R. Stephen Stagner
President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
R. Stephen Stagner became our Chief Operating Officer in January 2005 as a result of the merger between Mattress Firm and his former Mattress Firm franchise, Elite Management Team, or Elite. He was promoted to our President and Chief Executive Officer in February 2010. From 1995 to 2005, Mr. Stagner was the Chief Executive Officer of Elite, after which he served as our President and Chief Operating Officer from February 2006 until his promotion to President and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Stagner has 19 years of experience in the bedding industry, including employment with Sealy Corporation and Simmons Bedding Company, and owning and operating the largest franchise in the Mattress Firm network while with Elite. Mr. Stagner has also served in various capacities with the Mattress Firm Foundation, including as its President since January 2011 and director from January 2007 until December 2010. Since October 2009, Mr. Stagner has served as director of Rousche College of Business Advisory Council at the Stephen F. Austin State University.
Stephen G. Fendrich
Chief Strategy Officer
Stephen G. Fendrich became our Chief Strategy Officer upon his return to Mattress Firm in September 2010. He co-founded Mattress Firm in 1986 with two other partners. He was involved with all aspects of the business but was directly responsible for the financial, real estate, information technology and franchise areas of Mattress Firm until 2002. From 2002 to 2010 he held several management positions within the bedding industry, including President and Chief Executive Officer of The Sleep Country, Inc., and Executive Vice President of Sales and President and Chief Operating Officer of Simmons Bedding Company. While with Simmons, the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and, during 2009, Mr. Fendrich led Simmons through its balance sheet restructuring that culminated with its sale in January 2010.
James R. Black
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
James R. Black became our Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer in September 2000. Prior to joining Mattress Firm, Mr. Black spent 20 years with public accounting firms, the majority with the international firms of Ernst & Young, LLP and PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP. He is a certified public accountant and member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.
Kenneth E. Murphy III
Executive Vice President of Sales and Operations
Kenneth E. Murphy III became our National Vice President of Sales in September 2010 after holding various positions within Mattress Firm since 2005, including Director of Training and Recruiting, Vice President of Field and Talent Management and Regional Vice President of Sales. From 2003 to 2005, Mr. Murphy was as an account manager at Sealy. Mr. Murphy is also currently serving on the board of the David F. Miller Center for Retailing Education and Research at the University of Florida and the Stephen F. Austin University General Business Advisory Board.
Bruce Levy
Vice President, Real Estate and Construction
Bruce Levy became our Vice President of Real Estate and Construction in January 2009 to focus on continuing our nationwide expansion. Prior to joining Mattress Firm, Mr. Levy was a Limited Partner at Interface Properties, Inc., having been involved with locating land and developing multi-tenant retail buildings. Mr. Levy has over 25 years of experience as a senior officer of several Fortune 500 companies in the real estate and construction sector, including the Office Depot, Inc., Blockbuster L.L.C., Gateway, Inc., Tweeter Home Entertainment Group, Inc. and PETCO Animal Supplies, Inc. Mr. Levy's experience includes opening retail stores throughout the United States, Europe and Asia.
Christine Brinkley
Vice President, Human Resources
Christine Brinkley joined Mattress Firm in March 2008 as our Vice President of Human Resources, responsible for establishing employee-focused programs to sustain our overall strategic business plan and objectives. Ms. Brinkley has also served as a director of Mattress Firm Foundation since November 2008. From 2003 to 2008, Ms. Brinkley served as the Vice President of Human Resources at Academy Sports and Outdoors, including overseeing the company's human resource functions, recruiting, benefits and compensation. Having spent over 20 years working in a human resource capacity, Ms. Brinkley has experience in a wide range of industries, including big box and specialty retail, grocery, government, and oil, during which time she has demonstrated the ability to lead, execute, and develop her staff in category leading retailers. Ms. Brinkley is a certified facilitator through Development Dimensions International and holds her Senior Professional of Human Resources certification.
Karrie Forbes
Executive Vice President of Marketing and Merchandising
Karrie Forbes became our Vice President of Marketing in January 2008, responsible for the strategic direction of the marketing, advertising and communication. Ms. Forbes joined a Mattress Firm franchise in 1997 and held positions of increasing responsibility in sales, customer service, recruiting, training and advertising through 2005, when she joined Mattress Firm as Director of Merchandising. Ms. Forbes also serves on the advisory board with the Better Sleep Council and Clear Channel Radio Houston.
Craig McAndrews
Executive Vice President of Retail Concept Development
Craig McAndrews was promoted to Vice President of Merchandising in February 2010 from his previous position as our Regional Sales Manager, which he held from February 2009 until his promotion. Prior to joining Mattress Firm, Mr. McAndrews was the owner and director of Innovative Retail Group from 2003 to 2009. From 1999 until 2003, he was President of a Mattress Firm franchise, which he had co-founded. Previously, he was Vice President of Sales at Simmons Bedding Company
George W. McGill
Vice President, Field Operations
George W. McGill was promoted to Vice President of Field Operations in July 2009 from his previous position as our Vice President of Operations, which he held from January 2007, until his promotion. Prior to joining us in 2007, he was Vice President of Operations for Ultimate Acquisition Partners, LP (f/k/a Ultimate Electronics) from 2002 to 2006. Mr. McGill worked for 12 years at Circuit City Stores, Inc. in supply chain management.