Business Whirl: Hardman attends major furniture show

Southern Waterbeds & Futons Inc. owner Lynn Hardman recently attended the winter furniture market at the World Market Center in Las Vegas.

The event caters to all aspects of the furniture industry, and this year it had a special focus on bedding. Also, the Specialty Sleep Association showroom featured a product mix of bedding, showing a wider variety of sleep systems mainly for specialty sleep retailers. Hardman also attended a WMC presentation providing an overview of essential Web marketing techniques.

Hardman is the president of Southern Waterbeds & Futons and has owned and operated the business in Athens for 35 years. He is an original member of The Specialty Sleep Association.

McMullan manager at Candlewood hotel

John McMullan has been named weekend manager at Candlewood Suites Hotel of Athens on Classic Road and is replacing Edward White, who has been promoted to operations manager at the Candlewood Suites in Augusta.

For the past five years, McMullan has worked with Nine Points Development, the parent company of the Athens Sleep Inn & Suites on Florence Drive and Comfort Suites Downtown on North Avenue. McMullan worked in all phases of hotel operations, mainly focusing on group sales, corporate accounts and community involvement.

His professional background also includes working in the restaurant industry, running his own cleaning service and stints with other hotel companies.

Daniel named agent of the year with firm

Athens insurance agent Danny Daniel is the 2009 Agent of the Year for the Mid-South Office of Genworth Life Insurance Co.’s long-term care insurance division.

Daniel, who specializes in long-term care, was recognized for his outstanding results in leading Tennessee, Geo