Feb 16, 2017

Two design and sales leaders return to Midwest-CBK in VP roles

Midwest-CBK LLC, national designer and manufacturer of holiday, gifts and home and outdoor décor, announced the additions of two industry veterans to the company’s leadership team: Lissa Samuelson as vice president of national accounts, and Ingrid Liss as vice president of new product innovation for the Midwest Gift brand. In their new roles, Samuelson will oversee the service and growth of national accounts, and Liss will focus on new product innovation for Midwest Gift seasonal and everyday gift lines. Samuelson and Liss each bring more than 30 years of industry experience including four years previously with Midwest-CBK as national sales manager for Samuelson. Liss returns to Midwest-CBK where she served for 23 years as style and design manager, creative director and vice president of design and creative services.

“We’re excited and fortunate to welcome back two of the industry’s most talented, experienced leaders to the Midwest-CBK team,” said Keith Schneider, president of Midwest-CBK. “Both Lissa and Ingrid have a proven record of success, and they understand the market, the great people behind the stores and partners we work with, rapidly changing consumer demands and the products.”

Most recently, Samuelson served as key account manager at Ivystone Group for 3 years. Prior to that, she moved into national retail seasonal and gift sales at Midwest-CBK from the B2B information technology sales arena.

“I’m thrilled to be back as part of the Midwest-CBK family,” Samuelson says. “I’m looking forward to continuing to work with our excellent internal teams who are industry forerunners in product development and design across all of our brands and sharing this with national accounts.”

Liss comes most recently from Demdaco where she served as senior creative director, managing the creative development and direction of the everyday gift and holiday product collections. Over her career, Liss has acquired extensive experience in design and sourcing, honed her creative talents as an innovative design leader and leveraged her global perspective bringing trend right and profitable product to market.

“It’s an honor to return to Midwest-CBK and work alongside the industry’s top design talent, customers and partners,” said Liss. “It’s like coming home, and I can’t wait to share our team’s outstanding design, leadership and energy with retailers and the design community.”