San Diego, Calif. -- DuChâteau has named Gary Cissell as the company's first buying group and national programs manager. In the newly-established role, Cissell will be responsible for formulating and implementing a corporate strategy for expansion into new markets, such as retail, commercial builder groups, and national account arenas. He will help the company's growing salesforce expand its efforts to reach new group accounts, and better position their product offerings to their individual customer bases.

Cissell has close to 30 years of experience in the industry, holding executive positions with several successful companies throughout his career. He was a founding member of the National Floorcovering Alliance in 1991 and served as president of the organization from 1994 to 2004. He is based in Omaha, Neb., and reports to Todd Gates, DuChâteau's vice president of residential sales. Cissell earned his bachelor's degree in business administration from Dana College in Blair, Neb. and his MBA in business management from the University of Nebraska at Omaha.

"With his extensive experience in the retail flooring segment and his background in working alongside suppliers to develop successful programs, Gary is the perfect leader for this new initiative," said Gates. "Gary will be the dealer's inside man, developing programs from the perspective of our dealers for the long-term growth of our customers. Where and when our dealers are successful, we will be successful, and no one is more suited to facilitate this cooperative effort than Gary Cissell."

Cissell's hire is part of a recent expansion of DuChâteau's salesforce, as it continues to grow and expand into new markets. The company has hired regional managers in the East Coast, in the Midwest and in the West, and filled 11 residential and 2 commercial sales positions.

For more information, visit duchateau.com.