The International Casual Furnishings Association named Bryan Echols (Charlotte, North Carolina) as the 2016 Sales Representative of the Year at Casual Market Chicago. The award recognizes an outstanding sales representative in the casual-furnishings industry.

Finalists were selected based on leadership, professionalism, exceptional service, communication skills, knowledge, and product-training expertise. After a short stint in the banking industry, Echols realized a cubicle was not where he wanted to spend his future. Through his father, Bill Echols, he learned of a sale-representative opportunity with Samsonite Furniture Company, and he soon realized that he had found his career path.

Echols now represents OW Lee, Treasure Garden, Lloyd Flanders, and Outdoor by Design. The other nominees were Randy Adams, president of Parkman Associates (Exton, Pennsylvania); Todd Crandall, owner of Crandall & Associates (Roswell, Georgia); and Gary Moretti, GSM Marketing Group (Longmont, Colorado).