Industry veteran Dave Savula has joined Dallas Market Center as executive vice president of leasing, the company has announced. Savula is responsible for growth strategy and permanent showroom leasing in gift, home decor/design, and lighting. He brings more than twenty-five years of experience to Dallas Market Center, most recently having served in executive roles with IMC and AmericasMart. Savula reports to Dallas Market Center president and CEO, Cindy Morris.
“Dave has been extremely valuable to our team in a consulting role over the last six months, and in this new position will accelerate his efforts to grow the business and attract top brands,” said Cindy Morris. “Our company and customers will benefit from his experience and relationships as more brands and agencies seek a marketplace with strong ROI delivering buyers from coast to coast for markets and with an unmatched open-daily business.”
Savula joins Dallas Market Center during a time of compelling growth in the number of new buyers visiting the marketplace and new brands taking space in its 5 million square foot collection of buildings, including showrooms exclusive to Dallas and flagship showrooms serving retailers from coast to coast. The most recent Total Home & Gift Market and Lightovation show welcomed more than 30 new and expanding showrooms; and new buyer attendance was at its highest in five years, including a surge in buyers from the western and southwestern U.S.
“Dallas Market Center has a strong legacy but most impressive is its energy, excitement, and trajectory today,” said Dave Savula. “This is where buyers and brands want to do business, so I’m thrilled to join the company. I’ve spent time getting to know the ownership and leadership, and they are deeply committed to the business for the long-term and capitalizing on their momentum.”
Savula joins a team of leadership in gift, home, and lighting that includes Jo Ann Miller Marshall, SVP Leasing for Temps; Lori Castillo, VP Leasing for Home & Design; Patty Price, VP Leasing for Lighting; Nancy Axtman and Brittany Rigg, Leasing Directors for Gift.
Gift remains one of the largest and most popular product categories represented at Dallas Market Center across multiple buildings. For home décor, Dallas Market Center is the largest open-daily design center in North America, with more than 1.5 million square feet of leading home and design manufacturers. Each month, thousands of interior designers visit the marketplace, and design events throughout the year are held in partnership with industry organizations and media partners. Four times a year, the Total Home & Gift Markets welcome gift and home buyers from around the world. Twice a year, the marketplace hosts the largest residential lighting trade event in North America, Lightovation.
Savula most recently served as EVP of IMC and president of Gift and Apparel. Previously, he served AmericasMart as EVP for more than twenty years. Prior to that, he was VP of Leasing for MMPI/High Point Market.