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Wayne L. Burd has been named exec. v.p.-operations at Levy's Lumber & Building Centers, Louisville, Ky., replacing Greg Jones, who resigned to join 30-unit Eagle Hardware & Garden, Seattle, Wa.

Melissa Hendricks and Todd Barker, previously with Allwood Trading Intemational, have opened a Savannah, Ga., office for Georgia Timber International.

Lindsay Whitfield is new to inside sales and mktg. at Tamark Manufacturing, Savannah, Ga.

Henry Hass, ex-Buie Forest Products, is a new rep for Stallworth Lumber Co., Meridian, Ms.

Van Simpson III, ex-Savannah River Lumber Co., Evans, Ga.. has started The Pine Co., Augusta, Ga.

Tim Milligan is mgr. of the new Home Depot in Greenville, S.C. Jerry Blair is co-mgr. in New Braunfels, Tx.

Carol Green, Bobby Crowley and Andy Long are new to Frisco Wholesale Lumber's Frisco, Tx., commercial division.

Elizabeth M. Pease, formerly with the National Hardwood Lumber Association, Memphis, Tn., has joined IHPAInternational Wood Products Association, Alexandria, Va., as director of government & environmental affairs.

Brian Williams has been named mgr. trainee at 84 Lumber Co., Newport News, Va. Gary A. Judd is a new mgr. trainee in Troutville, Va. Daniel Rowe is now co-mgr. in Middlebrook, Tn. Neil Fatkin is now mgr. of 84 Lumber Co., Bowling Green, Ky.

Kenneth W. Black Jr. has been promoted to v.p. and corporate controller at Lowe's Cos., North Wilkesboro, N.C. W. Nathan Mitchell is now v.p.-credit services. Dennis Dingivan is mgr. of Lowe's new Stockbridge, Ga., store.

Mike Craven has joined Red River Lumber Co., Texarkana, Tx.. as stockholder mgr.

Cliff Kelly is the new mgr. at National Home Center's Contractors Yard, Conway, Ar.

Joseph Y. Lazzaro is now hardwood flooring product mgr. at Bostik.

Marie Gunn has been promoted to professional services mgr. at Software Solutions, Inc., Duluth. Ga. Tim Plotner has been named professional services mgr.

Barry J. Kulpa, prcviously with Dal-Tile Intemational, is now president and ceo at Hunig Sash & Door.

Tom Mace is a new safety consultant for the Lumbermen's Association of Texas, Austin, Tx.

Greg Frazier has becn named mktg. mgr. at Indiana Lumberman's Mutual Insurance.

Ian J. Sole has bcen named v.p.-sales & mktg. for American Woodmark, Winchester, Va.

Michael Schmidt has been appointed president/general mgr. of the newly formed Milwaukee Electric Tool Product Co. Daniel Perry is now president/general mgr. of Milwaukee Electric Tool Co. Richard Grove remains president/ceo of Milwaukee Electric Tool Corp.

Brian Standley has been appointed corporate controller for Simonton Windows. Bill Lazor has been promoted to distributor channel mgr. Russ Coons has joined the company as channel mgr. of dealer distribution.

Robert Taylor, president ofTaylor's Doit Centers, Virginia Beach, Va., was elected chairman of the board at Hardware Wholesalers Inc.

Bill Smih, president, Ione Star Plywood & Door, Houston, Tx., will head BMC West's newly spun-off l3-unit SouthCentral division. BMC West recently acquired Lone Star.

Lee Stegall is a new mktg. specialist at PAM Fastening Technology, Charlotte. N.C.

Greg Murphy has joined MooreHandley, Birmingham, Al., as v.p.operations.

Brett F. Baird has been promoted to assistant branch mgr. for The Astrup Co., Lithia Springs (Atlanta), Ga.

John P. Borreca has been named president and ceo of Celotex Corp., Tampa, Fl., replacing Dennis M. Ross, who resigned to pursue other interests.

Richard N. "Dickt'Nicholas has been named v.p.-finance of Formica Corp. Joel Sutherland is now v.p.-logistics for North American operations.

Chaz Neely was awarded the San Antonio and South Texas Entrepreneur of the Year Award for the retail/wholesale category.

Genita Poole, wife of Wallace Poole, Poole Lumber, Covington, La., is recovering from a Sept. l6 kidney transplant. Her daughter, Ashley, was the donor.

Peter Danis, ex-Boise Cascade, becomes chairman of Payless Cashways, succeeding interim chair David Stanley, according to the company's bankruptcy reorganization plan.

Dennis Mitchell, v.p.-sales for Schultz, Snyder & Steele Lumber Co., Williamsburg, Mi., was elected president of the North American Building Material Distribution Association.

Bob and Leta Edwards, Breco Wood Products. are back in Sherman. Tx., after an Oregon business trip.

Douglas and Mary Gregory, Morrison Home Center. Houma, La.. are the proud parents of James Robert, born Sept.13.

Ty D. Bowles is the new janitor at Mungus-Fungus Forest Products, Climax, Nv., according to owners Hugh Mungus and Freddy Fungus.

Your Most Profitable Sale?

While few retailers realize it, they may be hiding their most profitable item in a drawer.

"The gift certificate sale is consistently the most profitable sale in the store. Unfortunately, few retailers ac- tively promote gift certificate sales to their customers," says Dan Hincks of Gift Certificate Central.

Retailers surveyed reported that last year their gift certificate sales were up from 4Vo to 64Vo, while 34Vo of holiday shoppers said they intended to give gift certificates for Christmas.

The benefits to the retailer far exceed additional incremental sales usually lost to customer indecision and lack of inventory.

"Gift certificates require no inventory, take up no floor space and generate immediate cash. They represent an interest free loan to the retailer that will be paid back in merchandise that will probably cost 50Vo of the loan amount," adds Ann Wolinsky, Gift Certificate Central.

Gift certificates also reduce merchandise return costs and, without advertising, bring new customers into the store who usually purchase more than the face amount of the certificate. And many certificates are never redeemed.