JASPER, Ind. – In the wake of a recent announcement adding a new national sales manager position, TDI Brands continues to align its organizational structure to most effectively manage current growth and foster an environment for continued success. TDI Brands, a forerunner in supplying innovative products to the garden center industry for nearly 20 years, has appointed two new leadership roles. Paula Schmidt has been named Director of Marketing & Business Development and Chris Sternberg has been promoted to Director of Operations, according to a press release from TDI Brands.
In her new role, Schmidt will lead all Marketing, Product Development, and Customer Experience efforts, develop and strengthen relationships with Home Shopping and National Accounts, and explore additional business opportunities and channels by researching prospective areas of growth and implementing new strategies to achieve the company’s goals.
Prior to joining TDI Brands, Schmidt was a creative catalyst and innovation strategist for Chicago-based Bamboo Worldwide. She spent more than 10 years in various divisions within Kimball International working as a market research manager and as the director of market communications. Over her career, Schmidt has worked with a variety of Fortune 100 to 1000 companies to leverage innovation, branding, and customer connections in a full range of industries.
As the Director of Operations, Sternberg will be responsible for leading all financial aspects, including accounting and purchasing, human resources, product quality, and warehousing efforts across both the Jasper, Ind. and New London, Ohio locations. With this new role, he will work to gain operational efficiencies to better serve customers, strengthen vendor and partner relationships, and minimize costs across the entire organization.
Sternberg has worked with TDI Brands for more two years as the controller, while also focusing on aligning purchasing and inventory efforts. Prior to that, he spent 12 years at Masterbrand Cabinets working as the Cost Accountant, Lead Senior Cost Analyst of Stock Operations, and, more recently, as the Senior Supervisor of Capital Assets.
“Over the last two years, we’ve made significant strides in the way we conduct business and go to market. From the product development process to cost and inventory containment, enhanced brand and marketing efforts to penetrating new customer segments, Chris and Paula have been key change agents within our organization,” said Mike Bartley, General Manager of TDI Brands.