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EMPLOYEES BUY CHICAGO’S CLARK DEVON

After 99 years and three generations of family ownership, Clark Devon Hardware, Chicago’s largest independent hardware store, has been sold—to the 65 people who work there.

As its century celebration nears, co-owners and brothers Ken and Ed Walchak, who have headed the growth of this Chicago icon for the past 50 years, chose to sell the company to its employees through an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP).

“We wanted the business that our father and grandfather built and nurtured to continue while maintaining the reputation, the culture and the commitment to the community and our customers that they taught us,” Ed Walchak explained. “We found the structure of an ESOP was the best way to reward the people who helped us build the business, thus helping create personal wealth while ensuring the long term success of the company.”

Clark Devon Hardware is now 100% employee owned with all the benefits of ownership accruing to its employees, many of whom have been with the company for decades. “We are grateful Ken and Ed considered an ESOP for passing the baton of this amazing business which has built its great reputation for decades,” said Xan Flink, the new CEO. “I hope our stewardship honors them and their family.”

With this transition, Clark Devon’s new employeeowners will join about 14 million employee-owners nationwide in 7,000 companies. Clark Devon becomes one of only 300 ESOPs in Illinois and one of just a handful that operate in the retail space.

Eastern Engineered Opening Dc In Sc

Eastern Engineered Wood Products, Bethlehem, Pa., plans a new distribution center near Anderson, S.C.

The new site in Pelzer, S.C., will expand the wholesale distributor’s delivery footprint from western Connecticut to north Georgia and eastern Tennessee. The location will service lumber dealers and component manufacturers in North and South Carolina, Georgia, and Tennessee.

Similar to the model for its distribution centers in Bethlehem and Keysville, Va., the new location will be dedicated exclusively to the sale of engineered wood products. Eastern’s commitment to creating an exceptional customer experience ensures that customers can expect accurate, on-time delivery of pieces, job packs, or truckloads in one to two days.

Veteran outside sales representatives Michelle Edens, John Ransom, and Brad Smith will lead the sales effort.

“We’ve recognized for some time now that our high-service model would be well suited for customers in this market,” said EEWP president Todd Lindsey. “We are excited about the opportunity to introduce our unique value proposition in this new territory and to simplify what customers often consider one of their most complex product offerings.”

------------| SUPPLIER BRIEFS

Millwood opened a 40,000-sq. ft. facility—its 38th— near Huntsville, Al.

Ambassador Supply, Fort Wayne, In., has purchased metal building manufacturer Straight Line Metal Buildings, Brookshire, Tx.

White Cap has acquired concrete accessories supplier Tri-Boro Construction Supplies, Dallastown, Pa.

IKO will construct a $270-million, 300,000-sq. ft. manufacturing complex in Maxville, Fl., that will include facilities for asphalt shingles, insulation board, and commercial rolled roofing. Construction will begin later this year and take two to three years.

Logan Lumber Co., Tampa, Fl., is now distributing Tropical Forest Products’ Black Label brand of tropical hardwoods.

Parksite is expanding its partnership with Tando Composites to distribute the full TandoStone product line within their Maryland and North Carolina distribution markets.

Sherwood Lumber, Melville, N.Y., is now an exclusive premier distributor of TYPAR products in the Tristate, mid-Atlantic, and select New England states.

Cameron Ashley Building Products has been named the exclusive, full-line wholesale distribution for TimberHP, Madison, Me., the first dry-process wood fiber insulation manufacturer in North America.

BlueLinx is now distributing Louisiana-Pacific’s LP SmartSide products in the Southeast from its DC’s in Jacksonville, Tampa and Lakeland, Fl. BlueLinx now stocks LP SmartSide in 11 locations across three regions.

Benjamin Obdyke, Hosham, Pa., is transitioning to an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP).

Key-Link Fencing & Railing, New Holland, Pa., has achieved PCI 4000 certification by the Powder Coating Institute.

Pau Lope Co., Cape Canaveral, Fl., has expanded its hardwood species offerings. Now in addition to ipé, the company also offers massaraduba, cumaru, garapa, tigerwood and—from Indonesia—red, yellow and brown balau.

James Brookover, ex-LMC, has been named VP of purchasing for Tibbetts Lumber Co., Clearwater, Fl. Ron Yeager has been promoted to VP of sales-South region.

Andy Konieczka has been promoted to executive vice president-building products at Georgia-Pacific, Atlanta, Ga.

John Beers III succeeds him as president of GP’s panels business and will fill his seat on the APA board of trustees.

Mike Elmore has been appointed Southern regional sales mgr. for Culpeper Wood Preservers, Culpeper, Va. Brad Marks is now Northeast regional sales mgr., and Jim Powell, Midwest regional sales mgr.

Mick Yilek has been appointed branch mgr. at Gilcrest Jewett Lumber Co., Belle Plaine, Ia.

James Kircaldie, ex-Chapman Lumber, rejoined Interstate + Lakeland Lumber, Westport, Ct., in window sales.

Tyler Schlitzkus is new to contractor sales at Flynn Lumber & Supply Co., Gladwin, Mi.

Piyush Hajariwala, ex-Lowe’s, has been appointed store mgr. of Sutherlands Lumber & Building Materials, Pearl, Ms.

Rob Julander has joined the outside sales team at Leachman Lumber Co., Des Moines, Ia.

Matthew Gray has been promoted to assistant branch mgr. of Richards Building Supply, Columbus, Oh.

Neil Crosby, ex-McCormack Building Supply, is the new metal sales mgr. at Ware-Butler Building Supply, Waterville, Me.

Jason Lewis has joined Digger Specialties, Inc., Bremen, In., in territory building products sales for DSI’s north central region, covering North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Illinois.

Stephen Crane is Envision Outdoor Living Products’ new regional sales mgr. for Texas, Oklahoma and Louisiana. Joe Stubler, ex-Boral, is now Envision’s regional sales mgr. for Wisconsin, Illinois and Iowa.

James Kushner is new to sales at Evanston Lumber, Evanston, Il.

Steven Ray has been named plant mgr. of Hoover Treated Wood Products in Detroit, Mi.

Christopher Wilks, ex-National Nail, rejoined ABC Supply as branch mgr. in Pensacola, Fl. Other new mgrs.: Chad Stewart, Springfield, Mo.; Colton Smith, Hot Springs, Ar.; Kip Reinheimer, Baltimore, Md.; Mitch Cook, Annapolis, Md.; Keith Nicoli, Berlin, Ct.; Matthew Ridenour, Manchester, Ct.; Steven Litaker, Fort Lauderdale, Fl.; Kyle Marrs, Orlando, Fl.; Dwight McGriff, Pompano Beach, Fl.; Jake Payovich, Goshen, In.; Scott Adams, Wichita, Ks.; Robert Dougherty, Springfield, Ma.; Ashlen Blythe, Battle Creek, Mi.; Derrick Jacobson, Mankato, Mn.; Tiffany Rudar, Rochester, Mn.; John McLaughlin, Bergenfield, N.J.; Ian O’Neill, Mentor, Oh.; Jake Beeman, Columbia, S.C.; Brandon Davis, Chattanooga, Tn.; and Ryan Haws, Tyler, Tx.

Brian Botham, ex-Stanley Black & Decker, is now with PrimeSource Building Products, as Cornelius, N.C.-based major account executive.

Phil Carbone is a new window specialist with Builders FirstSource, North Charleston, S.C.

Andrew Greenspan, ex-SRS Distribution, has been named South Division district sales mgr. for Beacon Building Products, Herndon, Va.

Brett Ledford, ex-U.S. Lumber, is now in outside sales for Contract Lumber, Atlanta, Ga.

Weston White has joined 84 Lumber, Holbrook, Ma., as a mgr. trainee.

Alex Gay, ex-Builders FirstSource, is new to Fortress Building Products, Garland, Tx., as a technical sales specialist.

Garret Nicholl is now sales mgr. & business development mgr. for Best Door & Window, Huntsville, Oh.

Gina Della, Pella Windows & Doors of Wisconsin, Waukesha, Wi., has been promoted to VP of sales & marketing.

Dan Gratien is a new Syracuse, N.Y.-based territory sales mgr. for Cameron Ashley Building Products.

Craig Carter, ex-Universal Supply, is new to outside sales with Woodhaven Lumber & Millwork, Lakewood, N.J.

Haley Oswald, Louisiana-Pacific, Nashville, Tn., was promoted to sales analytics & market insights mgr. Jacob Montooth is new as pricing mgr. Jake Holbrook, ex-Owens Corning, joins LP as San Antonio, Tx.-based territory sales mgr.

Travis Kissell is new to lumber sales at Kerber Farms Lumber Co., Guilford, Vt.

Ryan Donegan was named business development mgr. for L&W Supply’s Northeast Region, focusing on New England. Gretchen Ray is branch mgr. in Springfield, Va.

John Brinker has rejoined Do it Best Corp., Fort Wayne, In., as a forest product trader. Robin Bredemeyer is a new merchandise mgr. Gabe Arnold has been promoted to LBM product sales mgr.-traders, treated & EWP.

Steven Heath has moved to U.S. Lumber, Raleigh, N.C., as a retail channel sales associate.

Brandon Bishop was promoted to VP of merchandising for McCoy’s Building Supply, San Marcos, Tx. Melanie Rae is now VP of people development, benefits & training.

Dean Hartrick, ex-ABC Supply, has joined Empire Moulding & Millwork, as territory sales mgr. for Southeast Florida. Holden Gilman is now territory sales mgr. for Virginia.

Karttikay Moudgil, Huber Engineered Woods, Commerce, Ga., has been promoted to director of innovation.

Elizabeth Phillips has been named marketing mgr. for Mason’s Mill & Lumber, Houston, Tx.

Trent Kauffman has been promoted to director of merchandising for Hardlines Distribution Alliance.

Alfonso Muñoz was appointed chief strategy & growth officer for Garnica’s North American team, Wilmington, De. Niels Boelema is now chief commercial officer; Jorge Farulla, logistics mgr.; Freya Hannah, sales rep for Canada/U.S.; and Patrick Nosler, sales rep for the Midwest.

David W. Cripe, Whitmore Ace Hardware, Wilmington, Il., and Eric W. Lauterbach, president of Peet’s Coffee, have been elected to Ace Hardware’s board of directors. Matthew Mazzone, Mazzone Hardware, New York, N.Y., and Karen May were re-elected to the board.

Mark Torrisi, president, Jackson Lumber & Millwork, Lawrence, Ma., was elected chairman of the board for LMC.

Michael Lee, ex-Enerpac, joined Benjamin Obdyke, Horsham, Pa., as market development mgr. for the mid-Atlantic.

James “Jamie” Crawford, ABC Supply, Salisbury, Md., and Charles “Chuck” Morgan, Lynchburg, Va., received the company’s annual Ken Hendricks Award.

Moe DeGrasse bagged a job in the lawn & garden department of Mungus-Fungus Forest Products, Climax, Nv., report owners Hugh Mungus and Freddy Fungus.