorities,” Heim said. “I love being a part of creating inspiring workspaces and developing long-term relationships.”
He holds a bachelor of arts degree in communications from the State University of New York (SUNY). He is a member of IFMA.
ABOUT AIS
AIS is a leading manufacturer of commercial office furniture and boasts one of the most impressive stories of growth and success in the furniture industry. Founded in 1990, the company is known for offering market-relevant, feature-rich product lines that entice designers and support the diverse needs of end-users while offering exceptional value. AIS is an innovator that leads the industry in sustainable, lean manufacturing, lead-time performance and manufacturing flexibility. AIS has over 600,000 square feet of manufacturing space and operates in Leominster, MA. For more information, visit the website at www.ais-inc.com.