Industry News

Creative Teaching Press has launched the Learn to Read Kids Club, a reading program designed by classroom teachers and literacy experts to help young readers ages 3 to 8 who are starting to read or who are struggling to gain literacy skills. Visit the program website at www.learntoreadkidsclub.com.

The core of the program is the “Learn to Read” book series, which features easy-to-read stories, rhymes, and songs that engage children’s attention and nurture reading development. The stories include content that reinforces key curriculum areas – math, social studies and science – as well as fun and fantasy readers. Supporting parent guides, companion workbooks and reading reward charts with coordinating stickers complete the skill-based Learn to Read Kids Club program, which combines real reading with targeted instruction in phonics, sight word recognition, vocabulary and comprehension.

The Gryphon House Maryland office has moved to a new office in Silver Spring. Their phone, 301-595-9500, and fax, 301-595-0051, numbers remain the same. Their new address is:

Gryphon House
10770 Columbia Pike
Suite 201
Silver Spring, MD 20901

Gryphon House’s shipping, customer service, inventory and accounting departments remain in North Carolina. They can still be reached by calling 800-638-0928. To learn more, visit www.gryphonhouse.com.

Knight Electronics’ Educational Products Division, a global manufacturer and supplier of medical and educational training equipment, has donated 400 book bags for schoolchildren in the province of Kabul, Afghanistan. Recently recalled to active duty in Afghanistan, Knight Electronics’ Global Supply Chain Manager Steve Taylor was instrumental in heading up the humanitarian effort.

“Improving education opportunities for children is an extremely important aspect of our fight, and significantly aids in economic opportunity for those in Afghanistan,” said Taylor. “Along with the book bags, we are including pencils, pens and spiral notebooks in each bag. The Afghan National Army will distribute the school supplies, increasing their presence, connection, and credibility with the citizens of Afghanistan.”

“We donated clothing and shoes to citizens of Afghanistan around the holidays as well, and it was extremely well received. It’s our pleasure to contribute supplies in any way that we can,” said John Knight, vice president of Knight Electronics.

For more information about Knight Educational Products’ book bags or other products, visit www.knightedu.com, e-mail sales@knightonline.com, or call 800-323-2439.

Chris Petrick has been named chief executive officer of school and office furniture manufacturer Bretford. In his new role, Petrick is responsible for leading the 61-year-old family business, which consists of nearly 350 employees, 450,000 square feet of production space and thousands of technology furniture products for schools and businesses.

Petrick joined Bretford in 1991 after earning a bachelor’s degree from the University of Kansas. Prior to accepting his new position, he served as director of sales and director of marketing, and held numerous territory, product and marketing management positions at the company. He was an integral part of the internal team that brought Bretford into the contract market space. He is also a member of BIFMA (The Business and Furniture Manufacturer’s Association) and is on the show planning committee for NSSEA.

ECi Software Solutions, a leader in industry-specific information technology solutions is partnering with Educators Resource. The two entities will provide electronic ordering and stock check capabilities to their mutual customers. This partnership expands their existing relationship. Currently, Educators Resource provides quarterly item file updates, e-content product images and marketing information for customers to display on their website, hosted through Britannia’s BritLink.

With the new graphical Britannia Version 5, a dealer can offer office and school supplies as well as furniture. And, with this partnership, Britannia’s software capabilities are further enabled to provide accurate, fast and efficient services to meet educational retailers’ business needs for stock replenishment and customer order fulfillment. This, in turn, will provide dealers access to a wider customer base while lowering their operational costs and improving their customers’ shopping experience.

KI named Amy Fitzgerald as its new district sales manager of the Mid-Atlantic region. Fitzgerald joins KI’s newly created direct sales team in Washington, DC, and will oversee the opening of the company’s sales office in that area.

Prior to joining KI, Amy worked for Schneider League Associates where she directed sales activities for the Maryland, Washington, DC and Virginia areas. Fitzgerald’s previous work with an independent KI dealer earned her numerous accolades for excellence in selling KI products. These awards include “KI Rookie of the Year” in 1997, the “100 Percent Achievement” award and the “President’s Award.” Over the course of her career, Fitzgerald has represented more than 250 manufacturers.

KI manufactures innovative furniture and movable wall system solutions for education, healthcare, government and corporate markets. For more information, visit www.ki.com.