Management

Our management is responsible for implementing strategies set by our Board and providing leadership to put them into effect. Let us show you the team who have attributed their strength and expertise to make our company a success.

Management

Samuel Kuo (Shan Huei Kuo)

Co-Founder, CEO, Chairman & Executive Director

Samuel Kuo is an Executive Director of the Company and Chairman of the Board since 11 July 2005, Chairman of the Nomination Committee and Chief Executive Officer of Lacquer Craft Mfg. Co., Ltd. (Zhejiang). Mr. Kuo is a director of various subsidiaries of the Company. Mr. Kuo is one of the founders of our business and has been one of the principal managers responsible for our business and corporate strategy, marketing and production operations and expansion strategies. Mr. Kuo has more than 30 years of experience in the furniture business in Taiwan, the PRC and the U.S. Mr. Kuo is also the former Chairman of the Taiwan Businessmen’s Association Dongguan. Mr. Kuo served two years in the military in Taiwan after obtaining a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics Development from Tamkang University in 1978.

Mr. Kuo is the husband of Ms. Yi-Mei Liu, Executive Director of the Company and Deputy Chairman of the Board. Mr. Kuo and Ms. Liu are the controlling and substantial shareholders of the Company.

Grace Liu (Yi-Mei Liu)

Co-Founder, Deputy Chairman & Executive Director

Grace Liu is an Executive Director of the Company and Deputy Chairman of the Board since 11 July 2005. She is also a director of all subsidiaries of the Company. Ms. Liu, together with her husband, Mr. Shan Huei Kuo, Executive Director of the Company and Chairman of the Board, are founders of our business. Ms. Liu has over 30 years of experience in the furniture business and she has been closely involved in executing the corporate strategy and daily operations of our Group. In addition to her general management role, she oversees the financial control, cash management and human resources operations of our business. Ms. Liu obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature from Suzhou University in 1979.

Ms. Liu and Mr. Kuo are the controlling and substantial shareholders of the Company.

Mohamad Aminozzakeri

President, Lacquer Craft & Executive Director

Mohamad Aminozzakeri, also known as Mohamad Amini, is an Executive Director of the Company since 24 October 2005. Mr. Aminozzakeri is also a director of Houson International Limited and Willis Gambier (UK) Limited, members of the Group and President of Lacquer Craft and has been with our Group since May 1995. Prior to becoming President, he held senior management positions in Lacquer Craft both in manufacturing and sales and marketing, and was formerly the executive Vice-President of Lacquer Craft. Mr. Aminozzakeri owned and operated furniture retail stores in California and Arizona for 6 years before then. Mr. Aminozzakeri has over 30 years of experience in the furniture industry and obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from California State University in Long Beach in 1983.

Sean O’CONNOR

President, Universal Furniture

Sean O’CONNOR, is President of Universal Furniture. Mr. O’Connor joined our Group in August of 2011 from Rowe Furniture where he was National Sales Manager. He began his career at Universal as VP of Sales overseeing the eastern region, international business, and key accounts. In 2018 he moved to the Senior VP of Sales position overseeing all sales and Upholstery merchandising. Mr. O’Connor was the chief merchant and architect for Universals entry into the import upholstery business and the company’s acquisition of Southern Furniture in 2019. He obtained a Bachelor of Administration degree in Business from Lenoir Rhyne University, Hickory, North Carolina in 1997.

Michael W. Jolly

President and COO, Baker Interiors Group

Michael W. Jolly, aged 61, is the President of Baker Interiors Group. Mr. Jolly joined Baker in September 2018 when he joined the company as Chief Operating Officer. Prior to joining the Samson Group, Mr. Jolly served as Vice President – Residential Casegoods Operations at Bernhardt Furniture for 10 years. Mr. Jolly began his professional career with Thomasville Furniture where he served for 27 years in various leadership roles including Sr. Vice President – Operations and Supply Chain, as well as other executive positions. Mr. Jolly received a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Engineering from North Carolina State University in 1979.

Chris Pelcher

President, Legacy Classic

Chris Pelcher, aged 52, is President of Legacy Classic Furniture. Prior to joining our Group, Mr. Pelcher was the founder and President of Lineage Furniture. Mr. Pelcher has been in the furniture industry for over three decades and has experience in all aspects of the furniture business, starting at the ground level as a Retail Furniture Buyer to Executive Vice President and Chief Merchandising Officer of Midwest Furniture. Mr. Pelcher was awarded a Bachelor of Associate degree in Business, Management, and Related Support Services from Nassau Community College in 1992.

Earl R. Wang

Vice President, Samson International

Earl R. Wang, aged 54, is Vice President of Mass Merchandise Division (d.b.a. Samson International) of Samson Marketing. Mr. Wang has previously held the positions of President of Legacy Classic Kids and has been with our Group since December 2011. Prior to joining our Group Mr. Wang previously held the position of Sr. Vice President of Merchandising at LEA/American Drew/Hammary. With more than 20 years' experience in the furniture industry, Mr. Wang has held various management positions in product development and merchandising as well as working for Universal Furniture Mass Merchandise Division and Riverside Furniture. Mr. Wang received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration from Illinois Wesleyan University, Bloomington, IL in 1986.

Alex Reeves

President, Craftmaster Furniture

Alex Reeves, aged 58, is President of Craftmaster Furniture and joined our group in September 2022. Mr. Reeves joined us most recently from Sam Moore Furniture where he served as President since 2019. Prior to his tenure with Sam Moore Furniture, Mr. Reeves held the position of Senior Vice President of Sales and Merchandising for Craftmaster Furniture for eleven years. He has previously worked for Hickory Hill Furniture as Vice President of Sales and Precedent Furniture as Chief Operating Officer. Mr. Reeves has over 36 years of experience in the furniture industry. Mr. Reeves was awarded a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from Wake Forest University in 1986.

Matthew Dehnert

President, LacquerCraft Hospitality

Matthew Dehnert, age 49, is President of Lacquercraft Hospitality, Inc. Mr. Dehnert joined our group in August 2021. Mr. Dehnert joined us most recently from a custom lighting fabricator iWorks where he served as Director of Strategic Business Development since 2012. Prior to his tenure with iWorks, Mr. Dehnert held the position of VP of Sales and Marketing for Tiger Imports & Appian Textiles, LLC, a soft goods supplier to the hospitality sector. Mr. Dehnert is a graduate of Georgetown University with a BA in History.

Michael MOORE

President and CEO, Grand Manor Furniture

Michael MOORE, age 64, is President and Chief Executive Officer of Grand Manor Furniture and has been with the group since the May 2016 acquisition of the company. Mr. Moore brings almost 40 years of experience with some of the leading providers to the hospitality industry. Senior management positions with American of Martinsville, Sealy, Shelby Williams, Charter, and Flexsteel makes him uniquely suited to lead Grand Manor’s hospitality focused business. Mr. Moore received a Bachelor of Science degree in Business from the University of North Carolina in 1975 and has completed additional management seminars at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business, the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business, and the Institute for International Studies & Training in Tokyo.