Bill Simmons has been appointed president and chief operating officer of Berean Christian Stores. In this role, Simmons will be responsible for merchandising, marketing, store operations and information technology.

Simmons will report to Les Dietzman, who will continue in his role as CEO overseeing human resources, finance, construction and real estate.

Simmons' first 10 years were spent at Cedar Springs Christian Stores in Knoxville, Tenn. As manager of operations, he helped lead the store to strong growth. In 1999, he became president of Bible Factory Outlet, leading the company through a critical growth period. He has also participated in many industry organizations through the years.

"We have a talented and dedicated leadership team, and Bill has a great vision for Christian retailing, specifically for Berean Christian Stores," Dietzman said. "He has a passion for our ministry and its place in our society. Bill is an experienced leader and has played a significant role in our strategic growth as vice president of merchandising and marketing."

Simmons said he believes that Berean "can continue to grow and create change in the current retail environment. I hope to be an instrument, used to enable our people to reach new goals. These are exciting times to be in the Christian retail industry."

Based in West Chester, Ohio, Berean Christian Stores is a privately held company with 24 locations in seven states.

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