Personnel Update:
ABC Supply named Mike Jost to the newly created position of VP Operations.
ABC Supply’s Kathy Hendricks, who had overseen information technology function for 28 years, most recently as VP and Chief Information Officer, has been named to the newly created position of Executive Director of Customer Connectivity.
ABC Supply has named Tony Vaden as Chief Information Officer. He replaces Kathy Hendricks, who moved to a newly created post as Executive Director of Customer Connectivity for ABC Supply.
Ace Hardware Corp. hired Frank Carroll as GMM.
Carter Lumber announced that as a result of its acquisition of Athens Building Supply in Athens, GA, Brian Massie was hired to serve as District Manager for the greater Atlanta market. Carter also hired J.R. Whitfield as Sales Manager. Russell Kozlowski was named General Manager of the Athens location.
Cedar Creek hired John Edwards as Engineered Wood Manager.
Do it Best Corp. promoted Rob Schmiedel to the role of National Sales Manager.
Louisiana-Pacific Corporation has appointed M.J. “Mac” Palmiere as Oriented Strand Board Regional Operations Manager for Canada.
Lowe’s Canada has restructured its senior leadership team ahead of plans to continue growing its footprint in Canada.
Nick Padovano was appointed to the newly created position of Head of Operations and Supply Chain. In this role, Padovano will be responsible for leading the company’s store operations, store support and supply chain functions, in addition to overseeing commercial and installed sales as well as distribution.
Igor Halencak was appointed to the newly created position of Head of Merchandising and Marketing.
Tony Tutolo was appointed to the newly created position of Head of Finance and Administration. In this role, Tutolo will be responsible for leading the company’s finance, loss prevention and information technology functions.
Snavely Forest Products hired Jon Forsyth as the Engineered Wood Products (EWP) Manager.
Mergers and Acquisitions:
Carter Lumber acquired Athens Building Supply in Athens, Ga., which now operates under the Carter Lumber banner.
US LBM Holdings, the fast-growing acquisition-oriented lumberyard company has acquired Musselman Lumber from partners Galen Eby, Joe Good and Bob Quinlivan.
Industry Insight:
Huttig Building Products announced that its common stock has been approved for listing on the NASDAQ Capital Market exchange. Huttig’s shares will be traded under the ticker symbol “HBP”. Previously, Huttig was traded over the counter.
Green Initiatives/Sustainability:
Ikea announced solar energy is planned for its store under construction in Sweetwater, Fla., which is in the Miami-metro area. Pending permits, installation of solar panels on the store’s roof will begin in several months, with completion by grand opening in summer 2014. Ikea contracted with REC Solar for the development, design and installation of the 416,000-sq.-ft. store’s customized solar power system.
The array will be the largest such installation in South Florida. Combined with rooftop arrays in Orlando, Tampa and Sunrise, this fourth solar project will keep Ikea as the state’s largest non-utility solar owner. The 178,000-sq.-ft. solar array will consist of a 1,178-kW system, built with 4,620 panels, and will produce approximately 1,738,876 kWh of electricity annually for the store, the equivalent to reducing 1,227 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) – equal to the emissions of 256 cars or providing electricity for 169 homes yearly.
This installation will represent the 40th solar project for Ikea in the U.S, contributing to the Ikea goal of a solar presence on nearly 90% of its U.S. locations, with a total generation goal of 38 MW. The retailer owns and operates each of its solar PV energy systems atop its buildings – as opposed to a solar lease or PPA (power purchase agreement) – and globally has allocated $1.8 billion to invest in renewable energy through 2015.
This investment reinforces the long-term commitment of Ikea to sustainability and confidence in photovoltaic (PV) technology. Consistent with the company’s goal of being energy independent by 2020, Ikea has installed more than 250,000 solar panels on buildings across the world and owns/operates approximately 110 wind turbines in Europe.
Ikea Canada announced it has purchased a 46 megawatt wind farm in Pincher Creek, Alberta. The 20-turbine wind farm will be the largest owned by a Canadian retailer and is expected to generate 161 gigawatt hours (GWh) each year, which is more than double the total energy consumption of Ikea Canada. The project is currently being constructed by global wind and solar company Mainstream Renewable Power and is expected to be fully operational in fall 2014.
