Personnel Update
Ace Hardware has announced a couple of executive promotions. Dan Miller has been named VP Retail Operations and New Business. Brian Wiborg assumes the role of VP Retail Development and Supply. Miller will be taking the place of Kane Calamari, who is now serving as VP Human Resources, Organizational Development and Communications. Wiborg succeeds Tom Knox, who took over Westlake Ace Hardware as President and CEO last year. He will oversee category management, retail pricing, retail training, retail development, store systems & operations, and business to business.
Builders FirstSource, Inc. announced that its Board of Directors has appointed Chad Crow, currently Senior VP and CFO, to the position of President and Chief Operating Officer.
Fastenal Company announced last November, that Willard D. Oberton had notified the Board of Directors of that he intended to resign from his position as CEO of the company effective as of December 31, 2014. A few days later, the Board modified the positions and duties of Leland J. Hein, Jr. by electing him as CEO of the Company effective as of January 1, 2015, in addition to his role as President of the company. Mr. Oberton will continue to serve as Chairman of the Board and will continue to maintain an office, will continue to be actively involved in strategic planning and performance measurements for the company, and will continue to serve as a mentor to Mr. Hein.
Lowe’s has brought back Ross McCanless to fill the role of general counsel, secretary and chief compliance officer. McCanless replaces Gaither Keener, who is retiring after 30 years with Lowe’s.
The National Retail Federation has announced that its new Chairman is Kip Tindell, who is also Chairman and CEO of The Container Store.
The National Kitchen & Bath Association has announced that Maria Stapperfenne hasl become president of the association.
Parksite Plunkett-Webster Inc. has hired Gregory Wilt as Director of Human Resources. He is replacing Dick Hill who is leaving the company to pursue other opportunities.
PPG Industries announced that David Navikas, Senior VP Strategic Planning and Corporate Development, is due to retire March 1.
Tile Shop announced a senior leadership transition involving long time CEO Robert Rucker and current COO Chris Homeister. Homeister who joined Tile Shop a year ago, will be promoted to the role of CEO. He replaces current CEO Robert Rucker who founded the company 29 years ago. Rucker will remain with the company on a full time basis until Aug. 1, 2015 as an advisor and board member.
True Value Company appointed Lars Hybel, a former Electrolux executive, to the newly created position of VP International. True Value President and CEO John Hartmann has indicated that a key to the company’s strategic plan is the expansion of its international presence and growth.
Weyerhaeuser Company has named Cathy Slater to the role of Senior VP, Cellulose Fibers and Adrian Blocker to the role of Senior VP, Wood Products.
Financial Focus
Fastenal Company continued its annual drive in terms of sales momentum. For the full year, Fastenal reported net sales of $3.7 billion, which amounts to a 12.2% year-over-year improvement.
Mergers and Acquisitions
ABC Supply Co. acquired the assets of Siding World, a distributor of siding and other exterior building products including roofing, windows, doors, decking and gutters. The 40-year old Siding World has locations in 17 markets in Michigan, Indiana and Ohio.
Industry Insight
Basic Hardware Center an independent based in Belleville, IL has permanently closed down operations.
Boro Ace Home & Garden Center, known locally as just Boro Hardware at 855 Middlesex Ave, in Metuchen, NJ, ended its 61 years in business. While buisines was still brisk with lots of loyal customers, an incoming Whole Foods Market made an offer for the land parcel which the longtime owning family ‘couldn’t refuse’.
Busy Beaver Building Centers, Inc. based in Pittsburgh will open its newest full-line home improvement center at the Marion Square shopping center in Fairmont, West Virginia. Scheduled to open by June, the Fairmont location is the 16th for the company and the second expansion under new owner and CEO Joseph Kallen.
Cole Hardware, a San Francisco institution, opened its first store outside the city limits. The company’s new store location in the Rockridge neighborhood of Oakland is the family-owned hardware company’s fifth overall.
Rocky’s Ace Hardware, a family owned business with neighborhood based stores in five states, will open a new store in the greater Boston area. The new store is expected to open in early Spring.Truckee-Tahoe Lumber Company opened a new location in Sparks, Nevada, serving the Reno area and beyond. With the new location, the company’s store count grows to four.
