Gollecting Info on Competitors

(Continuedfrom page 4l ) learn that from any one piece of information, but rather from a combination of pieces, considered as a whole.

The key to uncovering that information, to discovering what your competition is up to, is to consistently collect pieces of information, store them, and then analyze them as a whole from time to time.

In the Information Age economy, much of your ability to make good decisions depends on you being able to collect good information. If you are going to take your performance up a notch, you must see yourself as a dealer in information as well as a seller of stuff. An important initial step is to get good at collecting good information.

- Dave Kahle, "The Growth Coach," is author of seven bottks and has trained tens of thousands of salespeople and sales managers in 17 states and seven countries. He can be reached at (800) 331-1287 or cheryl@davekahle.com.

LOS ANGELES Hardwood Lumberman's Club installed new officers at its Aug. '12 meeting in Fullerton, including //-r) J1l oresident Dan Bohannon, membeishiD cnair Walter Ralston. [2] Kevin Trussell, social chair Steve Ondich. [3] Dale Bohannon, Nathan Osborne. [4] Christa Bohnhoff, Bill Fitzgerald. [5] Jim Gaither, Dennis Johnston. [6] Phil Sanis, Marty Fox. [7] Alan Arbiso, Matt Banass. Unshown board members are treasurer Ganison Cox and member-atlarge Charley Fiala.

Edward John Smith ('Ted"

Gilbert Jr., 81, former owner of Product Sales Co., Orange, Ca., died Aug. I I in Orange, following a lengthy battle with Parkinson's disease.

Shortly after graduating from high school in 1947 , he began working in his father's sawmill in Garberville, Ca. He purchased his own hardware store in Garberville in the early 1950s and later acquired a sawmill near Gualala, Ca. In 1965, after trying his hand as a wholesale lumber rep, selling into Southern California for Northern California mills, he formed Product Sales, with an office in Newport Beach and a distribution yard in Santa Ana. He expanded to a larger facility in Orange in 1980, selling the business to Anfinson Lumber Sales in 2004.

Ronald Lloyd '5Ron" Lewman, '73, retired president of North Bay Forest Products, Santa Rosa, Ca., died of Lou Gehrig's disease Aug. l2 in Santa Rosa, Ca.

After serving with the U.S. Army in Korea, he got his first industry job, in counter sales at Longbell Lumber in Oklahoma. In 1964, he opened Valley Lumber & Hardware, El Sobrante, Ca., with a friend. He later ran sales in 17 states for Louisiana-Pacific Corp. ln 1973, he started North Bay. He sold the business and retired in 1995.

A long-time member of the Black Bart Hoo-Hoo Club. he hosted the Old Time Lumbermen's barbecue several times.

Homer M. Hayward, 89, retired owner of Hayward Lumber, Monterey, Ca., died July 30 in Salinas, Ca., after a brief illness.

His grandfather started the company in 1921, and he started working there as a yardman at age 16. After graduating from U.C. Berkeley in 1943, he joined the Army and served as a staff sergeant at the 96th General Hospital in Malvern, England.

After the war, he became head of the family business and acquired lumberyards in Cambria, Seaside, Morro Bay, Carmel, and San Luis Obispo, Ca. He served on the company's board of directors until 2005.

Mark J. Taggart, 57, outside salesman for R/W Specialties West, Salt Lake City, Ut., died of cancer July 17 in Riverton, Ut.

With R/W since 1984, he was honored in 2009 as Mountain States Lumber & Building Material Dealers Association's Outstanding Outside Salesman Award for the state of Utah.

Stanley Doi, 63, longtime lumber salesman in the West, died July 20 in Puyallup, Wa., after a long battle with pancreatlc cancer.

He started his career with Triangle Pacific, Slocan, B.C., and worked most recently with Bear Mountain Forest Products, Portland, Or.

Yvonne Polatchek,60, whose husband, Roy, owns Liberty Woods International, Carlsbad, Ca., died Aug. 2 in Rancho Santa Fe, Ca.

Born in Panama, she attended college in the U.S. and acted as a translator for her husband's business transactions in Central and South America.

W.L. "Dub" Blasingame, 7 | , retired manager of Construction Supply, Farmington, N.M., died June 23 in Farmington.

He started working for the company in 1958, and also served as a director on the board of Mountain States Lumber & Buildins Material Association.