Tervis, nearing 1,000 employees, adds executive

VENICE — Gary King, a onetime executive for Hallmark and Crayola, has been named chief sales and business development officer at Tervis.

King, according to a release, will oversee indirect to consumer sales and retail stores for Tervis, a drinkware manufacturer that's one of the largest privately-owned firms in the Sarasota-Bradenton region. The payroll at the firm has tripled since 2010, and the company now has more than 900 employees. Tervis sells products in more than 8,000 retailers nationwide and operates 34 retail stores in 13 states.

“I'm extremely excited to have Gary on board,” Tervis CEO and President Patrick Redmond says in a release. “He brings a perspective based on his experience that lines up well with Tervis' objectives; he's a proven leader and successful growth agent.”

King helped develop new business models and relationships with retailers, both chains and independents, in his past roles at Hallmark, Crayola and Pure Fishing. He joins a growing team of new and promoted executives at Tervis, a list that includes head of marketing, branding and innovation strategy Danene Jaffe; IT executive Mellisa Allen; and engineering, quality and new product development head Mark Lawson. The firm also added two board members in May.

King, according to Terivs, has already fit in with his colleagues by personalizing the Tervis products in his office, a company tradition. King's favorites include an Oklahoma Sooners tumbler for his son, who is a senior in college there; a Dallas Cowboys water bottle for his favorite football team; and a St. Louis Cardinals mug in honor of his hometown. '¨