City of Hope and its International Home Furnishings Industry group have named Kevin O’Connor as the 2026 Spirit of Life® Lifetime Achievement Award honoree.
O’Connor will be recognized for his transformative impact on the furniture industry and his longstanding commitment to City of Hope’s lifesaving mission of advancing care for people living with cancer, diabetes, and other life-threatening diseases around the world.
The Spirit of Life Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes individuals whose professional achievements and humanitarian values exemplify leadership, integrity, and service. According to a release, O’Connor joins a distinguished group of past honorees who have helped shape the future of the home furnishings industry while supporting critical medical research and patient care.
“Kevin O’Connor represents the very best of our industry—an innovator, mentor, and servant leader whose generosity of time and talent has made a lasting impact,” says Sharon Joyce, managing vice president, transformative giving, at City of Hope. “His lifelong commitment to City of Hope embodies the true spirit of this award.”
O’Connor has held senior management roles at Singer Furniture, Burlington Furniture, Lee Industries, Hyundai Furniture, and Master Design Furniture. In 1999, he partnered with Samuel and Grace Kuo to form Legacy Classic Furniture, a company that helped redefine furniture sourcing through its consolidated direct-container model, providing smaller retailers nationwide access to high-quality case goods at import pricing.
In 2006, O’Connor was appointed president and CEO of Samson Marketing, the marketing arm of Samson Holding, overseeing a portfolio that included Legacy Classic Furniture, Universal Furniture, Baker Furniture, Craftmaster Furniture, and Samson Hospitality. While he stepped away from active management in 2014, he continues to serve as a consultant to Samson Holding Chairman Samuel Kuo.
Beyond his professional achievements, O’Connor has been deeply committed to industry service and philanthropy. From 2008 to 2012, he served as chairman of the High Point Market Authority, where he played a key role in revitalizing the semiannual Pre-Market, and he previously chaired both the American Home Furnishings Alliance and City of Hope’s dinner committee for 12 years. His many honors include induction into the American Furniture Hall of Fame, the ADL American Heritage Award, and the International Home Furnishings Representatives Association Distinguished Service Award.
City of Hope is a National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center and a leader in bone marrow transplantation and immunotherapy, including CAR-T cell therapy, through its integrated model of research, treatment, and education.
Marco Bruno is the new global research and development head for the nonwovens business at Avgol, an Indorama Ventures company.
With more than 20 years of experience in the textile and nonwovens industry, including extensive expertise in high‑technology textile substrates, Bruno brings deep knowledge in nonwoven- and textile-related applications and is an inventor on more than 10 international patent filings covering advanced breathable functional materials and material engineering developments in the nonwoven field.
At Indorama Ventures’ Avgol nonwovens business, Bruno’s key goal is to further strengthen the company’s collaboration with up- and downstream partners across the value chain, ensuring that innovation translates into tangible, high-value benefits for customers.
As an active member of the company’s cross-business global R&D community, he will also work closely with colleagues developing next-generation fibers for nonwovens and focusing on enhancing surfactants for technical and personal care applications.
Andri Simmler and Christian Bänninger have assumed responsibility as the new owners of ALFA Klebstoffe AG from parents Thomas Simmler and Maya Bänninger, marking a major milestone in the company’s history.
In doing so, ALFA Klebstoffe continues a story that began in 1972 with Emil Simmler and has been defined ever since by a clear promise of quality and the courage to innovate, says the company.
“Maya and I took over ALFA from our father in 2001 and grew the business together over the course of many years,” says Thomas Simmler. “Now we’re deliberately passing responsibility on to Andri and Christian with confidence. We know they’ll have the courage to take new steps, a keen feel for our customers, and strong teamwork.”
During the transition period, Thomas Simmler will continue to serve as managing director and CEO.
According to a release, Andri Simmler, co-chief sales officer, and Christian Bänninger, chief operating officer, have been part of the company for many years, are familiar with its products and customers, and live ALFA’s culture. “At ALFA, innovation and responsibility go hand in hand when it comes to customers, employees, and the environment. We don’t just talk about it, we do it,” says Andri Simmler. “Just as Emil showed us, it’s 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration. That spirit is what made ALFA strong, and that’s exactly what we’re sticking with: high-performance modern adhesives and a team that rolls up its sleeves.”
“In the end, it’s always about the customer,” adds Christian Bänninger. “ALFA will continue to stand for stable processes, outstanding quality, and reliable delivery. That’s what we work on every day, consistently, and in close proximity to our customers and their needs.”
With Simalfa®, ALFA Klebstoffe stands for environmentally friendly adhesive technology created in Switzerland and used worldwide. •