BERNINA Honors Outstanding Dealers for 2011 at Annual Training Conference

AURORA, IL--(Marketwire - Jul 19, 2012) - BERNINA of America, the premier manufacturer of sewing, embroidery and quilting machines, is pleased to honor its top dealers for 2011 that demonstrated exemplary sales, service and customer education. These dealers were recognized at the BERNINA University dealer training conference in Washington, D.C.

"We are proud to honor our top dealers across the country with these various awards," said Paul Ashworth, president of BERNINA of America. "These dealers represent the BERNINA brand proudly with truly outstanding sales and first-class customer and educational support, and serve as a model of success for other BERNINA Dealers to emulate."

Shirley and Bob Watkins of Berry Patch Fabrics in Fort Worth, Texas, received the 2011 BERNINA Presidential Award, which recognizes the dealer that best exemplifies the spirit of cooperation and education represented by the BERNINA brand. This includes successful promotion and advertising of the entire BERNINA product line, a modern store merchandising concept, a well-developed educational approach, dedication to total customer service, and above-average growth in dollar sales and BERNINA units sold. 

The 2011 Rookie of the Year Award was presented to Michelle Healy and Lupine Swanson of Modern Domestic in Portland, Ore., a new dealer in 2010 that best incorporated lessons of BERNINA dealer training into its operation and delivered impressive 2011 results.

In addition, BERNINA single- and multiple-store dealerships with the highest sales dollar volume during 2011 were honored. The Top Five Multi-Store Dealer Awards were presented to:

• Rhonda Lopez, Nuttall's Inc., Sunset, American Fork, Riverton and Murray, Utah
• Richard and Rod Borget, Dave's BERNINA, Provo and St. George, Utah
• Judy Curtis, It's A Stitch-BERNINA, Humble and Houston, Texas
• Joel and Michael Greenzaid, G Street Fabrics, Rockville, Md., Centerville and Falls Church, Va.
• Julie and Jack Pierce, Atlanta Sewing Center, Duluth and Marietta, Ga.

The Top Five Single-Store Dealer Awards were given to:

• Ervin and Ella Mae Zimmerman, Hinkletown Sewing Machine Shop, Ephrata, Pa.
• Leon and Linda Hoover, Hoover's BERNINA Sew, Mifflinburg, Pa.
• Jill and Henry Reicks, Pine Needles Sewing Center, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
• John Ramsey, BERNINA of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma City, Okla.
• Jean and Al Haiar, BERNINA Sewing Center, Omaha, Neb.

BERNINA also announced District Dealer of the Year Award winners from the company's 11 districts:

• Linda Joseph and Bernadette Schecher, Quilting Folks Sewing Gallery, Cocoa and Melbourne, Fla.
• Susan Pardon, BERNINA Sewing Center, St. Marys and Beaver Creek, Ohio
• Doni and Kris Houghtaling, Ann Arbor Sewing Center, Ann Arbor, Mich.
• Judy Nicholl, Olde City Quilts, Burlington, N.J.
• Jean and Al Haiar, BERNINA Sewing Center, Omaha, Neb.
• Robin and Chip Culbertson, Asheville Cotton Company, Asheville, N.C.
• Mona Jones, Sew This, Abita Springs, La.
• Daniella and Richard Stout, Cozy Quilt Shop, El Cajon, Calif.
• Janean Stephens, Janean's BERNINA, Pasco, Wash.
• Jill and Henry Reicks, Pine Needles Sewing Center, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
• Melody Munson, The Presser Foot, Inc., Longmont and Ft. Collins, Colo.

About BERNINA
Founded in Switzerland more than 100 years ago, BERNINA is the world's premier manufacturer with a proven reputation for offering state-of-the-art sewing and embroidery systems, sergers and embroidery software. BERNINA's leadership is marked by an impressive number of industry leaders, influencers and artisans who chose to partner with the company. BERNINA products are sold in the United States through a network of approximately 450 fully trained independent dealerships. In 2008, the company introduced the revolutionary BERNINA 830, a machine designed to change the home sewing industry. To learn more and to find a dealer, visit www.berninausa.com or call (630)978-2500.