BLG: providing excellence to the commercial office, healthcare, hospitality and educational communities.
Since 2004, BLG has represented the finest contract furniture and accessory lines in the country. Our expertise, experience and reputation have been instrumental in establishing distribution channels to market our lines to end users, the design community and our dealership partners.
Visit out Cincinnati showroom, contact your market’s local representative or contact us for more information about our lines, services or upcoming events.
FRED BRUCE, partner
Territory: Key Accounts in Ohio
Fred Bruce has over 40 years of experience in the contract furniture industry. His journey began in his hometown of Pittsburgh, PA, where he discovered a passion for sales while working at a local furniture dealership. After a few years, Fred moved to Ohio to pursue a new opportunity as a Manufacturer’s Representative. He lives in Mason, OH with his wife Janna. They have three sons, Carter, Kyle and Cooper. Outside of work, Fred is an avid football fan and enjoys spending his leisure time playing golf.
Mobile: (513) 519-5464 Email: Fred@blgreps.com
RYAN YOUNG, partner
Territory: Indiana
Ryan has been active in sales and management in the construction, capital equipment and contract furniture industries throughout his career. He loves problem solving and helping to make his customers shine for their clients while delivering the right furniture solution. During Ryan's contract furniture off hours; he enjoys spending time with his two children, who are twins. Ryan resides in Indianapolis, IN and is an active fund raiser for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's Man and Woman of the Year campaign. Ryan holds a bachelor's degree from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio and a Master’s Degree from Christian Brothers University in Memphis, TN.
Mobile: (937) 776-2684 Email: Ryan@blgreps.com
JENNIFER WAGNER, A&D REPRESENTATIVE
Territory: A&D Firms in Southern Ohio
Jennifer Wagner brings over 30 years of experience in the contract furniture and design industry. She began her career as an interior designer before transitioning into sales as an account representative at a local furniture dealer. Throughout her tenure at BLG, Jennifer has taken on various roles, with her current focus as an A&D Representative for the Cincinnati and Dayton markets. She is passionate about educating the A&D community on BLG’s exceptional product lines and collaborating with them to create design solutions that deliver both aesthetic appeal and value to their clients. She enjoys hiking and is in the pursuit to visit all of the US National Parks.
Mobile: (513) 482-0896 Email: Jenny@blgreps.com
LAUREN CARBAUGH, SALES AND A&D REPRESENTATIVE
Territory: Central Ohio
Lauren Carbaugh has an extensive background in the design industry, spanning over two decades. She holds an interior architecture degree from Ohio University and is both NCIDQ certified and LEED accredited. Lauren's career began as a commercial interior designer, working in major cities such as Atlanta, Columbus, and Boston. After starting a family, Lauren transitioned into sales as an A&D rep for BLG in Central Ohio. She currently manages the Columbus market and finds great satisfaction in connecting with designers, dealers, and end users to provide BLG furniture and textile solutions. Lauren and her husband Jason live in Columbus, Ohio, with their three children. In her free time, she enjoys family, friends, travel, skiing, boating, puzzles, and gardening – when she's not attending her children's sporting events.
Mobile: (614) 787-5795 Email: Lauren@blgreps.com
Dean willett, SALES REPRESENTATIVE
Territory: Kentucky
Dean Willett has been in the contract furniture business for over 25 years. Born and raised in Columbus, OH he began his furniture career at a local dealership, and in 1988 transferred to the Cincinnati area where they expanded operations. During this time, Dean and Fred met and in 1991 Dean became part of the BLG manufacturer’s representative team. Dean and his wife Debbie reside in Mason, OH, and have two children (Tyler and Lauren). He enjoys family, college sports, the great outdoors, and traveling.
Mobile: (513) 378-6305 Email: Dean@blgreps.com
Kate Balsman, A&D REPRESENTATIVE
Territory: A&D Firms in Kentucky
Kate Balsman is a graduate of the University of Kentucky School of Interior Design. She is NCIDQ certified as well as LEED accredited. She has been in the design industry for seventeen years in various roles but all have had a focus on the detailed world of furniture. During her time in these positions she has become well-versed in everything from furniture trends to technical specifications and sustainability criteria. She uses that knowledge at BLG to support the A&D community in Kentucky by showing them the ins and outs of our amazing lines. In Kate's spare time she enjoys reading, traveling and spending time with her husband Dane, young son Bo and their rambunctious dog named Moxie.
Mobile: (859) 684-5928 Email: Kate@blgreps.com
Carrie L. Stary, SALES & A&D REPRESENTATIVE
Territory: Northern Ohio
Carrie L. Stary earned her Bachelor of Science in Interior Design from Bowling Green State University. She began her career as a project designer with a small contract furniture dealership and continued to build her expertise by working for several dealerships in Cleveland, Ohio. Eventually, she launched her own interior design and furniture services company. After 10 years as a small business owner, Carrie joined BLG in 2019 as the A&D Representative for Northern Ohio. This new chapter in the contract furniture industry allowed her to share her passion for design, attention to detail, and furniture expertise with the A&D community and dealership network. At the start of 2025, Carrie transitioned into the Sales Representative role for the Northern Ohio Market, which includes Akron, Cleveland, Canton, Toledo, and Youngstown. She resides on the Westside of Cleveland, and when she’s not designing and specifying furniture, Carrie enjoys reading, gardening, DIY home projects, spending time with family and friends, and walking/entertaining her standard poodles, Piper and Orla.
Mobile: (216) 312-4389 Email: Carrie@blgreps.com
ASHLEY hERTHER, SALES & A&D REPRESENTATIVE
Territory: Northern Ohio
Ashley is excited to join BLG as the Northern Ohio Architecture and Design Representative. Most recently, she worked in residential design in Rocky River, Ohio, where she resides with her husband, Mark, and their two children. Prior to her design career, Ashley spent 10 years in Chicago, holding various sales and account management roles at several brand design firms. With a passion for both people and design, she is eager to connect with professionals on the contract side of the industry. Outside of work, Ashley enjoys traveling, gardening, and sailing on Lake Erie with her family. She earned her B.A. in Business Management from Wittenberg University.
Mobile: 312-882-4327 Email: Ashley@blgreps.com
KELSEY PAVESICH, A&D REPRESENTATIVE
Territory: Indiana
Kelsey Pavesich obtained her Master of Fine Arts in Interior Design from SCAD University Atlanta. After a decade-long career in hospitality, Kelsey moved from Chicago to Atlanta to pursue her passion for design. She worked at a large architecture firm in Atlanta before transitioning into sales. Kelsey has extensive knowledge of the FF&E design process having been a designer, project manager, and multi-line furniture representative. She loves being a resource to the design community by educating and assisting with furniture and textile specifications. Returning to her Midwest roots, Kelsey now resides in Indianapolis, IN with her husband Adam, son Egan, and pup Willow. Kelsey spends much of her free time chasing after her toddler. The family enjoys exploring the outdoors and getting creative in the kitchen.
Mobile: 630-272-5003 Email: Kelsey@blgreps.com
CARTER BRUCE, SALES REPRESENTATIVE
Carter Bruce recently joined the BLG team as a Sales Representative. A recent graduate of the University of Cincinnati's Lindner College of Business, Carter earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance. Eager to expand his expertise, he is diving into the commercial furniture industry, engaging daily with clients, designers, and manufacturers. Outside of work, Carter enjoys college sports, snow skiing, and golf. He currently resides in O'Bryonville and works from the Cincinnati office.
Mobile: (513) 335-8864 Email: Carter@blgreps.com
Phillicia Gerardot, INTERIOR DESIGN & SALES SUPPORT
Phillicia Gerardot joins the BLG team in Ft. Wayne, IN. She is a professional in interior design with a diverse background in commercial design, structural detailing, and residential design. She has a rich background in steel and concrete buildings that spans 6 years in the field. Her academic journey began at IPFW, where she earned two Interior Design degrees, providing a solid foundation for her career. Beyond her passion for design, she finds immense joy in traveling, crafting, gaming, and diving into the captivating world of books. She especially enjoys watching horror movies with her husband, Tony, and their two adorable cats, Rowan and Basil! She thrives on the intricacies of design and the imaginative worlds of books, games, and movies. Adventure is never far away.
Mobile: (260) 310-2137 Email: Phillicia@blgreps.com
EMILY Kaesemeyer, INTERIOR DESIGN & CUSTOMER SUPPORT
Emily Kaesemeyer is a Savannah College of Art and Design graduate with a BFA in Interior Design. She began her career in residential design before gaining valuable experience as a drafter at a structural engineering firm. Emily’s journey into the commercial furniture industry began with her work at a dealership in Cincinnati, where she discovered her passion for this field. With over 10 years of experience in the furniture industry, Emily currently works in BLG’s Cincinnati office, where she focuses on design and assists with project quotes. She is dedicated to helping local designers and dealerships by providing tailored furniture solutions that meet the specific needs of each project. Outside of work, Emily enjoys spending time with her family, running, attending concerts, working on puzzles, and reading.
Office: (513) 936-8475 Email: Emily@blgreps.com
Jennie Bing, Interior Design
Jennie Bing was born and raised in the good ol’ city of Louisville where she started her design life in the healthcare division as a pharmacy tech working in both retail and medical office buildings. Once she obtained her degree, she transitioned her design life to the dealership side where she now has almost 20 years of experience creating spaces for local and national clients across 4 vertical markets. She enjoys solving the puzzle of developing solutions that not only fit the budget, but enrich the environments in which people work, learn, heal, and live. When she’s not working, Jennie enjoys video games, traveling to new places, and being a foodie with her husband Nick and daughter Rowan.
Mobile: (502) 210-7677 Email: Jennie@blgreps.com
Tracey Hilvert, CUSTOMER SUPPORT
Tracey Hilvert joined BLG in August of 2016. She manages our showroom and also assists with customer service and quotes. Tracey is a native Cincinnatian with a passion for baking cakes. She is married and has two daughters and 3 dogs. Tracey has a degree in Photography and can often be found behind the camera at her daughter’s dance competitions or music-related events. She enjoys spending time with her family and is a master at preparing goetta (a Cincinnati favorite)!
Mobile: (513) 936-8475 Email: Tracey@blgreps.com
Janna Bruce, CUSTOMER SUPPORT
Janna Bruce joined Fred at BLG in 2001 as the Architecture & Design Representative, shortly after the two were married. Their paths crossed in the office furniture industry, where Janna worked for a dealer in Cincinnati, and Fred frequently made sales calls to her office. Today, Janna works behind the scenes as the Office Administrator. She resides in Mason, OH with Fred. They have three boys, Carter, Kyle, and Cooper. Outside of work, Janna enjoys volunteering at school, spending time with her family, golf, and traveling. Janna holds a degree in Interior Design from Miami University.
Office: (513) 936-8475 Email: Janna@blgreps.com