Officers
Michael Franceschelli
As Chief Executive Officer, Michael Franceschelli is responsible for Florida Tile, Inc. business performance. Franceschelli assumed this role in March, 2010, as part of parent company Panariagroup Industrie Ceramiche’s long-term commitment to develop the North American Market.
Franceschelli has a history of generating significant results in existing and startup businesses, in domestic and international environments for both private and public companies. His experience includes business unit consolidation, business unit start-ups, generation of double digit operating income, profit and loss responsibility for multi-location/multi-cultural businesses, and operational improvement initiatives aimed at customer service/satisfaction.
Prior to Florida Tile, he was successful in numerous executive positions at ArvinMeritor, including: General Manager, Body Systems North America, Senior Director, Commercial Vehicle Emissions North America, Managing Director, Commercial Vehicle Aftermarket Europe, and Director Operations, Commercial Vehicle Aftermarket North America.
Franceschelli was also a senior executive at Alco Equipment, originator of the FleetPride name, successfully holding increasingly responsible positions including vice President Purchasing, Regional Vice President and Vice President Operations.
Andrea Zanni
Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer, Florida Tile Inc.
As Chief Operating and Financial Officer, Andrea Zanni is responsible for the daily operations of the company and for managing the financial risks of the corporation. Zanni was named COO and CFO in January shortly after spearheading the company’s relocation to Lexington, Kentucky and providing significant support to the complete turnaround of the corporate office.
Zanni joined Florida Tile in October 2008 in the corporate controlling department and was named CFO in 2009. Thanks to his enthusiasm for achieving greater efficiency and productivity, Zanni started the reorganization and process rationalization of the company. The effectiveness of these changes guaranteed Florida Tile business development and growth.
Zanni gained previous tile experience in Italy with Gruppo Ceramiche Ricchetti a public company operating in the ceramic tile industry sector, as group Controller. He assisted the President and Owner running the business. Zanni then moved to the United States to work with FlorimUSA as their CFO. During the four years he spent with FlorimUSA, Zanni was involved in top management activities, Margers & Acquisitions and the SAP implementation.
Zanni also worked as an auditor with Horwath International. Becoming a supervisor after one year, he managed several projects, i.e. Margers & Aquisitions, Due diligence and two IPOs.
Zanni’s holds a degree in Economics from the University of Modena in Italy.
Massimo Barbari Executive Vice President Sales & Marketing, Florida Tile Inc. As Executive Vice President Sales and Marketing, Massimo Barbari creates strategies, programs and finds market opportunities to generate interest, demand and recognition of Florida Tile and its products. His strong belief in Florida Tile is one of the many reasons for the successful changes and significant improvements to the company and Florida Tile brand. The development of technological innovations to Florida Tile’s projects and products can be contributed to the knowledge of Barbari. Barbari took the initiative to create an effective distribution network through the independent channels in order to maintain sales and material support. Aligning Florida Tile with the appropriate connections, he managed to steady and grow the independent distribution network. As other members of Florida Tile’s executive team, Barbari is also a supporter of the complete turnaround of the corporate office and his contribution to the overall organizational structure of the company has been and still is, based on the fundamentals. As a member of the Panaria Industrie Ceramiche Sales group, Barbari was given the opportunity to move to the United States to work for the newly acquired sister company, Florida Tile. He initially served as Director of Business Development until 2007 when he was promoted to his current position of Executive Vice President Sales and Marketing. While working for Panaria Industrie Ceramiche in the late 1990s, Barbari served as Sales Manager and Sales Director North American and Canadian market, then in 2005, he was named Overseas Sales Director Barbari holds a degree in Economics from the Universita’ Commerciale Luigi Bocconi in Milan, Italy. Luca Setti Senior Executive Vice President Branch Sales & Organization, Florida Tile Inc. As Senior Executive Vice President of Florida Tile Branch Sales and Organization holding responsibility for all business development within Florida Tile’s own distribution, consisting of 21 branch stores. With the management of each branch, Setti handles all sales, personnel, products, locations, finances and opportunities Setti joined the Florida Tile team in June 2006. Since then, he has been working in different executive functions to secure the most effective transition to the new ownership working to create a more efficient company throughout, streamlining procedures to allow new Florida Tile to once again return as an industry leader. Setti started by successfully redefining the mission, the goals and the plans for the company owned Branches; currently he is a key member of Florida Tile executive team, playing a significant role in the new management team and overall company organizational structure. Setti’s experience in finance and ceramic tile comes from his tenure with Iris Ceramica, one of the top groups in the tile industry. Begun in 1990, by working in the accounting and finance department then as an assistant of Sales Administration until 1993. A year later he was offered the opportunity to move to the United States and work for Graniti Fiandre, a subsidiary company of Iris Group as Vice President of Finance and Operations. In 1998, Setti returned to Italy, as Director of Overseas Finance and Sales Administration at Iris. Setti holds a Degree in Business Administration from Scuola di Amministrazione e Direzione Aziendale in Modena, Italy. Bernie Schwartz Executive Vice President Manufacturing, Florida Tile Inc. As Executive Vice President Manufacturing, Schwartz is responsible for direction, planning and execution of manufacturing operations. Continuous hard work and expertise allowed Bernie to advance to Vice President of Process and Product Development in 1993 and eventually in 2005 to his current position today of Executive Vice President of Manufacturing. Schwartz’s accomplishments with Florida Tile include overseeing production at the Shannon, GA plant; the first floor tile production plant in the USA, as well as the continued investment and production at the current porcelain tile facility in Lawrenceburg, KY. Throughout the years and the changes that Florida Tile has endured, Bernie has remained a steady rock in the development of the Florida Tile brand and the product we produce today. His knowledge of the ceramic tile industry has played a vital role in Florida Tile remaining one of the top brands throughout the decades. Schwartz holds a Bachelor’s degree in Ceramic Engineering from Pennsylvania State University.
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