SADDLE BROOK, NJ — April 12, 2012… Nourison’s Western Regional Manager, Owen Baker will celebrate his 80th birthday this weekend. He is still active in the field and going strong. In fact, last December Mr. Baker was presented with Nourison’s 2011 Salesperson of the Year Award, for outstanding achievement in sales volume and territory growth. In January of this year, he was promoted to his current position of Western Regional Manager — an accomplishment not often reached just months before ones 80th birthday.
Baker, a Chicago native, has held sales and executive positions in the Carpet and Rug industry for over five decades. A long and successful carpet executive career that included a stint as President of Coronet Carpet eventually brought Owen to Southern California where he now resides and works. Ultimately, Mr. Baker gained as much respect and admiration from the rug world as he had from the carpet world, with success in sales positions at Oriental Weavers, and eventually, at Nourison. When asked about his longevity and continued high energy, Owen replies as only a born salesperson would: “As long as the prospect of the making the next sale or finalizing the next deal still excites and motivates me, I will be out there selling. I love what I do, and I guess that is one of the things that keep me young.”
It is amazing after such a long career that Owen is approaching a full decade at Nourison, and is one of its longest, and most respected employees on the sales team. “Owen is like fine wine that seems to just get better with age,” said Alex Peykar, Principal at Nourison. “Honestly, when it came to the decision to promote him earlier this year, age was never a consideration for us. He has worked hard, achieved a lot, and truly deserved the honor purely on merit.”
The company is planning a private, internal dinner with employees attending High Point Market to quietly honor this remarkable veteran sales executive. “To use a rug term, Owen is truly a one-of-a-kind,” remarks Gerard O’Keefe, Vice President of Sales at Nourison. “He not only sold the most last year, he physically assembled the most displays in the field! Owen is special. He puts many younger reps in this industry to shame with his work ethic. But to me, what sets him apart as a person is his decency, integrity and passion for what he does. These shine through when he is selling, and they are qualities you cannot train or teach.”
Happy 80th Birthday to the Legend, Owen Baker!
