Furniture Today,
DECATUR, Ga. — The National Furniture Bank Assn.

has named Don Lawrence, who has been with the charitable organization since 2003 as vice president of communications, as its executive director.

Phil van Poetsch, executive director since 2004, remains with the organization as vice president of operations.

“Don and I have worked very closely over the years, and as he has had far more contact with the furniture industry executives, he has become the ‘face of the NFBA.’ Consequently, it seems an appropriate move for Don to become the primary point of contact as executive director,” said van Poetsch. “I look forward to working with him for years to come.”

Lawrence will continue in his primary role of promoting the NFBA, a nonprofit organization supported by the home furnishings industry that backs local furniture banks, which collect donated furniture from the public and provide it to people suffering hardships. Van Poetsch will continue administering the finances of the NFBA, in conjunction with Lawrence.

“The change of titles doesn’t affect their responsibilities,” said NFBA Chairman Tom Polk. “It merely better reflects their roles at the NFBA to the people within the home furnishings industry, and to furniture bank operators in the NFBA family.”

Lawrence was founder and president of the National Convergence Alliance, a communications technology association that operated from 1996 to 2003. He also volunteers as president of the nonprofit SANS Foundation, which provides free suicide and depression screening to schools in New England and is part of the Massachusetts Coalition for Suicide Prevention.

Lawrence and Van Poetsch continue to report to the NFBA board of directors. The association’s Web site is at www.help1up.org.