AIS Welcomes New Independent Representative Cooper Contract to the Company’s Nationwide Network
Partnership with Cooper Contract rounds out the AIS Presence in the Central Region covering Central/Southern Illinois and Davenport, Iowa Region
On Jan. 19, AIS announced the addition of Cooper Contract as a new AIS Independent Representative Group covering Central and Southern Illinois as well as Davenport, Iowa.
Cooper Contract represents quality design-based manufacturers who specialize in corporate, education, healthcare, and hospitality furnishings, throughout central Illinois, southern Illinois, and Missouri. The team is comprised of Kim Cooper and Michelle Ellis who together will share the AIS story with their already robust network of dealers and designers.
Wendy Gricius, AIS’ vice president, central region and cooperative contracts, who manages business in the region, commented on the talent and experience Cooper Contract bring to AIS and their clients. “We are excited to have Kim and Michelle representing AIS in their market. With the depth of their experience, long-standing dealer, A&D and end user relationships, they will no doubt grow AIS distribution by bringing the benefits offered by AIS, including speed to market, ease of doing business, quality products, and a growing number of offerings – all at an affordable price point. We look forward to a long and fruitful partnership.”
Kim Cooper has 37 years of experience in the contract furniture industry and has been the principal of Cooper Contract since 2003. Her extensive work in the field, along with her design degree, make her an asset to the AIS team.
“We are extremely excited to represent AIS and its full line of furniture manufactured in the USA. We look forward to growing brand awareness in our market and sharing all the affordable solutions AIS has to offer,” commented Kim at her visit to AIS headquarters in Leominster, Mass.
Michelle, an interior designer at Cooper Contract joined the firm in 2015. She has 15 years of commercial interior design experience at an area architecture firm and a passion for sharing her knowledge of manufacturers with the region’s design community.
ABOUT AIS
AIS, headquartered in Leominster, Massachusetts, is a leading North American manufacturer of commercial office furniture and boasts one of the most impressive stories of growth and success in the furniture industry. Founded in 1989, the company whose sales exceed $200 million annually 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’s BIFMA-compliant products meet or exceed industry standards for safety and durability. Products also are SCS Indoor Advantage™ Gold certified.
The company’s Leominster headquarters and manufacturing facility boast a rooftop of more than 10,000 solar panels, returning 50 percent or more of energy used to the power grid. AIS has permanent showrooms at its Leominster headquarters and in Chicago, New York City and Washington, D.C. With these and other locations across the U.S., the company has over 1 million square feet of office, showroom, and factory space. AIS’s more than 800 employees represent over 32 countries around the world and make AIS one of the largest and most diverse employers in central Massachusetts. Over the past five years, AIS has created more jobs in the region than any other company. AIS and its employees also lead in giving back to their communities; the Boston Business Journal has recognized AIS with its Corporate Citizenship Award since 2019. For more information, visit www.ais-inc.com.
