This article appeared as the cover story for the Spring 2026 issue of NEWH Magazine.

Adam Tooter walks into the print studio, a discerning eye focused on the CAD monitors. The team is comparing their pixel-perfect original design with an Al-generated custom color concept on the adjoining screen, which lacks the necessary color-pathway information to create a new pattern.

As the newly named senior vice president of sales, marketing, and product development at P/Kaufmann Contract, Tooter represents the third generation at P/Kaufmann Inc, his family's textile business, which is entering its 70th year.

It's his job to honor his grandfather Peter Kaufmann's legacy, a role that now includes balancing a tradition of highly relational collaboration and transparently managing evolving expectations in the age of artificial intelligence.

"I grew up with my grandfather's famous motto-success but not at any cost-and we see it everywhere at P/Kaufmann," recalled Tooter. "He wanted to make money, but he wanted to make sure he was doing it in a way that everyone slept at night. We're looking out for each other. When you take care of people, they take care of business."

Walk the halls of their Midtown Manhattan offices, and you'll start to feel it. Talk to any member of the P/Kaufmann family, and you'll hear the same sentiment.

"There's a deep-rooted feeling that it's a family business," states Neal Ramsey, director of brand sales, "and those strong relationships and responsible sourcing are at the foundation of what we do. We know our vendor's kids, and they know ours."

"We always treat our clients and suppliers as our partners," agrees Esra Ozkan, executive director of sales operations, who sits at the crossroads of design and production, orchestrating complex projects with calm precision. "Building long-term relationships is in the company's DNA."

Leonardo Luciano, national sales manager, adds, "I love this company. To me, it's always been a lifestyle, not a job." Luciano's enthusiasm extends beyond P/Kaufmann: He serves as NEWH, Inc. director of Equity, Inclusion and Diversity, bringing together the hospitality community and creating a sense of belonging at each chapter.

That spirit of networking seems to have paid off: Luciano introduced one of the newest hires, Kelly Gaddes, west coast sales manager, who came to know P/Kaufmann fabrics as an interior designer. She now mentors young designers, educating the next generation on textile specification "I love teaching and bringing value to clients at every stage of their careers."

"Contract work is constantly going back and forth with our clients and suppliers to support the end goal," says Jim Woll, senior vice president of operations. "And we continue to create layers of customer service roles designed for access, education, and expertise. We try to be very transparent, very open."

Go behind-the-scenes at our recent staff photoshoot for the NEWH Magazine cover story with photographer Rayon Richards.

Since 1982, P/Kaufmann Contract's president, Curtis Breedlove, has built a savvy and nimble team to innovate in performance decorative textiles. Under his steadfast leadership, the company nurtures generational partnerships at every step in the process.

"When you drive a business, have a clear plan. Don't be afraid. Make those decisions. And then empower people from this deep bench we've created with 10 and 20 years of experience. This is how we crafted well-balanced contract hospitality and cruise businesses."

Along the way, Breedlove has found kindred spirits in art and design who have helped to shape the company's aesthetic and business strategy, including longtime west coast sales manager Sandy Banks.

As an early member of NEWH and the NEWH, Inc. past president, Banks was instrumental in developing scholarship and mentoring programs and continues to champion the industry's next generation. It was fitting, then, that Breedlove and Banks were jointly awarded the NEWH ICON of Industry Award in 2019.

"The groundwork that Peter, his son Ron, and Curtis have laid gives us a foundation as we move to the next 70 years," explains Ramsey. "Because the product is changing and how we go to market is changing."

Meghan Wright. global marine sales manager, is an example of that evolution. She's seen the company grow by leaps and bounds in cruise ship brand sales and reach in the international market.

"I was brought on to develop new areas of business we hadn't touched before. Cruise is booming, and we've adapted our approach to operate at a much higher standard. Our teams are aligned, excited, and ready for the next chapter."

Wright meets with Leigh Douglass, vice president of design and marketing, to review an upcoming collection of brightly colored woven fabrics; the worktable is covered with inspiration drawn from architecture, fashion, and samples from P/Kaufmann's vast design archive.

"Design is only part of our work. The rest is creative problem-solving and collaboration. That's where we thrive," explains Douglass. "It's bringing all the pieces together: color, quality, performance, aesthetics, and sustainability. Each collection builds on the last. When we design intentionally, the outcome is stronger."

Douglass also brings this intentionality to marketing strategy, visual storytelling, product education, and communicating what sets the company apart in the marketplace.

Over a weekly team lunch, the conversation turns to the future outlook for P/Kaufmann Contract: "I'm very optimistic," says Ozkan. "We'll keep building on our heritage and values, but we never feel old because we keep evolving-investing in innovation and in people."

"It's exciting and rewarding to lead a team of problem-solvers with so much expertise," emphasizes Douglass. "I'm grateful that as we continue to grow and adapt as a studio, we find creativity and joy in our work."

"Looms pretty much do the same thing they did five thousand years ago," reflects Tooter. "So our work is really about what value you can add from the loom to the hotel room. Innovation will come through technology: new ways to visualize, sample, and collaborate. And at the same time, it's about old-school traveling, meeting over a glass of wine, and going above and beyond to meet clients where they are to solve problems together. That's the beauty of design."

Article and Photo Credits:
Editor: Katie Kervin
Designer: Polly McQuillen
Production: Nan McDowell
Creative Director: Armistead Booker
Photographer: Rayon Richards
Hair and Makeup: Valissa Yoe
Assistants: Nyki Reed and Diana Torroledo