John Manson & Associates represents a number of fine manufacturers in both the Hospitality and Contract Furnishings Industries. We were incorporated in February 2004, representing product lines in Illinois, Wisconsin and Northwest Indiana. Our 2500 square foot showroom in Chicago was opened in December 2004. We have had some of Chicago’s and the Nation’s finest restaurants and hotels select dinnerware, flatware, furniture and accessories from among our offerings on display.
Our goal has always been to represent the finest manufacturers available. Companies which have both unique products and a reputation for outstanding quality are of utmost importance to us, as well as the sales representatives and specifiers who sell our product lines. We work closely with the ultimate end-users of our product lines to ensure that they receive the very best service, quality, and follow through on their orders. We pride ourselves on all aspects of customer service, realizing that our own success depends on the level of service which we provide. We maintain a very high sense of personal values with a heavy focus on honesty, integrity and decency.
John Manson (Principal)
John has been in the industry since 1986. John graduated with a marketing Degree from the University Of Illinois-Chicago in 1982. He started his career as a Sales Representative with Edward Don & Company in North Riverside, IL covering the Far Western Suburbs of Chicago. After 8 years with Edward Don, John became a Foodservice Supplies and Equipment Specialist with Sysco-Chicago, eventually focusing on the downtown Chicago market. In 1996, he became a Manufacturers Representative with Lawrence Sullivan & Associates, becoming their Sales Manager, and then in 1998, a partner. Sullivan-Manson & Associates represented many product lines in the Illinois/Wisconsin market including Carlisle, Libbey Glass, World Tableware, Syracuse China, Tomlinson, Prince Castle, Bon Chef, Corning, Dinex, L&B Furniture among others. In early 2004, John began his own Manufacturers’ Rep Group, John Manson & Associates.
Rachel Martin (Hospitality Sales Manager)
Rachel joined John Manson and Associates in early 2008. She is our Showroom Manager and Inside Sales Representative. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in business with a concentration in merchandising from Eastern Illinois University. Rachel’s background is in retail and wholesale clothing. Having owned 3 retail stores over the last 10 years she is well equipped to deal with any customer service issues that come through the office.
Nicolette St. Angel(Sales Representative)
Nicolette St. Angel joined our organization in Summer 2008 as a Sales Associate/Tabletop Specialist in the greater Chicagoland market. Most recently the Director of Sales at Bauscher, Inc., Nicolette was previously the Director of National Accounts-Central Region and Central Regional Manager at Villeroy & Boch for over five years. Her prior experience also includes positions as District and Regional Sales Manager for Kimberly-Clark Corporation, Encore Paper Company, and Schwarz. Nicolette will be focusing on the very important segment of high-volume Restaurants and Four/Five Star Hotel end user categories for our group.
Nicolette received her MBA and MHRM degrees from Keller Graduate School of Business in Chicago and her BA Degree from NIU, Dekalb, IL. She lives in the northwest Chicago suburb of Palatine with her husband, Lindo . She currently serves as Chairman of the Board for Esperanza Community Services, a Chicago organization that serves the developmentally disabled.
Joe Schulze (Sales Representative)
Joe Schulze has 34 years of foodservice experience with manufacturers, food brokers and as an independent manufacturer’s representative. His experience as a broker was with Roy Assmussen & Associates and Durst Brokerage, where he was V.P. of Sales and Marketing for the non foods division. He started Schulze Marketing in 2003, representing lines such as World Tableware, F. Dick Knives, Pelouze Scale, Gourmet Display, H. Risch Menu, Vic Firth, Ex-Cell Kaiser, C.D.N. Thermometer, and Culinaire. Joe joined John Manson & Associates in December of 2008.
Amy Gustafson (Showroom/Inside Sales Manager)
Amy joined John Manson & Associates in December 2008. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a focus in sales and marketing from the University of Illinois- Springfield in 2004. Prior to joining our team as an Inside Sales Representative for Foodservice, she held positions as a Customer Service and Inside Sales Representative for both wholesalers and distributors in the technology and construction industries.
