Cerf Products Inc., the outdoor and hunting gear line recently acquired by AmeriBag, appointed Erik Specht as its president. Specht was formerly president at Mountainsmith.
In January 2010, AmeriBag, Inc. acquired Cerf Brothers Bag Company and changed its name to Cerf Products, Inc.
At Cerf, Specht will be responsible for leading the HideAway®, Browning (under a Trademark License Agreement with Browning) and CampInn brands and product lines. Specht is set to direct the sales, marketing, product and budget strategies for the outdoor brands.
“Cerf Products is a new and exciting adventure for me,” said Specht. “I look forward to furthering the growth of our almost century-old company, while creating additional brand equity for our licensors, quality products for the consumer and a strong and sustainable profit for our dealers.”
Specht’s past experience of outdoor retail was garnered at Rofu, 105 Meridien, Kelty and Madden Mountaineering. Specht’s most recent position, as president of Mountainsmith, in Golden, Colorado, has provided industry insight to increase sales.
“We are excited to have a proven leader like Erik guide our team through this transition and into the future,” said Irwin Gaffin, President and CEO of AmeriBag, Inc. and Cerf Products, Inc., “His experience and drive has earned him high esteem in the outdoor industry and we know that his vision will promote synergy between AmeriBag and Cerf Products.”
Cert also announced a newly formed executive team consisting of Ron Hyde as Vice President of Sales, Lonnie Drosihn as Vice President of Product Development and George Grabner as Emeritus Advisor.
“Ron, Lonnie and George have been integral players in the transition of the newly formed Cerf and bring with them an emphatic understanding of the company’s brands along with more than 64 years of experience in the outdoor and sporting goods industries,” said Specht. “With such an experienced executive roster, backed by our expanded support team in the Kingston, New York offices, we are confident in our ability to provide our customers with the quality products and service they have come to expect from Cerf.”
Hyde has been with Cerf since 2009, after working as the Vice President of Apparel and Outdoor Products at the Browning Company. Hyde will be responsible for creating and executing the overall company sales strategy, which will include a responsibility to lend a strategic hand in the product strategy, along with the management of the various sales forces for all Cerf brands.
Drosihn has also been with Cerf since early 2009, after working as the Vice President of Product Research and Development at 180s LLC and as a Senior Product Development Manager at Sierra Designs. Drosihn will be responsible for creating the product strategy for each brand and seeing it to fruition, including the management responsibility of the design, development, sourcing and manufacturing departments.
Grabner has accepted the offer to stay on with Cerf as Emeritus Advisor. Grabner’s great depth of experience includes his most recent position as Interim CEO of Cerf and many years as President and CEO of American Recreation Products, which housed Kelty, Slumberjack, Ultimate Direction and Sierra Designs. “We all truly respect George for taking this honored role as many of us have worked under him in the past. We look forward to receiving guidance from such a knowledgeable individual,” said Specht.
After a long tenure of leading Cerf and as an important player in the transition of Cerf Brothers Bag Company to Cerf Products, Inc., Jerry Michelson has stepped down from his post and has left the company in order to pursue other interests. Specht noted, “Michelson was a valued member of the team and a great help in the transition. We all wish him well and the best of luck in his endeavors.”
Cerf Brothers Bag Company’s products include daypacks, duffels, wheeled luggage, travel kits, stuff sacks, camping hardware and dry bags.
