HIGH POINT — Nine members of the International Home Furnishings Representatives Association will be named Charles B. Costar Deans of IHFRA at the association's Presidential Gala here on April 1.

The award recognizes quality of service and dedication to IHFRA and its chapters. It was renamed in 2007 in honor of Costar, a longtime member and officer of the organization.

For more information on the Presidential Gala, to be held the evening of April 1 in the International Home Furnishings Center, contact the IHFRA Office at (336) 889-3920 or e-mail ihfra@ihfra.org.

This year's deans are:

• Christopher DeLisa of the Greater New York Home Furnishings Assn. He is a past president of the chapter and current vice president of IHFRA, who became a rep six years ago after 15 years in retail. He is vice president of sales for Cory 1st Home Delivery and also serves as the commissioner for the Wayne Police Athletic League T-Ball division.

• Stephen Wisocky, president of the Home Furnishings Insurance Group and a member of the Tri-State Home Furnishings Assn. since 1997, when he became its property and casualty insurance broker. He has provided members of the chapter substantial savings on their insurance policies, and has been an avid supporter of the Tri-State group and IHFRA.

• J Emmet Root, a longtime furniture rep in Omaha, Neb., who worked with his father, Emmet R Root, early in his career and now partners with his son, Mike Root, to represent such companies as Hughes, Ligo, Woodcrest and Progressive. He has served as president and chairman of the International Wholesale Furniture Assn. and has been active in civic and charitable organizations.

• Chris Clarizio, a member of the Metropolitan Furnishings Assn. of New Jersey and a partner of Furniture Concepts, the sales organization representing Klaussner Home Furnishings. He began his career working in management for Federated Logistics at a furniture distribution center before joining Furniture Concepts as a rep in 1998. Since 2005, he has also led the Dean Michael Clarizio Cancer Foundation, established after his brother Dean succumbed to cancer. The foundation has raised more than $200,000 to help cancer patients and their families with the high costs of health care.

• Bert Asby, a longtime member of IHFRA's Virginia/Carolinas Chapter and a past president of the Richmond Furniture Club. He began his career as a rep for Broyhill Furniture in 1979 and since 1984 has primarily been an independent rep in Virginia, Maryland, Delaware and Washington, D.C.

• Eddie Gonzalez, a member of the Florida Home Furnishings Representatives Assn. since 2001, who was the group's president from 2008 to 2010 and now serves as chairman. He is an independent rep in Florida for Legacy Classic Furniture, Premier, Coast to Coast, Pelican Reef and Harden Mfg.

• Brad Cofoid, a member of IHFRA since 1991, who belongs to the Midwest Furniture Club and was its president in 1997. He began his furniture career in retail sales at Chicago's Harlem Furniture over 30 years ago. He is managing partner of Cofoid Enterprises, a rep group he started over 20 years ago, which covers Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin and Michigan and currently represents Natuzzi, The Bedding Group, Human Touch and Guard Master.

• Richard J. "Ric" Tyler, who has been a member of HFR of Michigan since he started his career as a furniture rep in 1976, and has served as its president and chairman. He was instrumental in helping guide the group through challenging economic times, and implemented the group's website while overseeing the printing of the annual Buyer's Guide. He represents lines in his territories of Michigan and Ontario.

• Michael J. Burton, a past president of HFRG of Southern California, who has been a leader of the group's Golf Committee. He is a rep for Robert Michael Ltd., USA Premium Leather and Uniters North America, calling on majors and independents in Southern California. He is an active supporter and leader in the Boy Scouts of America.